Chapter Four

Jake

 

Weddings aren’t my thing, like at all. Neither are tuxedos or wearing underwear but…

 “What can I get you to drink?” The bartender questioned sauntering up to my side of the bar. I tapped my fingers against the wood grain.

 “Just whatever beer you have on tap…” I confided, before swiveling around on the bar stool to survey the crowded hall. My eyes went straight to her, my everything, my strength, and need: Mia.

 She was wearing a silver dress with white lace. She looked like a fucking sin I wanted to commit again and again.

 “Here you go.” The bartender spoke to my back as the sound of the cold glass of beer hitting the bar entered my ears. I turned around quickly and grabbed the frosty mug, bringing it to my lips for a quick sip.

 “Is this not the most beautiful wedding you’ve ever seen?” Sofia squealed with delight clapping her hands together with far more excitement than needed. I had to force myself not to roll my eyes at her comment.

 “Oh, it’s great…” I made myself sound as uninterested as possible hoping she would get the hint. There wasn’t enough beer to deal with this girl. Not only was she someone that Mia hated with a fiery passion but she was also Donovan’s ex-girlfriend and had it not been for her also being Harper’s best friend she wouldn’t even be here.

 “I’m glad you’re back…” Her voice took on a seductiveness that I didn’t like.

 “Right. I’m sure you’re glad…” This time I did roll my eyes because I was done playing nice guy. I was here because of one girl and one girl only: Mia. And Sofia was not going to wedge a rock between us if I had anything to do with it.

 “Oh, I am… and I’m hoping you’re ready to move on from Mia. Since you know she has someone else and all…” Sofia’s fingernails dug into the fabric of my shirt as she tried to get my attention. Didn’t she get the point yet?

 I had to hold my temper in because Sofia wasn’t worth the hassle that she wanted to cause. Mia would be mine again.

 “Mia has been, and always will be mine. I don’t care if she had a baby with someone else. I’m here now, and I’m going to pick up right where we left off…” I growled, frustration with the bitch because she just wouldn’t stop.

 “She doesn’t want you...” I blocked out her voice as I picked up my beer and moved away from the bar. Mia had made that clear more than once. I didn’t need to hear it from some bimbo who thought she had a chance with me. Shaking my head I tried to let go of the anger Sofia stirred in me.

 “Why don’t you dance with her?” Donovan’s voice met my ears just as I took another swig from my beer. If things kept up the way they were I would have to switch to liquor at some point and time tonight.

 “One I don’t dance…” I commented my eyes instinctively searching for Mia in the crowd. “And two she has no interest in me…” Like I had said before I wasn’t all that shocked that she wanted nothing to do with me but I was shocked at her immunity to my charm.

 “Don’t let it get to you. Once she warms up to you and feels that you’re a good fit with Lola everything will be okay.” I gripped the glass of the beer hard testing its strength before speaking.

 “How old is Lola?” My eyes darted down to the blonde haired, blue-eyed beauty at her mother’s feet. They were dancing together, their faces full of excitement and laughter. I stared at them both feeling as if I was missing a piece to the puzzle.

 “I’m not good with Birthday’s man,” Donovan mumbled under his breath and before I could comment telling him to actually think about it Harper had come and whisked him away and out onto the dance floor for a dance.

 But now that I had this haggling need to know when Lola’s birthday was I couldn’t just give up on it. I wanted to know. I needed to know and I didn’t understand why.

 Leaving my beer on the table I got up and sashayed over to them, hoping maybe Mia could give me the answer I needed.

 “You look beautiful tonight.” I leaned into her backside whispering the words in her ear. She smelled heavily like homemade cookies and sugar… Yeah, she was definitely good enough to eat.

 “Umm… thank you…” She stumbled over her words as a pink flush worked its way up her throat, and onto her cheeks. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She was everything I ever wanted and the one thing that I needed most in this world.

 “No thank you! I haven’t able to stop staring at you… you’re all I can think about…” I was getting carried away but I hated having to keep my feelings hidden away. Mia was my oxygen and without her, I couldn’t breathe.

 “Jake…” The way she said my name made my cock hard.

 “It’s true Mia… I’ve never lied to you… ever…” Maybe the beer was getting to me or maybe it was the fact that I missed Mia after all these years I didn’t know but I was tired of missing her. I wanted to wake up with her every day. I wanted her to be mine again.

 “I can’t do this with you right now…” She finally turned around, looking me straight in the eyes as she spoke. My heart ached, and my hands started to sweat.

 “I don’t want anyone else, just you.” I wasn’t above begging for her.

 “I saw you with Sofia so I doubt that but either way it’s not happening so stop, stop making it harder than it needs to be.” Tears filled her eyes, and I hated that I was the reason for them.

 “You know that Sofia has nothing on you…” My teeth ground together. Why the fuck did I even have to tell her that? Didn’t she know it already?

 “Just…” The words caught in her throat, and I pounced taking that chance to touch her. I took her face between my hands, cradling her as I leaned into her face. Her hands lifted resting against mine as if she was going to pull away, but she didn’t.

 “We might not be together and you might not be mine right now but nothings going to stop me. I can’t live without you. I can’t…” I exhaled every ounce of oxygen from my lungs as I spoke.

 Mia shook her head pulling out of my hold. The tears I had seen in her eyes earlier started to fall, marring her beautiful cheeks.

 “Please…” I huffed, my heart beating out of my chest.

 “Stop.” She cried wiping any stray tears from her face as she took a step back away from me. I reached out to her one last time wanting her to just give me something, anything to hold onto.

 “Mia…” I yelled her name as she turned on her heels and rushed out of the room. A few bar patrons glanced my way as I called her name, but I didn’t care about drawing attention. It didn’t matter me not as long as I had Mia.

 “Fuck!” I growled, squeezing my fists together at my side. I could feel the aggression and anger festering. I was so angry with myself and angry with Mia for refusing to forgive me that I couldn’t even see straight. I didn’t want to be here or dressed in this obnoxious tux.

 Grabbing my glass of beer from the table I had been sitting at I headed in the direction of the back door. If Mia didn’t want me here then I wouldn’t be here. I couldn’t make her love me again, nor could I make her see how much I wanted and needed her. As soon as I stepped outside and into the cool night air I knew what I needed to do.

 It all started and ended with me.