Take Me Back

Chapter 12

"You're jealous!" I laughed.

"What?! No! Don't be silly. I don't get jealous"

I peeked across to the passenger seat, Kayla's face had turned bright red and she was staring intently at her hands. I reached across and gently squeezed her thigh, "it's okay, I get jealous too"

Kayla let out a huff and I struggled to contain the laughter that was threatening to erupt once again.

We were driving back from any work Christmas party where the receptionist had spent the majority of the time attempting to flirt with me and blantantly ignoring the attempts to include my girlfriend in our conversation. In the end I elected to make a hasty exit lest blood actually be spilled, judging by the look on Kayla's face now, it was a close call. I grabbed onto her hand and ran my fingers across her soft skin trying to reassure her.

"Aw baby, you know I only have eyes for you", I joked.

"Please don't call me that"

Her reply was so blunt it shocked me.

I hesitated for a moment, startled by the shortness of her response, "I'm sorry, did I do something wrong?"

"No, it's just-" she sighed, "it's just so fake. Guys who call girls baby do it so they don't fuck up and call the tribe of women they're sleeping with the wrong thing"

I contemplated her response for a moment, wondering if I should press & find out more, however I instead threw her a smile and asked, "What about darling? Can you be my darling?"

She replied with a weak smile, "I'll always be your darling"

oOo

Her hands wound in my hair as she pulled me closer, her lips moving urgently with my own, a familiar rhythm that I would never forget for all of my days. Kissing Kayla was as easy as breathing and it was like everything was right in the world for the first time that I could remember. She was here and she was in my arms, with every beat of my heart screaming her name.

She pulled back for a moment, her forehead resting against my own, "If I knew kissing strangers was this much fun, I would have broken up with my boyfriend ages ago"

Sometimes realisation dawns on you, other times it hits you like a truck and this occasion was definitely the later. Her words shattering my illusion of normality.

"Mate, I know you and Jonathan had a bit to drink tonight but you need to back the fuck off right now", Charlie spoke firmly and I took a step back, my arms up in surrender.

"I'm fine Charlie", Kayla shot back, the fire igniting in her bloodshot eyes.

"Kayla you're not fine, you're trashed, vulnerable and wrapped around some guy you don't even know like a vine"

"You're the one who told me rebounding was fun! 'Kiss cute boys' you said! Well look Cha-Cha, I'm taking your advice and this guy is like the Usain Bolt of rebounds"

She went to grab at the scruff of my shirt and I captured her hands gently in my own, "Maybe you should listen to Charlie, you're drunk and I'm just a stranger"

The tears welled in her eyes as she ripped her hands away, "God, what the hell is wrong with me? Am I that repulsive? My own boyfriend can't even keep it in his pants and I'm getting rejected by a stranger who's as shitfaced as I am"

"Kayla, please-"

"Charles, I swear if you tell me to calm down right now, I will junk punch you so hard that your grandchildren will feel it"

The room was silent with the exception of the deep breaths Kayla was sucking in, the deep breaths that were quickly dissolving into sobs.

I should have known better but my muddled logic was reassuring me that I'd already fucked up so why not go the whole way. I ignored Charlie's glares and stepped forward, pulling her into my arms, my hand stroking her hair as she cried, "I promise you that one day this is going to hurt a whole lot less"

"Promise?" she sniffed.

I couldn't help but smile, crying Kayla was always a sight, a mess of snot & tears, "I promise my darling"

oOo

Charlie was holed up in the guest room with Kayla and I tried to ignore the faint sobs I could hear. It was taking every ounce of my willpower not to go in and to hold her.

"Well that was interesting," Jonathan spoke quietly.

"She's different now", I paused, "well, she will be different"

He seemed to contemplate this for a moment, "Are you sure she's right for you?"

"Jonathan, look I love you like a brother but don't ever question that. In three months she's supposed to enter my world and turn it upside down", I stood up and grabbed my keys from the coffee table, "I better go, she won't remember what happened tonight in the morning, she's got a terrible memory when she's been drinking and I can't be here when she wakes up. Just talk to her, you're going to love her I swear"

Jonathan nodded, "you aren't going to drive home are you?"

"Nah I'll just walk", he gave me a brief hug as I made my way toward the door.

"Wait, Jace-" Jonathan spoke, a pained expression on his face, "Charlie's not the guy for me is he?"

He stood there, his hair sticking in all directions and the hope in his eyes unmistakable but I no longer had it in me to lie. After tonight I couldn't do it anymore, not when he finally believed me, I leant against the door frame and said quietly, "no Jon, no he's not"

He nodded, and I tried my hardest to ignore the fact that I was the one crushing him, "I'll enjoy it while it lasts I guess"

I couldn't bring myself to say anymore, I shrugged and let myself out into the cool night air.

oOo

A/N: we're actually nearing the end! I always knew it was going to be a short story to begin with but I'll probably start editing and elaborating soon, I think I'm kind of over torturing poor Jace.

Love you all, don't forget to vote / comment xx