Trace of Innocence | Sweet and Sour (Book 4)

Chapter 61

(No Control | Holding Me Ransom - 61 - They Don't Mean Anything)

I see a shadow of apprehension flash across Jess's face. "I thought you said Nadine and Sara don't even speak to each other anymore," she says, and her voice sounds oddly forced.

"They don't," I confirm. "But work's work. Sara is here with Victoria's Secret according to Kendall. And I doubt Nadine would pass up the opportunity to attend the AMAs."

Behind me, Kendall is nodding.

"What do you want to do?" I ask Jess. "I don't want you to feel uncomfortable at all. If you'd rather leave, it's fine. We'll do whatever you want."

"Why should Jess leave?" Louis demands, looking between me and Jess with a look of distaste on his face. "She's done nothing wrong."

Easy for you to say, I open my mouth to retort, but Jess answers first.

"I'm happy to stay, if you are. I'm not scared of Sara, or Nadine for that matter. I don't particularly want anything to do with either of them if I'm honest, but I'm not running away from them. Can't we just stay out of their way?"

Her voice, although still a bit higher than usual, sounds controlled and level, and I nod slowly.

"Of course," I murmur in her ear as I slip my arm around her waist and pull her close to me, strangely proud of her for her guts.

"But where's the fun in that?" Louis' voice comes, like the devil on her shoulder. "I say we find those bitches and own them!"

"Stop winding her up," I warn him, but he's too busy grinning at Jess. This is right up Louis's street: he loves nothing more than stirring up a bit of trouble and causing some drama for his own personal entertainment.

"I don't want any trouble," Jess shuts him down with a shake of her head.

"Ah, Jess, you disappoint me," he teases. "Where's your sass gone? I could always count on you to slay with a clever one-liner."

"There's a time and a place," she replies, with finality. "And now is not it."

That's my girl. I always knew she had class.

"You're way too classy for this loser," Louis sighs, obviously referring to me, and then he lowers his voice and directs his last comment at Jess. "But let me know if you change your mind and wanna go and kick some Victoria's-Secret-arse."

"I heard that," I grumble, but neither of them are listening; they're too busy cackling mischievously.

After that I'm on high alert for the faintest sniff of trouble. My eyes dart around the room every few seconds, keeping a lookout for either Sara or Nadine. The appearance of either of them could be damaging; Nadine because she's already proved she'll stop at nothing to make waves and Sara because while I don't perceive her to be a troublemaker, I don't want Jess to have to come face to face with the girl I cheated with. 

It's sometime later, when I realise I've been engrossed in a conversation for a good ten minutes and look up to do my ritual survey of the room, that I notice Jess is missing. I scan all around me, hoping to see her talking to someone from our extended group, but she is nowhere to be seen and after a quick recce of our party I conclude the only other person missing is Louis. While this causes me a brief twinge of jealousy (I'm only human), most of me is relieved that wherever she is, she'll be well-protected. Louis would never stand for anyone being rude to her. I can only pray she hasn't given in to his goading and let him go looking for trouble. 

Five minutes later they wend their way back through the crowd towards me, Louis's arm around Jess's shoulders. "There are you are," I smile, knowing full well I sound possessive and clingy. "I wondered where you'd gone."