The Beats In Rift

Chapter 14

Meadow

"No, he's settled down with a girl. He has no reason to come back, there's nothing he wants here."

That hurt and that was what led me to drink multi-colored cocktails at Club Ruby. The ice I had formed the day I walked out on Justin, evaporated into a puddle when I saw him. It had served me well, never allowing any man to chip away at it. I was the ice princess and happy to wear that title until every pep talk I had given myself before coming back blew away on the wind of the tornado that was the Jacob twins. I was back to being the girl completely consumed by the need to love them. Justin was comfort, my body automatically soothed when he spoke to me. I vaguely remember Max dry humping some girl in the corner of the bar, and Justin and I giggling about it like we were in high school. I remember Justin asking me why I was so happy and free. I told him it's because I refuse to love again and it's freeing. It wasn't exactly true. I just refused to love anyone new.

I moan, strangely aroused. My mind comes more into consciousness, telling me there's a hand between my thighs. I react on instinct, and my hand goes down on top of the hand that's down there to still the movement. My body stiffens. I slowly peel open one eye, and staring back at me is the golden glow of Justin's eyes.

"Hey beautiful," he says, kissing my neck. A million questions race through my mind: 'Why is Justin kissing me like we've never been apart?'

'How the fuck did I end up here?'

'Where is here?'

'Why am I naked?'

'Oh, God. Did we finally have sex and I missed it in a drunken stupor?'

"I want to hear you moan again before we have to leave this room," Justin says into my neck. So the answer is yes; I clearly blacked out sex with Justin. God, my life sucks. I can't believe I put out so easily, and to Justin! We haven't even talked about the way we left things.

The phone rings and saves me from having to decide whether to bolt or let him touch me. Pulling away from me he lifts the receiver. "Okay, thanks." He puts the phone down and hurries from the bed, gathering our clothes as he does.

I sit up, pulling the sheet up to cover me. My mouth is dry and there's a slight burn in my throat. "Who was that?" I ask hoarsely.

Justin starts hopping on one foot, trying to put his sock onto other. "My wakeup call. Med, listen I need to run, but I want to talk about what happened. Can I meet you later?"

Brushing a hand through the tangled mess on top of my head I mutter, "Yeah, sure."

"Where are we?" I ask, looking around the room. There are dark blue drapes pulled across the entire back wall, and a vanity unit with a large mirror above. The carpets are dark blue like the drapes, and the bedding is crisp white.

"My suite. It's rented for the week."

"Yo, Justin, someone's at the door!" Max calls.

Panic crosses his face as he pulls on his jeans and t-shirt. His eyes are looking everywhere but at me.

"Why are you freaking out?"

"I'm not. Just stay in here, Meds." He rushes to the door and exits, closing it behind him. Sliding from the bed I stumble over to the vanity mirror and groan at the woman looking back at me. My hair looks like I stepped out of the eighties and my eyes are rimmed with black makeup. I pull myself away from my self-loathing when I hear muffled voices coming from outside the door. I move closer, pinning my ear against it. My heart begins to pound against my rib cage. I swing open the door to find Max's naked back in my view, blocking the doorway like a security guard. He turns and slings an arm over my shoulders. I try to shake him off but he gives me a pleading stare. I look over to see Justin holding someone. When he releases her, she turns to me. "Oh, I didn't realize you had a guest, Max." There's no warmth in her tone.