Chapter Twenty-Six – Jeff

The graduation was over, and my mother didn’t show up. Thank the fuck. I watched Ellie with a smile as she hugged and congratulated all her friends. Every now and then, I’d glance over to Ari. The speech she gave was amazing. She wasn’t just beautiful; she was smart as hell, and I was so damn proud of her. Not that I would tell her. I should . . . it’s what a good friend would do. But today I needed to keep her at bay. If I got friendly with her today, tonight she would expect the same thing. Ari in my house was not going to be a good thing.

A few teachers who had remembered me approached me to talk either about Ellie or just small talk in general.

“Jeff, you’ll be joining us for dinner, correct?” Sue asked as she brought me in for a hug.

“Yes, of course. Ari was amazing with her speech.”

Sue and Mark beamed with pride.

“Where’s Matt?” I asked, noticing he wasn’t there. I adored Ari’s younger brother.

“He wasn’t feeling well so he stayed at home with the sitter. I’m not sure how he would have done with the crowd and how long the graduation was,” Sue said.

Ari’s brother had a genetic condition called Fragile X syndrome, and I knew the large crowds here today would have made him very anxious. He was a great kid, though, and loved Ari like no other.

“He hasn’t been home the last few times I’ve stopped by. I’d love to come by and hang out with him sometime.”

Sue smiled from ear to ear. “You know he would love that, Jeff.”

Ellie finally made her way over to me. “Is it okay if Ari and Heather ride to the dinner with us?”

My eyes drifted past Ellie and landed on Ari. She was laughing at something her father was saying. When he pulled her in for a hug, I forced myself to look away.

“Of course it’s okay.”

The entire drive to the five-star restaurant Sue and Mark had picked was filled with three girls going on about everything from what so and so had on under her robe to how much fun they were going to have tonight.

I pulled up and valet parked. When the kid went for my keys, I held them back. “Don’t put a scratch on this truck.”

He grinned. “No, sir. Wouldn’t dream of it.”

By the time we got to the table, I was ready for a beer. Being this close to Ari with her in a tight, short dress was playing havoc on my poor confused dick, not to mention my even more confused brain.

When we all took our seats and I was left to sit next to Ari, I almost moaned out loud. How in the hell was I going to be able to sit next to her and not touch her?

“What’s wrong? The thought of sitting next to me repulse you that much, Johnson? There’s a seat next to your sister.”

“Huh?” I said, looking at her as she looked up at me. “What are you talking about, Ari?”

“Jeff, what’s wrong? You don’t look very happy. Do you want to sit over here by me?” Ellie asked.

If I said yes, then Ari would think I didn’t want to sit next to her. If I sat next to her, I’d drive myself fucking crazy all night.

“No. No, I’m fine here.”

When I sat down, my leg brushed against Ari. She moved slightly away from me, and that bothered me more than I wanted to admit.

Did she do it because the idea of touching me made her ill or made her crazy . . . like it did me?

I tried like hell to ignore the story she was telling about Heather nearly tripping when she walked up onstage. The sound of her voice had my dick in a constant hard-on, and it was beginning to hurt.

Then it happened. The little prick a few tables down from us who kept staring at Ari stood and made his way over to the table. Who in the hell was this guy?

“Ari, do you know that guy?” I asked, leaning in and making contact with her body. I swear I saw her inhale a quick breath at my touch, but then blew it off to my imagination.

“Rod?” Ari said, leaning over to get a better look.

The guy waved to her, and she waved back.

“Who’s Rod?” I asked, watching the guy beam when Ari noticed him.

“Oh my gosh! Rod!” Ari said, making her way around the table and hugging him. I balled my fists under the table when he let his hand slide down her back and over her ass.

What. The. Fuck. Her parents were right there. That was a bold fucking move.

“Who’s Rod?” I asked Ellie, who was sitting on the other side of the table.

“Ari dated him for a bit in high school before he moved away.”

My eye shot back over to them.

“Mind if I join y’all for a bit?” Rod asked.

“Aren’t you here with your family?” I asked, looking past him to the small family he had gotten up and abandoned.

This Rod guy stared at me like I was beneath him. How dare I speak to him when not spoken to.

“Nah, they’re fine. Ellie, do you mind moving so Ari and I can sit together?”

My jaw dropped. He didn’t just do that.

Ellie stood. “Sure. No problem.”

The seat next to Ellie had been empty, but I was hoping Ari would blow the guy off. Boy, was I wrong. For the next ten minutes, she laughed and flirted with the asshole. When we ordered, the douche actually asked to have his dish brought over here, not his table.

After ordering another beer, I watched Ari as she kept leaning in to the guy each time he made her laugh. Her hand landed on his arm more times than I could count.

“Jeff, is everything okay?” Sue asked. She obviously saw I was tense.

“Everything is great. Thank you so much for having Ellie and I join y’all for dinner.”

She smiled. “You’re family. Of course we want you here.”

Our meals were served, and Ari continued to talk and pay attention to the asshole sitting across from me. Each time he laughed, it grated on my nerves. When Ari got up to use the restroom, I waited a few minutes and did the same. Racing down the hallway to the restrooms, I waited for her to come out.

She stepped outside and jumped when I walked up to her and pulled her down the hall a little farther.

“Jeff? What are you doing?”

I scoffed. “What am I doing? What in the hell are you doing?”

Her brows pulled together tightly. “Excuse me?”

“Don’t you think it’s inappropriate for you to be flirting with this Rod guy so openly in front of your parents?”

I’ve seen Ari pissed off before so I knew it was probably best that I take a step . . . maybe three . . . away from her.

“You dirty rotten son-of-a-cocksucking-asshole jerkface! I think you need to mind your own damn business.”

“It is my business when this guy looks like he’s pawing you up under the table.”

Her mouth fell open, and I was almost positive she was going to slap me.

“He hasn’t so much as laid a finger on me! And why do you care?”

I swallowed hard. My heart was racing.

Just tell her how you feel, Jeff. Take a risk. Pull her into your arms and kiss her.

“I care because you’re making yourself look like a fool flirting with him.”

Tears filled her eyes, and I wanted to take back the hurtful words I didn’t mean. Jealousy was driving me fucking mad, and I was taking it out on her.

She shook her head, and I nearly died when I saw her lower lip tremble.

“Ari, I didn’t mean to say that.”

It was like I slapped her in the face and brought her back from the brink of tears. She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin.

“I’m not your goddamn girlfriend. I’m just Squirt, your little sister’s best friend.”

“Ari.”

She took a step closer and leaned in to me as she smiled. Fuck, that smile of hers was my weakness. She placed her hands on my shoulders and reached up, causing me to lean down to her. Her mouth went to the side of my head, next to my ear.

“It’s a shame you’re such a spineless prick. We could have finally had some fun tonight, but it turns out, you’re not my type.”

And like that, she was gone. Leaving me to stand there with her words rattling around in my mind.

We could have finally had some fun tonight . . .

My hands started to sweat at the thought of Ari and me together in any sort of way. Had she been planning on making a move on me tonight? What did she mean?

I wanted to run after her and demand she tell me. Instead, I did the spineless prick thing I normally did when I didn’t want to face something.

Brought in a distraction.

Reaching for my phone, I pulled up Rebecca’s number.

“Hey! Fancy you calling me.”

“I’m having a graduation party for my little sister tonight at my place. If you and a few friends want to stop by, that would be great. Ellie wants to see what a college party is like.”

“How cute. Of course I’ll stop by and bring a friend or two.”

Instantly I regretted calling her. Nothing good was going to come out of Rebecca and her bitch friends being there, but it was too late. I’d already done the deed; there was no backing out now.

“Come anytime after seven.”

I hung up the phone, not even bothering to say goodbye.

Spineless prick indeed.