Page 59 of Come Back to Me

“Have you seen Jack?” I half yell over the music.

He says nothing, just gestures behind him and to the far end of the bar. I walk in that direction, working my way around groups of people, and make it about twenty feet when I’m stopped dead in my tracks.

Ten feet in front of me, I see him.MyJack.Myboyfriend.Myfriend. He’s sitting on a barstool with a glass of what looks like whiskey in front of him and an empty one next to that. His elbows are on the bar, and he’s got both of his hands over his face.

My pulse pounds in my ears louder than even the thumping of the bass from the music.

He’s not alone.

I’m so confused and everything seems like it’s happening in slow motion, like in movies during a pivotal scene, only this is my very real life.

A gorgeous blonde is at his side, facing my direction. And she’s practically climbing onto his lap. She has her left hand on his thigh and her right one across the nape of his neck, the tips of her fingers touching his hair.

I’m stunned and I can’t move. I can’t speak.

He turns to her, his back to me, and puts his hands on her hips. It’s like the moment his hands make contact with her body, time moves at regular speed again and crashes back into me full force, stealing my breath.

I don’t realize it’s happening, but I turn, and my shaking hands drop my glass at the same time—the sound of it shattering on the ground loud in my ears and drawing the attention of those around us.

“Get me out of here, please,” I yell to Joel in a panic. He’s a good ten feet away from me.

“I’ll get the car and meet you out front in a minute,” he says, pushing through the crowd ahead of me.

I force my way through the people, ducking under arms. I’m suddenly overwhelmed with a sensation of claustrophobia, feeling like everything is closing in on me. Whatever I have to do to get out of here, I will. Now.

“Annie, wait!”

It’s Jack’s voice, sounding frenzied, calling from behind me.

I speed up. Ineedto get outside where I can inhale fresh air— where Jack isn’t. I can’t go through this again. I can’t breathe in here. I have to get out now.

I make it out to the sidewalk and walk to the curb, watching for Joel, willing him to get here faster.

“Annie! Stop, please,” Jack yells. I glance to the side and see him on the sidewalk, rushing toward me.

I jog further down the street, desperate to get away from him.

The rapid pounding of footsteps—multiple sets—follows me, and someone grabs my arm, twirling me around. I know it’s him before I look up. I can feel it on my skin. It feels… electric. I pull back as if I’ve been burned—not just my heart, but my skin, too. He has the nerve to look wounded.

“Don’t. Touch. Me,” I warn. Stepping away from him, claiming more space.Come on, Joel, hurry, please,I silently beg.

“It’s not what it looked like…” he starts, reaching for me again. But he stops when Fitz catches up to us and puts his hand on Jack’s shoulder.

“Give her some room, Jack. Trust me,” Fitz pants out.

I ignore Fitz and glare at Jack, the man who just broke my heart. Hell, he’s been breaking it for weeks now, but tonight, he pummeled it.

“Isn’t it, Jack? Because it looked like some hot blonde was hanging all over you and you werelettingher. It looked like you put your fucking hands on her damn hips! Am I wrong, Jack? Am I?” I practically scream at him.

“I was drinking, I didn’t know Chelsea was?—”

“Chelsea?TheChelsea? That’s fucking rich, Jack,” I spit back, the fury in my voice palpable. “Now you can be part of the pack that hangs with the ‘girlfriends’. I hope you’ll be happy.” I’m unable to hide the sarcasm mixing with the hurt in my voice.

“Fuck!” he yells, grabbing a fistful of his hair. “It’s not what you think, sugar?—”

“Don’t call me that! Don’t you dare. You never, ever, get to call me that again,” I yell.

Just then, thank God, Joel pulls up to the curb. He jumps out of the car and comes around to open the passenger door for me.

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