Chapter 02.3

“Hey, Shannon,” Jenny said cheerfully. “Glad I spotted you—your gloves were left behind yesterday.”

She placed something on the table.

“Thanks! I’ve been looking for them,” Shannon squealed.

“No problem. Bye!” Jenny said. “Bye, Jay,” she added, and walked out the door.

“Damn it,” I muttered and ran after her.

I caught up to her in front of a small, sleek red car that looked brand new. She was just about to get in. Her hair was different now—golden blonde, falling in soft curls around her face. She held her keys and a small drink in one hand.

“There’s nothing between us—nothing happened,” I blurted out.

She turned around. Dad was right—she was stunning. But her smile hid everything. The new hairstyle suited her perfectly.

“It’s not me you owe an explanation to, Jay,” she said calmly, turning to leave.

“That’s true,” I snapped. “But don’t you have something to say?”

“Excuse me?” She turned back to face me, her eyes flashing with anger, though the rest of her face remained perfectly still.

“Nice car,” I said sarcastically.

“Thanks. It was a gift,” she replied with a smile.

“From who?” I asked mockingly. “Let me guess—the ape you’re marrying?”

“From someone who cares about me and can afford it,” she said, completely unfazed.

“You moved on from us pretty quickly,” I said, my voice loud and bitter, jealousy rising.

“Excuse me?” she asked, her eyes narrowing, anger flashing again.

“You’re marrying some rich idiot just because he bought you a car?” I asked recklessly.

“I don’t think I owe you any details,” she said, still calm, though her tone was growing colder.

“I expected more from you than marrying for money,” I nearly shouted.

People started coming out of the restaurant—Tony among them.

Jenny stepped right up to me without a word. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she shook her drink and splashed it straight into my face.

Laughter erupted around us. Everything on me was sticky.

“Don’t you ever speak to me again,” she hissed, then got into her car and drove off.

“Hope you enjoyed the show,” I muttered to the onlookers, then walked back into the restaurant. People avoided my gaze like I was contagious.

I sat back down at the table. Shannon was nearly done with her salad and grinned wide when she saw my dripping beard and soaked clothes.

“I don’t know what you’re still trying to prove,” I said as I sat down to finish my food. “But I don’t care anymore. She’s marrying some idiot anyway.”

“She’s been on a few dates, sure, but it’s way too early to talk about marriage,” Shannon said with a smile. “Unless… you’re jealous?”

“That’s not really my thing,” I muttered.

“You can picture it, though, can’t you?” she said, leaning in just enough to needle me. “Her walking hand-in-hand with someone else. Laughing at his jokes. Smiling like she used to smile at you.”

I clenched my fork, jaw tight. But she wasn’t finished.

"Someone else kissing her neck. Someone else tracing his fingers down her spine. Someone else feeling the warmth of her skin. Breathing in the scent of it. Someone else curling up next to her at night. Someone else tasting her. Someone else seeing her fall apart. Someone else's name leaving her lips. Someone else erasing your touch. Someone else making her scream—louder than she ever did with you"

That last line twisted the knife and buried it deep.

“Stop it,” I hissed. Her words had turned into vivid images in my mind.

“Why should I?” Shannon mocked. “You deserve to suffer.”

“What did you just say?” I asked, furious.

“You’ve hurt a lot of girls, Jay. And everyone knows you never take anyone seriously—not even Jane,” she said.

“And what makes you think that?” I asked, rolling my eyes.

“You never considered her feelings. You’re selfish. Every decision you made was about you,” Shannon said. “Jane deserves better.” She waved to Tony.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You left for that faraway school,” she said, then paid and strutted out.

Shannon’s words kept echoing in my head, and honestly, I could’ve killed Jane’s new guy. He better hope we never meet.