Page 53 of Four Simple Rules
“Ah, the bitch brigade,” he hums, rubbing his fingers up and down my upper arm, refusing to let me go. “How I didn’t miss them one bit.” His voice dips low when they finally stand before us with perfect grins, exposing all their white teeth.
“Oh my God, Jesse!” Posey squeals excitedly, advancing on him with her arms wide open, acting as if she doesn’t see me.
Invisible girl.
My mind reels when she purposefully pulls him away from me, yanking him into a hug. My body jolts to the side, nearly falling on my butt. How frigging embarrassing that would be. Only then do I see the spark in her eye when she looks over his shoulder at me with a victorious smirk, indicating that everything she does from here on out is on purpose. Her smirk irks the heck out of me. Anger swarms in my veins, begging me to do many out-of-character things like punching or throwing her in front of a train.
“How have you been since we last saw you?” she coos, running her painted fingernails over his shoulders, attempting to feel every inch of his chiseled chest she can without his permission. “Any change of heart?” Her eyes cut to me.
I frown. She’s touching what is mine.
Jesse grunts, peeling her off him with disgust lining his downturned face. Goosebumps spread all over my flesh when he doesn’t pay her attention, turning his back on her. His gaze instantly snaps to me, checking me over from head to toe.
“You, okay?” he asks, looking over my body. “You just knocked my girlfriend over.” His eyes snap to Posey, who purses her inflated lips.
She shrugs, tossing her blonde locks over her shoulder. I swear, nothing has changed with her and her friends. We’re twenty-eight, not eighteen. This stupid, petty high school behavior is repulsive. Maybe someone should let her in on that little secret. Being mean girls isn’t a cute look on adults.
“I’m good,” I say, saddling up to his side. Without thinking about it, I take his hand in mine, gently squeezing. “I’d be better if we went and got a drink. I saw there was an open bar.” Not that I drink that much. Ever. I’d rather have a soda and call it a night. But I have this feeling in the pit of my stomach that Posey isn’t done sinking her claws into Jesse tonight.
“Sounds good. It was terrible seeing you girls,” he says, grinning when their faces fall one by one. “If you’re ever rude to my girlfriend again, you’ll be sorry.”
Nat sputters beside Posey, turning as red as a tomato. “What the hell, Jess?” she shrieks.
Over dramatic, much? I raise my brow when she stomps her foot. On second thought, this is entertaining.
“I’m not sure what you expected?” Jesse says in a low voice, stepping into their space. “Besides, I already told you once. I want nothing to do with you. You were bitches in high school, and nothing has changed. I think it’s time to grow up and get over yourselves.” He raises a pointed brow when Posey’s jaw tightens and a muscle tics with irritation.
Nat bats her eyelashes, looking at Posey, who grins. “We thought we could get reunited. You know, like we used to do. Me, you, and Nat.” Posey goes to raise her finger to stroke his chest, but I’ve had enough of being the invisible girl.
I snatch her finger in midair, holding it hostage in my grip. “What part of his girl didn’t you understand? Are you fourteen again? The mean girl act is worn out. Sorry you didn’t make anything of your life, but you can back off now.” Anger flairs deeper inside me, spurring me on. These are things I should have said to their faces years ago.
She blinks several times, snatching her hand back from my grip. “Who the hell are you?” she snarls in disgust, looking me up and down. I may not be wearing the tight-fitting dresses they are with impossible heels and fake eyelashes, but tonight I shine, especially in the eyes of Jesse.
“His girlfriend. And you’re interrupting…”
“Oh, I remember you,” Melody giggles, covering her lips with her manicured fingernails. “You were friends with that one girl we tricked. You remember, right? The love notes. Oh, my God,” she giggles again, scanning the room for my best friend. “There she is…” she trails off with her eyebrows dipping. Melody’s eyes follow Olivia as she swaggers into the room, emitting nothing but confidence. That’s my girl. “Oh, and there’s Rhett, too.” She curls her fingers at him in greeting. Her face falls when she realizes he doesn’t have eyes for her. His entire focus is on Olivia as she storms through the ballroom with determination.
Crap. By the pout of Olivia’s lip and the tightness of her face, she’s upset. And by looking at Rhett, who looks like someone punched his balls, I’d say it’s his fault—time to go over and say hi.
“Let’s go say hi,” Jesse murmurs, squeezing my hand. “Then how about those drinks? I suddenly have a headache and a hankering for some whiskey.” He rubs along his forehead, massaging his temple, and winces. “I’d say it was nice to see you ladies, but then I’d be a liar. You were a nightmare in high school. I think it’s time for you to grow up.”
Something warm engulfs my entire being at the sight of him frowning at the girls. They try to say more words to him, but he refuses to listen. His hand in mind tightens possessively when he abruptly pulls me along and away from the meanest girls who ever wandered Brighton High’s halls.
“That never happened, by the way.” His eyes dart back to the three girls in question, staring at us with wide eyes and defeat. “The whole Posey, me, and Nat thing. I never slept with anyone in high school but you.” I blink several times, heat filling me again. “Only you, Tulip.”
Oh, swoon. My heart pitter-patters when he squeezes my hand in confirmation. He never slept with them. Not before or after I left. He waited for me like I waited for him in high school.
Walking away from the silent bitches, I raise my chin as confidence soars through my veins. My tongue aches to say more, begging to spill the years of repressed anger I held for them and release it. Violence is never my prerogative, but I want to let my fist meet their perfect teeth. Ah, to watch them flounder around on the ground with blood staining their pearly whites makes a giddy feeling take me over as long as it’s in my fantasy and doesn’t come true. Well, maybe.
“You called me your girlfriend,” I blurt, stopping short. My brain short circuits at the realization, sending me over the edge.
I blink rapidly, embracing the tingles fluttering down my spine. Jesse whips around, chuckling with a slight red hue painting his cheeks.
“Was that…okay? It just kinda slipped out. It felt…”
“Right?” I murmur, staring deep into the abyss of his hazel eyes, which darken at the sight of me trembling.
“It did. It felt so right to say it, Tulip. Words I should have said my freshman year of high school,” he whispers, stroking my face. “I never should have let it get that far. I feared my friends would hurt your feelings and you. I should have stuck up for you, too. Will you ever forgive me?”
