Trace of Innocence (No Control Book 3)

Chapter 55

(No Control - 55. I Wish)

There's a moment of silence until Jess's friend says what (presumably) we are all thinking: "What the fuck, Jess?"

"I...I..." Jess stammers, looking at her friend all wide-eyed and innocent.

I need to get the fuck out of here. I wish my legs would work. Right now they feel like lead and my feet seem to be nailed to the ground.

I can't tear my eyes from her face, but she isn't looking at me. She turns to look at Gary instead.

"I'm sorry," she says to him. "I shouldn't have done that."

What the actual fuck - she's apologising to him?? He just got a kiss out of it! He's fucking fine! Meanwhile, my heart is breaking over here.

"No, you shouldn't," Gary snaps, and I watch as he turns away and stalks towards the exit.

I look back at Jess, and she's staring after Gary. I don't understand what the fucking hell is going on, but I'm feeling more and more miserable with every second that passes.

"Harry?" Gemma says softly; uncertainly. "What's the matter? What's happened?"

Her voice snaps me out of my trance and brings me back down to earth. I need to leave. I need to get as far away from here as possible.

I shake my head and stride away from Gemma and Grimmy, past Jess and her friends, towards the VIP bar. I have a sudden urge to get blind drunk.

"Harry!"

The sound of Jess's voice sends a piercing pain through my heart and it takes everything I have to ignore it. I am aware of Gemma's presence behind me as I weave my way through groups of people and we finally arrive at the bar.

"What's happened?" Gemma asks, but I ignore her and order a double vodka, and she requests Southern Comfort and Lemonade.

The barman puts the drinks down in front of us but Gemma grabs mine away before I can reach for it.

"You're not having this until you tell me what the hell is going on!" she hisses. "Why are you acting all weird?!"

She obviously turned round too late to witness the kiss.

The barman is staring at us, confused, and I suddenly realise there are people everywhere, and plenty of media coverage. I can not get off my face, no matter how badly I want to.

I take a deep breath. "Nothing," I say to Gemma. "I just bottled it, that's all. I didn't want to speak to Jess before I've figured out what I'm going to say to her."

"But she saw you!" Gemma protests. "She called out to you and you just ignored her!"

"I know," I mutter, hating lying like this, but a stupid, tiny part of me doesn't want to admit what's just happened. I don't want to talk about it.

"Why don't you ring her?" she suggests. "Ask to see her?"

Yes. That's a fucking brilliant idea. I'll ring her, and give her a piece of my mind.

"Great idea," I say abruptly. "Wait here."

I turn quickly away from Gemma, move away to a quiet corner, pull out my phone and call Jess.

She answers almost straight away.

"Hi, Harry."

"What the fuck was that?" I demand, without even saying hello back. "Are you trying to make me feel like shit?"

There is a gasp on the other end of the phone. Good. I'm glad I've shocked her.

"I'm so sorry," she says, her voice trembling. "I don't know what I was doing."