Chapter One - Jake!

Rebecca 

I was dancing with my girls in the club. It was a typical Saturday night for us. You only live once; you may as well make the most of it. We had a lot of attention on us, but we never bothered with it. We were not here for attention or too hook-up, we were here to dance, drink and have fun. I think we have all had enough of men and their bullshit to last us all a lifetime. I am not saying all men are assholes, I know they aren’t, but our group seems to have bad luck with guys. We made a pact a few months ago to stay away from men for a little while. It was for the best. For the moment anyway. 

The four of us were dancing all up on each other, giggling, and forgetting everything else around us. The group of girls in front of us stopped dancing and headed off the dancefloor, and as they did, they opened up my view. My eyes fell on a group of guys, sitting at one of the tables because someone caught my eye. No, it can’t be? I stopped dancing, trying to get a better look. I was not caring that I probably looked like some crazy person staring at some strangers. 

“Rebecca, what the hell are you doing?” my friend Paula giggled. 

“Is that who I think it is?” I asked, turning her around to see what I was staring at or rather, who, “Is that Jake?” I added. 

“I think so,” She smirked. 

Jake, he and I used to work together. We got on excellent. We hit it off from the moment we met. There may or may not have been unspoken chemistry between, unspoken tension. I think we both felt it, and everyone picked up on it, but it was not something that was spoken about. Why? Because no matter what was between us, at the time, we were both taken. 

The last time I saw him was about a year and a half ago. We used to work together at the same bar, I was still there, but he left to go to another job. I have not seen or talked to him since. One thing was for sure, that being he was still as gorgeous as he was back then. He was not only beautiful though, but he was also sweet, talented and funny. 

He was always a hit with the females that came into the bar, and the gay guys too. It was understandable. He stood close to six feet tall, his eyes were a mix of blue and green, his dark hair slightly long and his smile, that was a smile that would make any woman weak to her knees. He had a good body too; he wasn’t overly muscular, but he would surely keep you warm and safe wrapped in those arms. And if that isn’t enough to make him attractive, he also has tattoos. He was not covered in them, but he did have a few and let’s be honest, many of us girls like men with ink, not us all, but a lot. 

“Rebecca quit staring at him, you look like a madwoman,” Our other friend Sam laughed. 

“Sorry, I can’t help it, but I will stop,” I giggled, “Before I get caught,” I added, turning to look at her. 

“Um, I think it may be too late,” Sam laughed, “He is looking right at you,” She added. 

Shit! What do I do? He may not realise it is me. The last time we saw each other, I had bright pink hair, now, I was back to my natural blonde. I quickly turned away, at least if I had my back to him, he would notice me. 

“You are on your own for this one, babe,” Paula smirked. 

They all started walking away. Where are they going, and why are they leaving me here alone? 

“Hey there stranger,” I hear a familiar voice from behind me. 

I take a deep breath, putting my best smile on and turning to face him. 

“Hey, yes, it has been a while,” I smiled. 

I was trying my best not to stare at the way the black tee he had on clung to his body. He seemed more muscular than he did when I last saw him. 

“You changed your hair,” He said, twirling a strand of it with his fingers, his eyes fixated on me, “I liked your bright pink hair,” He added, smiling. 

“Yes, I did too, but I wanted a change, so went natural for a change,” I giggled. 

“You suit it,” He smiles, dropping the strand of my hair from his fingers, “How have you been?” He added.

“I have been OK, been a rough six months though, but I am over that now,” I said, shrugging, “What about you?” I added. 

“Yeah, I have been alright,” He said, “What happened? You OK?” He added. 

“Ethan and I broke up. He was cheating on me,” I said. 

“I am sorry, Becca,” He said sadly. 

Becca, he always called me that. I don’t particularly appreciate when people call me that, but it never bothered me when he did. It started he did it because he knew it annoyed the hell out of me, but then it stuck. 

“Becca, now that is a name I haven’t heard in a while,” I laughed. 

“Does it still annoy you?” He laughed. 

“Maybe a little,” I giggle, “What about you, are you still with Lauren?” I added. 

Lauren was his long-term girlfriend, but she is a crazy-assed bitch that treats him like crap and is so ungrateful. I have always said he can do better. He was a decent guy. 

“Yeah,” He said, looking away. 

The tone of his voice got to me. He sounded miserable when he said he was still with her. If he was unhappy in his relationship, why stay in it? Then again, I don’t know the full story, and frankly, it has nothing to do with me. 

“You want to grab a drink? Catch up?” I asked. 

I changed the subject, sensing he never wanted to talk about Lauren. I met her a few times, and that was enough for me. She was horrible and rude, we got into it once because of the crap she was saying to Jake, and he stood there and took it. I never, though. I was not standing by watching someone getting belittled like that. She was not amused! Lauren decided the moment she met me that she never liked me. I didn’t care, though. I can do without people like her in my life. 

“Yeah, sounds good,” He smiled. 

He places his hand on the small of my back, and my body shuddered under his touch, something I hope that he didn’t notice. If he did, he did not say anything about it. Jake kept me close to him as we made our way through the crowd, heading towards one of the bars in the club. 

The club had three different bars, the one we were heading for seemed to be the less busy one. We found a couple of stools, hopping upon them and ordering our drinks, Jake insisting he paid for them. 

“Thank you,” I smiled. 

“No bother at all,” He said, returning the smile, “You look really good, Becca,” He added, his eyes firmly looking into mine. 

“I haven’t changed that much,” I said, trying to laugh it off. 

“I didn’t say you have,” He said, resting his hand on my thigh, “You always look good,” He added. 

“Jake, what are you doing?” I breathed out. 

Yes, we used to mess around, flirt and prank each other when we worked together, but that was all fun and innocent. The way he is looking at me now? The tone in his voice when he told me I looked good, and the fact that his hand is on my bare thigh right now, all of this was different. 

“Sorry,” He said, pulling his hand away. 

He turned away, taking a large swig of his drink, before turning back to me. 

“Are you still at the Echo?” He asked. 

“Yes, I am now bar manager,” I smiled, “What about you?” I added. 

He was trying to act like nothing happened a moment ago, and I will play along with that because I don’t want things getting awkward between us. 

“I work for Lauren’s father now, at his hotel as bar manager,” He said. 

“Do you enjoy it?” I asked. 

“Not really, it is full entitled fucks and spoiled rich kids,” He said, rolling his eyes, “Nothing like working at the Echo, but I don’t have a choice. I took it to try and make life easier.” He added. 

I felt terrible for him because that wasn’t the right place for him. He was a guy that liked having fun and bantering with customers and messing around, none of which I am sure he can do where he works now. Laurens father is a wealthy man; he owns a few hotels, along with many other businesses. 

“I am sorry, Jake,” I said. 

“It is fine, it is life, I guess,” He said. 

He never seemed like the guy I used to know. I think tonight that I may need to help him let loose.