I started long before the party began, but hell why not, it’s who Ruby thought I was, so why not prove her right.
“So?” I’d forgotten she’d asked me a question.
“Yes, well, a little.”
“A little.” Emelie laughed once more and it was confirmed she’s tipsy. Not that Em doesn’t ever laugh but she was beyond giddy. Immediately I was looking around for Clayton, knowing in her current condition he could not be far. I found him leaning against the door frame with a bottle of water in his hand and I instantly felt better. He offered a nod to ensure me he had her and I relax. “What exactly does a little mean?”
“She took the advice of her friend and decided that I wasn’t good enough for her.”
“She sounds like an idiot.” Again she giggled, which was so out of character for her. Emelie is a mom, first and foremost. Rarely does she ever step out of that role. She got knocked up by a douche at a party and from that moment on she avoided any type of situation that could ever be a repeat of that night. But now she had Clayton, she was safe and she knew it.
“Apparently all college guys are the same. We get drunk and sleep with random girls.”
Em stopped laughing and stared up at me, her eyes wandering a little as if it took her a minute to focus. “Mostly yes.” She nodded entirely too slowly, which made me laugh. “But there are good ones in the bunch. The key is finding the good ones and holding on before someone else snatches them up. You are a good one, Jay, and if she can’t see that, then it’s her loss.”
When she leaned in to kiss my cheek she missed and got my chin instead. I laughed when Clayton moved in and hooked her around the waist, tossing her over his shoulder. “Okay, boozy, that’s enough for you.”
“Wait!” She dropped her cup and half of it sloshed onto the floor before I grabbed it. “I was talking,” she wailed, and pounded on his back as he carried her off.
“And now you’re done.” All the guys in this house were so territorial of their girls, it was fun to watch them go from fun to pissed in seconds.
I spent another hour enjoying the party, talking to girls, hanging with the guys.
I watched as Elijah carried Corbin outside to the backyard and tossed him into the pool fully clothed all because he mentioned the night he walked in on Blake in all her naked glory. Maybe it was the comment about her having nothing to be ashamed of that pissed him off most.
Word of advice: if you ever see one of the other guys’ girls naked, you should never mention it again. Just pretend it never happened.
Retiring to my room, unable to allow myself to be the guy Ruby thought I was, I chose to go there alone. Sitting on the end of my bed, I took off my shoes and socks before pulling my shirt up and over my head. Tossing it to the floor, I crawled up my bed and lay back against the pillows.
Holding my phone in my hand, I turned it over and over, pausing to look at the screen, feeling that pull inside of me to do something more. A mixture of still being pissed off and not yet ready to give up battle in my mind.
Waking the screen, I skim through my texts and find the thread where I had sent her a few messages.
Jay: I had a great time.
Jay: Next time you can choose the movie.
Jay: Trying to study but got a craving for pizza, wanna join me?
Nothing was ever sent in return. I hovered over the button, again knowing I should just let it go but unable to stop myself.
Jay: How was your coffee date with Mark?
I hit send and immediately regretted it.
I almost dropped the phone when it vibrated with a response.
Ruby: How is the blonde I’ve seen you with around campus?
Sitting up and staring at her message, I wondered what in the hell she was talking about. What blonde?
Jay: Not sure I know who you are talking about?
Too much time passed and I was just about to send another message when one came through to me. It’s a picture and I lean in closer and almost laugh when I see who was with me.
Jay: Are you stalking me?
Nothing came back. I waited but she never messaged back. So instead I hit the phone button and called her. One, two, three rings and I knew it’s about to go to voicemail. I should hang up, only I couldn’t.
“Who’s the creeper now? Did you take that image or was it your reliable resource? I think you should really rethink those you base your choices on. If you want to think the blonde in the photo is some girl I’ve moved on with then go ahead. But just so you know you couldn’t be more wrong.” I paused when I knew my anger was getting the best of me. All kinds of things were on the tip of my drunken tongue I knew I would regret later. “So fucking wrong.”
I ended the call and tossed my phone to the end of my bed. I heard it hit the floor and fell back against the pillow once more. If Jade only knew that she was being considered some bimbo I was moving on with I knew she’d be searching out Darcy herself. Honestly, what the fuck? That bitch took a picture of me and sent it to Ruby as if I were doing something wrong.
