Chapter Eleven

That night, I pulled out my old photo albums. There were so many pictures of me and Jase but never with us near each other. That didn't surprise me at all, but looking at how cute he was blew me away. I couldn't get past the hatred back then to see anything else, but he really was a stud. In high school, he dated all my friends, and as small as our school was, it meant we were together a lot. Several photos stood out to me, though, as I turned through the pages. Like the one taken at the field party Bryson Callawell held sophomore year. Bryson and I dated for a couple months, and in the picture, he had me on his back, running around in circles. I had always loved that one. We had been laughing so hard that it captured us perfectly. But all I saw when I looked at it was Jase in the background, leaning against his truck scowling. 

Then came the pictures from prom. That night was awful and hands down the most embarrassing thing I have ever gone through. Finally knowing why just made it all different. 

Next was senior week at school, when the pep rally brought all of us into the gym because of the rain. I remembered so clearly how everyone was smiling for the camera when Logan Hayworth slapped my butt and I screamed. My face was priceless, but I never noticed how mad Jase was at Logan. He literally looked like he was about to throw a punch.

Lastly, there was graduation. The image I had blown up into an eight by ten of my family had been taken on the football field where they held the ceremony. I had never, in all the times I looked at that picture, noticed Jase in the background, but there he was, standing with his own family. Only they weren't holding his attention. Instead, he was looking over at me wearing the same look I saw earlier. The one I would never forget. His eyes were always his tell. He couldn't mask anything; they would always give him away. Maybe that was why earlier I had loved what I saw, even if it hurt a little knowing we had wasted so many years fighting when we could have been great friends. 

I closed the book and set it down on the end of my bed before I grabbed my phone and let my head fall back on my pillow. Just when I was about to call Izzy and tell her the good news about my boot, I noticed I had some notifications from Facebook. The last one that came in brought a smile to face. It was a private message from Jase.

Want to mess with everybody and be friends?  I think it would possibly blow up Facebook if everyone saw but it might be fun.

I laughed and quickly started typing.

Hell yes!

His response came instantly.

We have to make it epic though. What should we do?

I didn't answer him right away. Instead, I went to his profile and requested him. Before I could get back to the message my phone dinged—he accepted.

That was quick.

You think that was? Look at your wall.

I immediately looked and openly laughed out loud.

Thank you for bouncing so perfectly!

"Oh, you're so dead, dude" 

I clicked on his name and started typing.

ZAYN ain't got nothing on your mad skills.

My private message bubble from him popped up on my screen, and when I clicked to open it, I saw a picture of him laughing. I immediately screen shot one of myself doing the same thing and added

Now we just sit back and wait.

This is going to be some funny shit, Red.

It didn't take but two minutes before I got a comment, then three and then eight, all saying basically the same thing.

Wtf is going on? 

Jase Jergensmeyer you must have done some serious ass kissing.

Shelby you have some explaining.

I clicked on Jase's page and literally fell over laughing at his.

Dude! Call me!

No way! You lucky son of a bitch

Shelby McCormick did you get hacked?

I messaged Jase immediately

I haven't had this much fun in a long time.

Are you tired?  

Not at all. Why?

Can I come over?

My neck jerked back as my eyebrows raised.

What do you have planned?

I don't. I just would like to see you.

You spent the whole day with me. You're not sick of me yet?

Not in the slightest. You're actually kind of fun. And I'm bored out of my mind and getting hungry. You want to go grab a pizza?

My stomach growled

Yeah, I would love to. See you when you get here.

Sweet. Be ready in ten.

Before I even closed the bubble, my phone started to ring. It was Izzy, and my face lit up instantly.

"Hey there, gorgeous. I was just going to call you. You—"

"What the hell are you doing, Shelby?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Zayn? Really? You are messing around with that psychopath Jase even after we—"

"Stop. You don't know what's happened. He isn't the monster I said he was."

"No, he's the guy that made your life hell. I never said he was a monster, but I'm pretty sure I said stay away from him. What are you thinking?"

"I don't know. He's sweet and funny and—

"Oh, my God, girl. Are you kidding?"

"Shut up, Izzy. You don't know him. He really is a good guy."

"You have been away from me for less than a week and you have forgotten everything I taught you. The only reason I'm not freaking out on your ass is the fact I will be there in less than forty-eight hours to straighten you back out."

"You will see when you get here. I'm not losing my mind. He's changed. We've changed. Why would it be better to hold on to all that hate? This way we can be friends."

"No one wants to be friends with Zayn, Shelby. That post says way more than you're letting on."

"It was a joke, Izzy, nothing more."

"Something is telling me not to believe you."

"Well, don't listen to it. I am telling you, there is nothing going on between me and him that you need to be worried about."

"Says the cat, before he kills the mouse."

"What?"

"Nothing. Anyways, my flight gets in at four thirty on Friday. You better keep those thighs closed and be there to pick me up."

"Shit!"

"What? Don't tell me I have to take a cab all the way out there, girl, or I'm canceling this flight right now."

"No, it's just, I don't know if I will be able to drive by then. Don't worry, though, I will ask Arianna if she can bring me."

"Whatever you gotta do, just be there or I will kill you as soon as you pay the cab driver."

I laughed. 

"You don't have to worry. I will be there."

"Just remember, I'm coming because you asked me to."

"I remember. Now, tell me all about the apartment. Is it gorgeous?  How far away is the beach?"

"You already know all this."

"Tell me again anyway. I can't wait to see it for myself."

She went on to describe every detail to me so vividly I could picture standing in her place looking over every square inch.

"I wish they would contact me already. The longer I have to wait, the worse this is looking for me."

"Don't worry. That job is yours. As soon as they open up the position, you will be the first person they contact. I just know it."

"I hope you're right."

"Hey! You in here? Nobody is answering the door, and I have been knocking forever."

Jase's head popped around the corner of the hallway, looking into my room, where he found me still lying on my bed. I smiled and held up my finger signaling to him it would be just a second.

"Hey, Izzy, I don't mean to cut you off, but I have to go."

"Why? What do you have to do that's more important than talking to me?"

"There is nothing more important than you but I still have to go. I will see you at four thirty on Friday, woman."

"You better be there."

"Stop worrying. I will be there."

"Oh, you know, you could always have that fine ass brother-in-law of yours drive you. I wouldn't be to upset if I had to look at him the whole way back to your house."

"You are one sick individual, girl. See you Friday."

"See you Friday."

"Bye."

I hung up and looked back over to Jase who was patiently resting his back against the wall, staring at me.

"Your room looks like an eight-year-old threw up all over it."

I scooted off the bed to stand and placed my hands on my hips.

"I was an eight-year-old once, and yes, that's when I had dreams to catch. Don't knock it, stud. This room rocks."

"The only thing I'm going to take from that statement as truth is the stud part." He closed the space between us. "And if you keep talking like that to me …"

In no way did I see our conversation leading that way, but with him so close, all I could think about was kissing him, which was exactly what I did. He immediately stopped talking and began walking me backward until the back of my knees met with my bed. I allowed my weight to fall, but I made sure to have a grip on him, bringing him down with me. Lying there feeling the way his hands traveled up and down my sides as his kiss became even more furious had me wishing I didn't have ten pounds of a boot on my foot or I would have wrapped my legs around his waist in a heartbeat. 

"Stop that."

He never let his mouth go from mine yet he was able to form words. I wasn't as talented, so I had to pull back slightly to speak. 

"Stop what?"

"If you grind into me one more time, Red, we won't be going anywhere. Do you understand me?"

I had no idea my body was working along with my mind, and it caused me to break out into giggles. I couldn't tell you last time I giggled, but I couldn't stop. My stomach began to tighten until I couldn't contain the full-out laugh building inside of me.

"This wasn't meant to be funny."

"But … it … is …"

His body rose off of me, and the look in his eyes screamed that I was in trouble. 

"What? You told me to stop."

I was still cracking up at the fact I had been acting like a horny thirteen-year-old boy, humping him. 

"Let’s go."

He rocked back, but when he stood up and I noticed the tent in his pants, I just lost it. Holding my stomach to try and settle the spasms wasn't working, and the last failed attempt to catch a breath brought out a snort.

"I'm out of here."

"No.”

I couldn't stop laughing but I lunged forward to grab his hand to stop him.

"Come on. This is funny. You have to admit that."

He picked me up from the bed and spun around before he had me pinned up against the wall.

"Nothing will ever be funny about you underneath me, Red. You have no idea the self-control I had to use just now."

Those eyes, they were going to get me in trouble. 

"I think we better go get that pizza."

His mouth came so close to mine I could feel the air coming off his lips, and damn it all to hell did he make me forget my own name. And then, like the air was sucked out of the room, he backed away, tilted his head from side to side like he was cracking his neck, and said, "Let's get that pizza."

Taking my hand, he pulled me from the wall, through the house, and didn't let go until I was placed in his truck.

When Jase opened the door of Mario’s Pizzeria for me to pass through, we were too busy laughing to pay attention to the fact the room went silent. Neither of us noticed anything until we were both seated in a booth and realized the only noise in the place was us. 

"Do you think we smell bad and they're holding their breath?"

"No, they are just stunned silent over the way you bounced in here. I'm telling you, I thought it was the crutches but nope, that dress is something else."

I picked up the rolled silverware in front of me and threatened to fling it at him. 

"Leave my boobs out of this. They didn't do anything wrong."

"No, they certainty didn't. I think I saw a trampoline on the way here. Care to join me after we eat?"

"Only if you can keep your third leg under control. I would hate for you to trip over it and fall."

"Oh, don't worry, Red, you will—"

"Don't you finish that sentence."

"Or what?"

"You won't like me anymore, trust me."

"I don't see that being possible. Bring it on."

"Just shut up. Besides—" I looked around again "—does anyone even work here anymore? I'm starving."

He looked across the room and went from laughing with me to fuming. I had no idea what got him so upset but he got up from the table and walked through the door across the room then into the kitchen. Having no idea what to do since he had made us even more of an attraction to the onlookers, I simply smiled, waved to everyone, and said, "Hello."

No one was willing to even look at me more or less speak. I had never done anything to any one of them but somehow walking into this establishment was a mistake.  I got up from the table, grabbed my purse, and went in search of Jase. I was ready to leave. Just as I reached the door, it swung back open, almost knocking me on my butt. Stumbling backward, Jase quickly swooped in to catch me before I fell.

"At least he can save somebody."

Jase's head jerked to the side as I was trying to process the words Mr. Jenkins, who was sitting with his wife at the table closest to us, had said.

"You son-of-a-bitch."

Jase stood me up and was in Mr. Jenkins’ face a second later.

"You have no idea what you're talking about, so keep those comments to yourself. Am I making myself clear?"

Mr. Jenkins stood from his chair and stepped into Jase's face seething mad.

"Don't tell me what I am supposed to understand. I was a Goddamn soldier myself, boy, so respect your superiors."

Jase didn't back down, and I was scared to death of what was coming. It seemed like we both moved at the same time. Mrs. Jenkins rose from her seat as I advanced on Jase. I watched as she rested her hand on her husband's shoulder in an attempt to calm him, but I couldn't bring myself to do anything and the screaming was far from over. 

"Well, then, Sir—" he let his title drag out "—you should have no problem assessing the situation properly. If you would like to discuss this further, we can go outside, but this is not the place."

"You're right about that. This is a good place, and scum like you don't belong here."

"Jase, let’s just go."

I hoped he would listen, but the sound of my voice caused his body to go stiff. When he turned to look at me, his eyes where full of rage.

Taking my hand, he pulled me away from the furious Mr. Jenkins and back through the entrance to the restaurant. 

"Are you okay?  What was all that about?"

He let go of my hand and walked over to the brick exterior before he punched it. 

"Jase."

I ran over to him and grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to face me.

"Stop it. Whatever is going on, this won't fix it."

"You don't understand."

He threw the hat he had been wearing to the ground and then kicked it.

"You're right. I don't. Help me to, please. You're scaring me."

He looked at me. Like, really looked at me, and then he grabbed his hat, walked away toward his truck, and said over his shoulder, "Come on. I'm taking you home."