Chapter 43

It was another hour before Jack and the rest of the band appeared, having made several stops on the way and also gotten changed. By then, the house was full of people, none of whom I knew. Although Alma had introduced me to many of them, and some had been polite, the reactions I'd received had been mixed.

There were clearly a few people who didn't like something about me and didn't have a problem showing it. Since Alma was busy hosting, I started to feel like the uncool kid who gets invited to the party in high school just to be obviously ignored—or worse, bullied—by all the much cooler and more expensively dressed people.

Already, I was trying to think of excuses to leave and go somewhere else. I considered pretending to be sick or actually making myself sick, but somehow, I held out, desperately hoping that when Jack arrived, everything would be better.

When his car first pulled up, there seemed to be a movement of people in the house toward the front. I found myself near the back, unable to get any closer. I tried not to let it get to me, but on top of everything else, it was almost too much.

To make matters worse, everyone seemed to want to talk to the band on their way past. Twenty minutes later, Jack was still lost in the throng somewhere, and I was still standing in the kitchen with a drink in one hand and no one to talk to.

I was trying to psych up the courage to push through to Jack when Logan appeared, coming to get a refill.

"Juno, what's got your pretty face out here?" he said, striding over to me with a fresh beer bottle in his hand. I immediately tried to walk past him, but he blocked my path and put his arm out to wrap around my waist.

Backing up, I tried to move around, but he followed and maneuvered me against the kitchen counter, then stood in front of me.

"Get out of my way. I'm going to find Jack," I said immediately, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

"If you were going to Jack, you'd have done it already. We both know he's been here half an hour or more and hasn't even tried to come find you." Logan reached out and tried to stroke my hair.

I flinched back and tried to move away again, but his grip on my waist only tightened.

"You know, I don't think he's as sweet on you as Alma reckons. Not surprised he tried to get into your pants. You've got a good shape, and those big eyes of yours can draw a man in, but come on. Why don't you come have some fun with me?"

"No. I'd like to go find Jack now. Let me go." I spoke more firmly, holding his gaze and tensing so I didn't shudder. I was starting to feel sick.

"Come on, now. I know we don't know each other very well yet, but we both know you must be willing to get it on with someone you've just met, or Jack wouldn't have?—"

"I said no. I mean it," I hissed, pushing back at him and fighting to get away.

His grip only tightened, but he didn't say anything. I was trapped, and we both knew it.

A moment later, Jack walked in. I froze, and Logan looked his way.

Jack strode up to us.

"Let her go. She's with me."

"Doesn't look like it. She was in here by herself and making eyes at?—"

"She's with me. Don't make me say it again," Jack replied, his voice lower and darker, his fists beginning to clench. For a moment, I didn't think Logan was going to move. I couldn't speak, my heart racing, pretty sure Jack's anger was about to be turned on me as well.

I exhaled with at least some relief when Logan finally unhooked his arm from my waist and backed up. Both Jack and I watched him walk out.

When he'd left, Jack looked right at me.

"I'm… That wasn't. I didn't…" I trailed off, the words refusing to come out as Jack relaxed.

"It's okay, Juno. We all know what he's like. Alma let me know he'd taken an interest in you just now. I came to find you as soon as I realized neither of you were nearby."

I nodded and took a deep breath, looking away from him as I did. He moved away, getting himself a drink, and I noticed he didn't go for a soda as he normally would. Instead, he picked up a beer and took a large gulp.

Shivering, I wrapped my arms around myself, still feeling a sick knot in my stomach. I had so many things I wanted to say.

"It took you a while to come find me. You've been here at least half an hour," I said, my voice coming out whinier than I'd wanted it to. I was scared, but it wasn't his fault.

He took another gulp as he fixed his gaze on me.

"You could have come to find me as well. I assumed you were somewhere talking or whatever. Were you really in here alone?"

"Yeah," I replied, looking away again, feeling like a complete idiot. I was the loser girlfriend who didn't fit in, and I'd just proved it.

Jack walked closer, his booted feet pounding a rhythm I couldn't ignore until he was standing right in front of me. He put a finger under my chin and lifted it, so I had to look at him.

"You're not having fun?" he asked.

I shrugged.

"That's not an answer."

"I don't know. I really like Alma, but I don't know anyone else, and not everyone seems to want to get to know me. You took a lot longer to get here than I expected, and…" I trailed off as I tried to stem the flow before I started to feel too deeply and cry. My emotions were still on edge after everything Logan had done.

"I'm here now," he said, putting his arms around me. "And I won't let Logan anywhere near you."

"Thank you," I replied, leaning into him. "He's a complete douche-canoe."

"Yeah. But he does a lot for the band. He sucks with women, but he gets how to promote us and market us like no one else I know. And we have to keep him at least mostly happy." Jack spoke quietly, as if he was almost ashamed of it. I got the impression he'd change it if he felt like he could.

"Alma tried to warn him off. Tell him I was yours, but I guess when you'd been here a while and didn't find me, he thought you'd just screwed me once and were done with me."

"Well, you are mine, and they'll all know it by the end of tonight." Without warning, Jack pulled me closer and brought his mouth down on mine.

Instantly, I could taste the beer he'd been drinking, and then he was thrusting his tongue between my lips, exploring me.

The intensity and passion stirred my core, making me heat up and desire more, but he pulled back a moment later. Taking my hand, he led me back to the main rooms of the house, his grip tight enough that I knew I wouldn't get my fingers back anytime soon.