Page 34 of Beaten

Her eyes opened wide as she realized the depth of my fear. “I’m sorry Jamie. I didn’t think about that.” She sighed. “Iguess I’m just tired of someone telling me what to do all the time.”

“I can understand that.” There was so much more I wanted to say, but I couldn’t sort through it all. “I’ll try to be less bossy in the future.” I looked back over at her. “Forgive me?”

She smiled. “Yeah, I forgive you.” She reached over and patted my hand. The warmth of her touch lingered after she pulled it away. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

Chapter 15

Emily

This had to be the worst hangover I’d ever had, but that wasn’t the reason I was being a grumpy bitch. That was because I was sick and tired of everyone telling me what to do.

Jamie took one look at me when I said I was ready to leave and insisted I wasn’t safe to drive home. He was probably right; my head was throbbing, and I got dizzy if I moved it too fast. But I argued anyway because I didn’t want him telling me what to do, even if I was kind of grateful he’d offered to drive me home.

I finally gave in, but made it clear I wasn’t happy about it. Then I yelled at him on the way home.God why am I being such a bitch? After everything he’s done for me?

When he mentioned his fear about seeing me in get in a car accident, I felt like a total asshole.

Reaching over to touch his hand when I apologized felt like the right thing to do. But I lingered longer than I’d intended before pulling my hand away. That felt right too.I’m sure he didn’t notice.

We sat in silence for a few more minutes. I wanted to talk to him about going to the county fair for the Fourth of July festivities with Ashley, but wasn’t sure how to bring it up after being so bratty. I didn’t need his permission.But I’m supposed to notify SSI of my plans.

Ashley and I used to go every year when we were kids. First with our families when we were young, then with friends when we were old enough to go without our parents. It was a tradition we’d kept until I started dating Craig. He’d thought it was stupid, so I couldn’t go.

Ashley said she’d come home for the weekend so we could go together and act like silly teen-age girls again. But I was afraid to ask Jamie because I was being so bitchy. Then I reminded myself that I didn’t have to ask. I could make my own decisions. All I needed to do was tell him.

But what came out was a question.

“Ashley and I want to go to the county fair for the Fourth of July. Do you think it’ll be okay?” Damn it, I sounded weak and whiny.He’ll say no.

“Yeah, of course. We’ll have to assign two bodyguards for the day, but it’s totally doable.” He looked over and smiled.

My jaw hit the floor. Well, not literally, but it might as well have.That was too easy. I’d expected him to say it would be too dangerous or something like that.I should probably ask Chris since he’ll get billed for the extra person.

“Actually, Jack’s taking Meg since she’s never been and really wants to go. I was going to go with them. Would you have any objection to going with us? I think AJ’s going too, so you’d have plenty of protection without feeling like you had an escort.”

I hadn’t thought he could shock me anymore, but I was wrong. Never in a million years would I have expected him to invite us to hang out with them.

I smiled. “That sounds perfect.”Shit, was that too eager?

“Good.” He smiled at me. “It’s a date.”

A date? Did he mean a date-date, or just a bunch of friends getting together date? I thought it’d be fun to go out with Jamie and the others.But a date? I was probably over-reacting, there was no way he just asked me out on a date.It’s just a figure of speech. Crap, I hadn’t even thought about Ashley, though I was sure she’d be okay with it. She’d joked about hooking up with Jamie, but she was just trying to force me to admit I liked him.And now we’re going on a date? Well, a group outing, but he said date. I wasn’t sure how I should feel. I mean, I was grinning like an idiot, despite my killer hangover. But I shouldn’t get my hopes up or make this a bigger deal than it was.I wonder what Chris will say?

“Emily?” I turned at the sound of my name. “Everything okay?”

I had a feeling he’d called my name more than once. “Yeah, just thinking. I need to ask Ashley if she wants to go with the group.”

“Let me know what she says, and we’ll work it out.”

It wouldn’t be a date. Hell, it wouldn’t even be a group outing. Because he’d be working. I was a fool for reading too much into it.

“I’m sure she won’t pass up the opportunity to hang out with the hot Sheppard brothers.”Did I really just say that out loud? I was quoting Ashley, but Jamie wouldn’t know that. I felt the heat rise in my cheeks and glanced out the window.

He chuckled. “She hasn’t changed much, has she?”

“Not much, no.” Then I felt the need to defend her, so I added, “there’s a good person hiding beneath her party girl exterior.”

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