Page 82 of Waiting to Lose
“Allie…” Jake began as his eyes rose up toward the ceiling.
She interrupted him. “I really thought you and I might be good together,” she said as a small smile crossed her lips. She arched slightly as she spoke, enough to see that Jake did not share her amusement. “As soon as people thought we were dating, I suddenly became more interesting. I was getting crap offers from movie producers before you. Even my agent thought you made me more appealing.”
She puckered her lips before pulling them in and sliding onto the corner of the bed. She motioned for him to join her and he huffed, shaking his head and crossing his arms. “I’m not going to attack you. You can sit next to me. We have been naked together, after all.”
Jake’s hand coursed through his hair as he gritted his teeth. He could feel the frustration in his own voice. “I wasn’t a willing participant. Some might call that rape.”
She jumped up from her corner and pounded over to him. “I didn’trapeyou!” she shouted with her hands on her hips.
“What would you call it, then, Allison? I was unconscious. You removed my clothes and slept with me against my will. You fucking drugged me.”
“I didn’t drug you!” she shouted.
Jake rolled his eyes. “How’d you do it, Allie? Were you at the interview? Did you put something in my food?”
“IsaidI didn’t drug you.”
“Well, someone drugged me. It had to be you. You’re the only one with something to gain out of this!”
“Do you think I enjoyed it? Do you think I like having to make love to a lifeless body?”
“So you admit it! I was lifeless.”
“Stop. Just stop. That’s not what I meant.”
“But it’s what you said. Cut the crap, Allie. What the fuck was so important that you had to speak to me and me alone?”
“I wanted to say I’m sorry,” she cried.
“Sorry for what? For drugging me? For ruining my life? For making Madi hate me.”
She lifted her eyes to him. “She hates you?”
“Yeah, she hates me. She thinks I cheated on her. She saw the pictures.”
Allison walked back over to her cigarettes and took out another before once again realizing she had no way of lighting it. “I’m sorry, okay. I know you loved her, but that was part of the plan.”
“The plan?” Jake questioned.
Her eyes bulged as she put the cigarette to her lips, suddenly aware she’d said too much.
Jake lunged toward her. “Allie, please, we were friends. How could you do this to me? How could you ruin my life and not even have the decency to tell me why?”
“I didn’t want to ruin your life. I didn’t have a choice, okay?”
“What do you mean, you didn’t have a choice?”
“I’m being blackmailed,” she said as she squinted her eyes painfully.
“By who?”
“I… can’t say, alright? I’ve already said too much.”
“I need to know what happened. Just, please, tell me the truth.” Jake begged, pulling on her elbow.
Allison glanced down at his touch, then back up to his eyes. “Is there any chance you could love someone like me?”
“Allie… you’re a beautiful, talented woman. But my heart will always belong to Madi.”
