"Alright, everyone just calm down. Jared, I just hope you understand that we all love Cassie, and are only concerned about her well being." Kara tried to diffuse the situation as always, but her comments about him to me in private weren't forgotten, and judging by the look on Eric's face, he was only getting started.
Jared smiled, but if Kara thought he was going to just sit there and take Eric's shit, she was crazy. If there was one thing I learned quickly, it was that nobody pushed Jared Leto around. He spoke respectively to Kara. "I can respect your concern, of course, but at the same time, Cassie is grown and can make decisions for herself. Besides, she knows I'd never hurt her, right Cas?" His eyes met mine and he smiled softly as his fingers wrapped around my hand under the table.
"Exactly! So, you guys can stop treating me like a child, Kara." I rolled my eyes at her and focused my attention on Eric. "I'm not a child you know, I don't need YOU protecting me." I was over the bullshit and made sure he knew it.
"Jared, we try to get together like once a week, all of us to catch up. I'm sure you can understand that. We've all been friends for a very long time and like to keep in touch. None of us want to fight with you. We're all grown here and clearly Cas has expressed the desire for us to get to know you. Let's just start over."
"Speak for yourself, Kara." Eric muttered.
Placing his nearly empty glass of water down and totally ignoring Eric, Jared turned to look at me. "You've been talking about me, sweetie?" The shit eating grin spread across his face and I could feel my cheeks redden.
Great, now he would be asking what was said. He leaned in kissing me once more, only this time longer and even more intimately. I knew it was strictly for Eric's benefit. When he pulled away, I could see Eric absolutely seething.
Thankfully the waitress showed up to take our order, breaking some of the tension. We all ordered our food and the conversation seemed to get better from there. Sarah, had just broken up with her boyfriend and she was telling us about the fact that she caught him cheating on her with his coworker.
There were so many conversations going on at our table, so we ended up talking to Kara more than anyone else. She was a little hesitant to warm up to him, but by the end of dinner, she was laughing and joking with him, like they were the best of friends. At least now she would get off my ass about it.
Jared stunned them all by paying for the whole table. Usually, it was total chaos as the everyone scrambled to pay for their own meal. They all thanked him, with the exception of Eric. Rolling my eyes at him, we separated from the group and Jared walked me to my car. "Well, that was fun." He said completely expressionless.
"Oh come on, it wasn't that bad. You and Kara made friends." I told him opening my door and tossing my purse inside.
"I'm a little jealous of your friend Eric." He complained, pulling me tightly against him.
"Eric is just overly protective, but he's completely harmless. You gotta understand, we've been friends for a very long time."
He kissed my lips and watched me slide behind the wheel. I started the engine and he leaned in for a kiss. "Tomorrow night, dinner at my house."
"Are you asking or telling?" I asked, inhaling his delicious scent one last time.
"Asking, we don't have that kind of relationship anymore Cas. Just call me later ok?" As the words left his mouth, Eric and Celeste drove past us. Eric stared Jared down, narrowing his eyes. I sighed and glanced up at Jared, who laughed. "He doesn't like me very much, does he?"
"I'm hoping he will come around. It would be stupid to end a friendship over his stupid ego."
"And if he doesn't? I know how influential friends can be in making decisions. I won't allow him to ruin this, Cassandra." I hated when he called me that.
"My parents are the only ones allowed to call me that."
Leaning in, he kissed me again. "Mmmmm, maybe you should leave your car and just come home with me. I'll have you on your knees and answering to anything I choose to call you."
How could I say no to that dirty little smirk?
