"I can't believe you hid my keys under the pillow, couldn't you be a little more creative?" I asked, watching his lips stretch into a proud grin. His eyes were hidden beneath the arm that lay across his handsome face, but he certainly seemed pleased with himself.
"I think I was pretty damn creative, got you to do what I wanted, didn't I?"
"Fuck you!"
He raised an eyebrow, "Now that's the reaction of someone who just got played."
"So confident. Well, you are persuasive, I'll give that because I really was going to leave and go home earlier.... You are good." I sat up, pulling the sheet around me. "However, I do have to get home so I can shower and change."
"Okay." He didn't argue this time. Instead, he sat up and watched me pull my clothes on. "Will you call me or should I call you?"
Pulling my jean shorts up, I nodded. "I'll call you." I dressed quickly and almost made it out of the bedroom when he got up and walked closer, not a single bit embarrassed by his nudity.
He gripped my wrists as he pinned me against the wall, gently pressing his soft lips against mine and kissing me. "Make sure you do." Jared broke the kiss and released me, smacking my ass hard as I walked away.
I hadn't even been home an hour when I heard Kara banging on the door and screaming obscenities. I opened it and she frowned. "Oh look, she's alive."
Rolling my eyes, I folded my arms and stepped aside so she could enter. Why must it always be this way with Kara? I'm a big girl and knew how to handle myself. "What?"
"You know what, Cassie! Goddamn! We planned that beach party and you just leave because some asshole calls you after not speaking to you for months? Some asshole, may I remind you, that does all this freaky shit to you. It's not normal." She paced back and forth, not yet finished with her speech. "What the hell is your problem? Eric was excited to hang out with you! After you left, he was talking to Celeste, AND he probably got lucky too." She finally sat on the couch, tossing one leg over the other and by the swinging of her foot, a simple apology wasn't going to be good enough.
Okay, she had a point, I did leave her hanging without much more than a few minutes notice. I knew how much she was looking forward to the little bonfire we planned. "I'm very sorry, Kara, but I had to go see him. He just does something to me that I can't explain." I stared up at the ceiling smiling remembering our time together.
Rolling her eyes again, she cringed. "Oh, I know what he does to you. Spare me the filthy, disgusting details. I'm sorry, but I'm just not a fan of his. Do you think this behavior is normal because I don't know any abusive men, who like to hit women?"
"It's not like that! Look, Kara, I like him and I'm not sure what's happening between us, but if I bring him when we go out, I would hope that all of you would be polite. I've always been nice to the guys you've dated, even Brian. Do I need to remind you of what a piece of shit he was?"
She sighed. "No Cas, don't you dare bring him up. That was different! Brian was nice at first, unlike this cocky bastard. Jared only calls you like every once in a while, then after he ties you up and fucks you, you don't hear from him anymore. What does that tell you? At least Eric wants to see you, like to be with you for more than just one night." She was still pretty annoyed with me. "You're just a convenience for him."
I got up and walked to the kitchen to grab two bottles of water. "Here." I handed her one and sat back down. "That's not true. Look, I'm sorry about leaving, but I like this guy and being my best friend, you should respect that."
Tossing the unopened bottle down next to her, she stared down at the floor. "I hope you know what you're doing with this asshole. Anyway... I came over to tell you that Celeste and Eric are coming as a 'couple' to dinner tomorrow night. Just a little heads up."
"Thanks. I'm not mad about it or anything. I don't blame him for talking to her after the way I left. He should be happy too."
"That's it? That's all you're gonna say?"
"What do you want from me Kara? I want Jared, not Eric, you know that."
"Whatever." She was acting like an immature child and when she realized I wasn't going to change my mind and forget about Jared, she left.
I knew that my friends and I were having dinner tomorrow night and I was thinking about inviting Jared to go with me. They would all like him, except for Eric of course. He wasn't happy about my involvement with a guy who had such a shitty reputation.
The following day at work, I took a break to text Jared, asking if he wanted to join us for dinner. Promising him that most of my friends were cool, I sent him the time and name of the restaurant. I also told him how important it was to me that he actually show up. He never responded.
After work, I went home to change my clothes before heading over to the restaurant. We all met in the parking lot and I let them know that I had a date who was possibly coming. I hoped like hell Jared wouldn't make a fool of me, especially since Eric was there, holding Celeste's hand while glaring at me.
We waited ten minutes, but Jared was a no show and I let out a frustrated breath, stepping inside behind Kara. "Okay guys, I guess he's not coming. Sorry I kept you waiting." Kara made that 'I told you so' face and I could feel the anger building. Just as I was about to say something really shitty to her, I felt hands around my waist. Spinning around, I grinned excitedly. "Glad you could make it. You're always late."
"I'm sorry babe, my meeting ran a little late." He gave me a little wink and glanced around my group of friends that he's only met once before. "Better late than never, right?" He put his fingers under my chin, tilting my head back and pushing his tongue into my mouth, kissing me like his life depended on it.
I wasn't expecting a kiss like that in front of my friends, but it was amazing. When I spun to see the frown on Eric's face I smiled proudly. "You all remember Jared."
Celeste looked starstruck, her mouth was wide open as she began babbling about one of his films. The hostess came over to greet and we were seated. We had a rather large group of people, ten of us all together, but that didn't seem to be an issue for the busy restaurant.
Jared was being extra attentive throughout dinner, holding my hand and pulling me closer to him. I wasn't used to this side of him at all, but I wasn't definitely wasn't complaining. Eric cleared his throat. "So, is there a reason that you only call Cassie once every few months? She deserves much more than being used by some has been."
"Shut up Eric!" I raised my voice across the table, but I was certain that everyone heard me loud and clear.
The look in Jared"s eye told me that he didn't particularly care for a public altercation. "That's none of your fucking business. Cassie is a big girl and whoever she decides to see is none of your business."
Pointing his finger at Jared, Eric snarled. "She's my friend and that makes it my fucking business." Eric's face reddened with anger and I squeezed Jared's hand. I felt sick and we hadn't even ordered food yet, what the hell was I thinking bringing Jared around Eric?
