Rather Unexpected
Kenna
The last six weeks have stayed busy. I started helping Dina and Maggie with some of their events, as well as working my full-time accounting job. Jake and I are back to normal. Well, as back to normal as we will probably get. He knows how I feel, and I know how he feels, so we are at an impasse.
Chad and I still have lunch together every day. Some days, other people join us, but mostly, it’s just us. We talk about everything.
Unlike Jake, Chad wants to get married. He’s just not sure his current relationship is the one to take to that level.
I do find Chad handsome. There is an attraction, and I could easily be with him, fall into a simple life with him. Sometimes, I catch myself daydreaming about a future with him. My heart is with Jake, though.
With Jake, there is electricity, spark, hunger, need, passion, a raw burn inside me to connect to him. There has never been a simple attraction to Jake for me. My desire for him is unparalleled to anything I could attempt to describe or feel again. It’s always been strong. From the first kiss we shared, my heart finally came alive and really began to beat. That moment, my heart became Jake’s, to have and to hold, until death do us part, regardless of how he feels about it.
Could I settle for Chad or someone like him? Yes. But I would be doing just that: settling. I could be with Chad, but would I be happy with him or anyone else, for that matter? No, not to the level I am with Jake.
It’s Friday, and Chad has invited me out for drinks with our coworkers again. I decline because I am working with Maggie and Dina tonight for a local bar’s grand opening. When we get to the event, it isn’t long before the place is packed with a line out the door.
Just as I’m leaving the pool table area, I bump into someone.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I say as I begin to look upward. Making eye contact, I realize it’s Chad.
“Hello, beautiful.”
“Hey, yourself, handsome. What are you doing here?”
He smiles wickedly. “I wanted to see you.”
Before I can respond, his lips are down on mine with a crushing force. He’s pulling me in, his tongue begging for access. For a moment, I think about what it would be like to give in.
I breathe in, trying to gather my wits, the exact opening he was looking for. He begins a full-on assault on my mouth, searching, reaching, exploring, wanting.
Tears begin to prick at my eyes. There is no love in this kiss. This is need, desperation. This is not my Jake. This is not my love. However, I’m too stunned to react as precious seconds tick by.
I need air. I can’t breathe. I feel suffocated, swallowed, immersed.
Suddenly, cool air hits my now swollen lips as Chad is pulled away, and I find Jake has him up against a wall, choking him. I don’t know where he came from, but I am thankful he’s here.
“What. The. Fuck. Are. You. Doing?” He slams Chad into the wall between each word, the muscles in his forearms ticking with every move. Something flashes across his face, recognition. “You’re the pretty boy prick who brought Kenna home drunk. She’s mine, you motherfucker.”
“No ring on her finger,” Chad chokes out, gasping for air.
I stand, stunned. Why is Chad, my friend, doing this? Why is he trying to make things worse with Jake?
Jake drops him and storms off while I’m left standing there, shocked and crying.
Chad comes over to me with that arrogant look on his face. I want to slap him.
“Don’t you dare touch me,” I say firmly.
He rubs his neck. “Come on, beautiful; don’t be like this.”
“You were my friend,” I whisper, feeling the betrayal cut into me deeply. Everything I shared with him, he just threw back in my face.
“You can’t be that dumb. You’ve been flirting with me, teasing me. You know you want to try something new and fresh. I’ll give you something serious.”
His words bring my temper to a boiling point. Something serious, like he’s giving his current girlfriend? No thanks.
I slap him across the face, then immediately take off in search of Maggie.
Her eyes are wide when she sees me approaching, making it apparent Ryder already filled her in.
“Where did Jake go?” I ask, crying.
“Ryder said he took off. He won’t answer his phone. It’s best to let him cool off, Kenna.”
“This is bad. This is very bad. I don’t know what to do. It wasn’t what it looked like. I never expected him to kiss me.”
“Do you want me to have the bouncers take Chad out? Because, right now, he’s staring you down like he wants to eat you alive.”
“Yes, please,” I whimper.
What the hell just happened?
***
Jake
Having nowhere in particular to go, I find myself aimlessly driving around. Before I am aware of it, I’m parking at Harrison’s new apartment building. He recently moved out of his place with Maggie into an apartment here. He and I may not be best friends, but he understands my life in the military and the toll it takes on a relationship. Harrison is also the one person who won’t bullshit me in the least bit.
I can’t go home. There are too many Kenna reminders there. Plus, Ryder lives next door to us, and right now, Kenna is the last person I want finding me. She would see my truck and come over. Honestly, she will probably find me here, but I doubt she will bother me at Harrison’s.
I pound loudly on the door without intending to, and Harrison answers with no shirt and some baggy sweats barely pulled on.
I step inside before thinking, seeing Sophia come around the corner, pulling a shirt over her head and looking thoroughly sated.
“Shit, guys, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. What’s wrong?” Sophia asks with genuine concern.
Harrison growls at me, making it known he’s not okay with my interruption.
Sophia, sensing this, pulls him into her, directing him down to the couch beside her.
“Sit down, Jake. You’re clearly upset.”
“She kissed him,” I blurt out.
Words aren’t coming to mind, other than the reality of her kissing him. She really let that preppy bastard kiss her.
Rage runs through me all over again.
“What the fuck? Kissed who?” Harrison pipes up.
“Some Chad, suit-wearing motherfucker from her job,” I say, cracking my knuckles out of nervous habit.
Sophia, being the calm one, asks, “Are you sure? That doesn’t sound like Kenna.”
“I witnessed it with my own two eyes. Ryder and I went out tonight to support the girls. I walk in, and this cat has his arms wrapped around her and his tongue down her throat.”
“What did you do?” Sophia asks calmly, while Harrison begins pacing around his living room.
“I yanked his sorry ass off her and threw him up against the wall.” I sigh. “I was ready to choke the shit out of him. Then he said no ring on her finger, so I dropped him and left.”
Sophia shakes her head. “There are two sides to every story. You should really talk to Kenna; hear what she has to say.”
“There’s nothing for her to say. The prick is right. There’s no ring on her finger.”
Harrison’s phone rings.
“Ryder, now’s not a good time,” he answers.
I don’t know what Ryder says, but based on Harrison staring me down, it’s about me.
“He’s here. He’s safe. Tell her not to worry. She should just go home and cool off.” He pauses for Ryder to talk. “Stay there. Keep an eye on the girls. If Kenna doesn’t feel safe, tell her to stay with Maggie and Dina.”
He hangs up and comes over to the couch. As he sits down, he pulls Sophia onto his lap, holding her tightly.
“They had to have the prick escorted out of the club. Ryder said the guy was watching Kenna like a crazy man and called her a tease.” He pauses. “Dude, you really need to talk to Kenna. It doesn’t sound like something she wanted.”
My chest tightens in pain. My Kenna was uncomfortable at the hands and eyes of another man, and I left her there to deal with it. My fragile male ego was tested, and I turned tail and bolted.
Harrison, sensing my confliction, says, “Just chill. She’s safe; you’re safe. Crash here for the night. Tomorrow, you and Kenna can calmly sort this out.”
“You’re right.” I shake my head. “I’m sorry I interrupted your evening.”
Sophia laughs. “It’s okay. We’re together almost every night, so one night with company isn’t a big deal.”
Together every night, huh? Well, damn, I’m happy for them, though it’s still a surprise. Will this be a long-term thing for Harrison finally?
Before I can say anything else, Harrison scoops Sophia up in his arms.
As he carries her to his bedroom, he calls over his shoulder, “The linen closet in the bathroom has extra blankets and a pillow. Night, Thompson.”
There’s no need for a pillow or blankets since I won’t be sleeping tonight.
I send a text to Ryder to keep an eye on the house and Kenna for the night. Chad knows where we live. We have a top-notch security system and Ryder lives next door. He will keep her safe while I have time to cool off before I find Chad and bury him.
I turn my phone off, not wanting to hear from anyone. Allowing my thoughts to take over, I then settle quietly on Harrison’s couch.