The Searching Secret

Chapter 22

A/N Hey guys sorry for not being around much lately. We are in the last trimester of my pregnancy and there is still so much to do. But I haven't forgotten about you all and I hope you enjoy this chapter! Be sure to comment your thoughts at the end.

I rolled my eyes. This was stupid. He was trying to make me jealous. I honestly thought it was ridiculous, until I saw his hands move to some chick's hips, as she pressed herself up against his body. I tried to shake it, after all, why would I be jealous. I watched, with a glare on my face, as she moved against him. His hand traveled closer to her butt and her lips moved to his neck. It was then I felt it and there was no denying it this time. The jealousy inside of me was awake and it wanted so much to go and punch that hoe in the face! My fist clenched at my side, when I felt Jay's eyes on me. My eyes locked on his as his devilish smile formed on his face. He knew then he had done exactly what he set out to do. I hated admitting to myself how unbelievably jealous I was. He watched me for a moment to see what I would do. Still glaring, I shook my head and turned back to face the bar. Unlike Jay, I refused to let my jealousy control me. I mean, really, I shouldn't even be jealous. I took a deep breath and slowly relaxed my clenched hands. I didn't want to keep thinking about what was going on behind me. I couldn't, or the jealousy growing in me might win.

I turned my attention to the bartender. I figured, at this point, anything would be a good distraction from the scene playing out behind me. "What can I get ya?" the bartender asked.

I motioned to Jay, knowing the bartender had seen us together. "Same things as my friend. A rum and coke, please." At this pointed the bartender couldn't help but laugh. I looked at her questionably, wondering if she knew I was under age. "It's fine," I said, trying to brush off her laughter. "You can put it on his tab."

This time the bartender smiled, as she obviously tried to hold back more laughter. "Okay." She paused again to regain herself. "You want what your friend is drinking? Fine."

The bartender walked away to get my drink, and I allowed myself to glance behind me. After seeing Jay with yet another girl hanging on him, I turned my focus back to the returning bartender. She put the glass in front of me and watched as I brought it to my lips. "What?!" I asked, placing the glass down without taking a drink.

She smiled and shook her head slightly. "Look, I don't know what your friend has been telling you, but that's not rum and coke."

"What? Then what is it?" I asked, now obviously confused.

She laughed softly and pointed to Jay. "Your friend over there, has been drinking coke, just coke, all night so that. . ." she pointed to my glass, "is plain old coke-a-cola."

In disbelief, I picked up my cup and took a drink. Sure enough, it tasted just like coke. "Are you sure?"

"Positive," she replied. "It's not very often I get a nonalcoholic drink here."

"So he lied about his drink. Why is that so funny?"

She shook her head again, trying to shake away another laugh. "He told me you would eventually come and ask for a rum and coke. He said, that no matter what, I was only suppose to give you a coke. Said you don't hold your alcohol very well." She laughed faintly. "I guess I didn't believe him. But here you are."

I took another drink, as I let what she said sink in. It was all just a show. Jay, my safe, protective, loving, Jay, wasn't actually drinking. He wouldn't allow anything to influence his thinking in a place that he was concerned for my safety. He was trying to prove a point and I knew he had. I wanted my Jay back. I smiled, as I shook my head. He did all this, but was still completely aware of my safety.

I turned back to where Jay was and had to hold back a laugh. Seeing this situation more clearly, I could see how uncomfortable Jay really was. I smiled and leaned up against the bar, as I decided to let him suffer a little longer. When a girl whispered something in his ear, his eyes widened with shock and discomfort. When he saw me watching he tried his best to play it off, and I tried my best to keep a smile from my face. I sat my glass on the bar and slowly made my way towards Jay. I tried not to bump into anyone, but on a crowded dance floor that was near impossible.

When I finally reached Jay, a girl dancing around him bumped into me and I felt her annoyance towards me. Reaching past her, I managed to tap Jay on the shoulder. He was laughing, as he untangled himself from many dancers, and turned to face me. When his eyes landed on mine, his devilish grin returned to his face. Now, this grin threatened to bring out one of my own, but I decided to push the smile away and play along, just for a moment.

"Changed your mind?" Jay asked. With his attention now completely focused on me, his many dancers soon found some other guy to rub their bodies against.

I nodded my head, as I bite my lip to keep from smiling. Jay grabbed my hand and I allowed his to pull me closer. Only stopping him just before our bodies touched. His free hand found my hip, as I wrapped my arms around his neck, and brought my mouth to his ear. "Yes, I've come to eat my words," I said softly, but loud enough for him to hear me. As I slid one hand down his arm to his hand that held his drink, I added, "and drink your coke." I took the soda from his hand and took a step back, as I finished his drink.

When I looked back at him, he shook his head. "How'd you know?"

"Bartender gave you up."

"So, I was right. You went for a drink?"

I nodded and then led Jay off the dance floor to an area of the club that wasn't quite so loud. "Look, Jay, you wanted to prove a point and you did. I don't want this." I motioned to the dance floor. "I want my Jay, not the Jay with a bunch of girls pressed against him." A familiar twinkle returned to Jay's eyes, as I quickly covered my mouth. I couldn't believe I said that last part out loud. "Are you sure that was just a soda?"

The twinkle in Jay's eyes spread and a smile, the smile I knew, grew on his face. "You were jealous," he said, with a slight raise of his eyebrows.

"Jealous of what?" I asked, as I lead him back to the bar so he could pay. ". . . of how unbelievably uncomfortable you were?"

"Oh, come on, admit it! You were jealous," he replied, as he handed his credit card to the bartender.

"Nope."

"I could see it in your eyes, Ri. You were so jealous."

"No," I said, smiling at the return of Jay's nickname for me. "But I did want to punch that chick in the face."

Jay laughed, as he took his card and receipt. "That feeling would be called jealousy."

"No!" I insisted, yet continued smiling as we left the club. "Not jealousy. I wasn't jealous!"

When we reached the car, Jay opened my door and I got in. He closed the door and since the top was down leaned over and looked me in the eyes. "You were jealous, Ri. You were jealous that the girl dancing with me wasn't you. Admit it!"

I leaned closer and placed my forehead on his. "Never," I replied, unable to keep a smile from my face.

Jay rolled his eyes and walked to the other side of the car. As I waited for him, I looked past where he was just standing. My eyes landed on the club we were, thankfully, leaving. When I noticed the alley way beside it, I tilted my head a bit. It looked so familiar, like some place I've seen before, but couldn't remember clearly. Almost like a dream...

The car door closing brought my attention back to Jay. "You can deny it all you want, but I know, Ri."

I rolled my eyes. "Just rent me a movie, and get me some barbeque wings. Oh and a root beer float! You owe me that much."

Jay laughed. "That sounds terrible safe."

"Are you kidding? Barbeque wings and white sheets? Sounds pretty dangerous to me."