Page 16 of Wicked Love

The same hostess, who had greeted us when we arrived, met me when I rounded the corner. “I’m sorry to bother you, but your boyfriend is drunk at the bar. And we’d like for you to come and see to him. Customers are complaining.” She pointed behind her with a thumb.

I stopped in my tracks. “Boyfriend?”

“Huh, the guy you were with earlier.”

“Oh, that boyfriend.” I nodded as if it made sense.

“You have more than one boy in your life? If you do, I wouldn’t hold too tight to this one.” She turned and walked away without another word. Whoa, blunt much. If I remembered correctly, she was the one flirting with him when I first got here.

Following her directions, I reached the bar section of the restaurant. Joe was at the back of the U-shaped counter, his tongue down another girl’s throat, and his hands cupping her ass while she rubbed herself against him.

I watched them, bile rising at the back of my throat at the sight. A knot tied my stomach. Moisture developed in my palms. I wasn’t allowed to feel the pang of jealousy developing inside me. It was stupid. And unwelcome. And yet it spread through me like wildfire.

Nearing the tonsils show playing in front of my eyes, I harrumphed, my fists resting on my hips.

Joe tilted his head, his glossy eyes boring into mine.

His were void of warmth, bloodshot and hooded. He looked nothing like the guy I fell for the night before. Gone was his easygoing charm and contagious smile. He appeared dejected. A sadistic curl bent his lips. “What do you want, sister?” His tone was mocking. At that moment, I wondered how I ever found him attractive.

“You’re drunk, brother.”

“Wow, you’re perceptive. Want an award for being a smartass?”

I inhaled and exhaled slowly. “The restaurant people asked me to get you out of here. It seems they don’t like porn shows taking place in their establishment.”

“Porn shows?” He echoed my words in disdain.

“Yes. People don’t appreciate your little display of…of whatever you’re doing.”

He laughed, his head jerking back. “That’s not what she said last night. If I recall her exact words, they were Fuck me. Don’t you feel like a fraud right now? When my dick slid into—”

I pushed the girl to the side, silencing Joe with a hand. His arms wrapped around my waist, and I melted a little against him. Until my conscience returned and I snapped out of it. “You,” I told the girl, flicking my finger at her, “get lost. And you,” I brought my focus on Joe, “I’m taking you home.”

“Oh god, she’s taking me home. It feels like a déjà-vu. In reverse.” There was no humor in his laughter.

“Stop being a smartass and let’s go.”

“I’m not done here.” He called after the girl, “Don’t go. She’ll go.”

I pushed his chest back with all my strength. “What are you doing? What are you trying to prove?”

He lifted his hands between us in defense. “I’m just trying to get rid of the taste of you. I’ve gotta fuck you out of my system, so please let me be and go and play with your dolls elsewhere.”

“My dolls?”

“Yep. Because you are a kid. A. Kid. In. High school. And I’m in my twenties. Do you need me to draw it for you? Because you can’t read? Or perhaps you flunked math. How old are you again? Oh yes, too young. And it has nothing to do with good genes. Gosh, you had me there. I gave you the benefit of the doubt. You tricked me. Stabbed me in the heart and left me bleeding. One of the best nights of my life. And what did I gain in return? Lies. Fucking lies. And more lies. And a new mom. Wow. You two should gather all your stuff and go back to where you belong. Far from here. Pack your bags, and get the hell away from our lives. For good. Is it too hard to—”

“You want us gone? Do you think I wanted to come here? To be moved across the country in my senior year of high school and lose all my friends? The only home I’ve ever known? Do you think it’s easy for me to attend a school filled with rich pricks who think they’re better than me? And who talk about you like you’re the Slut King of Silverville? No. You have no idea how it is for me. You live in fucking New York. You’re only here for the weekend. After that, you’re going back to your life. I’m the one who lives under the same roof as our parents. I’m. The. One. Stuck. Here. So, I’m sorry for bothering your perfect little life, but you walked away from it a long time ago. Stop acting like an entitled princess and grow up. I thought you were twenty-three, not three.”

“Stop thinking you’re better than me. You’re full of shit. That much is evident from miles away. And you have daddy issues. I found out firsthand when you cornered me in that—"

A deep voice from behind startled us both. “Enough.”

In slow motion, I turned around and came face to face with Philip.

A wave of heat filled my cheeks.

How much did he hear? Ohmygod, we were so screwed. I was so screwed. But I was a minor. If everything went to shit, it would be Joe who would take the blame for it all. I had no idea what the age of consent here in Pennsylvania was, but I couldn’t let anything happen to him. After all, I was the one who lied to him. Who made him believe things that didn’t exist.