31. Chapter 31

Chapter 31

ANNIE

Walking had done shit to help my churning stomach. Even going out closer to the water like before had barely done anything. It wasn’t until I actually threw up that I started to feel better. I was usually better at judging my alcohol intake, but I’d clearly overdone it tonight.

I held my arms out, letting the breeze wash over my flushed skin, and ended up throwing up a second time before my stomach finally settled. Except now, while I felt tons better, I also felt disgusting. My mouth was just gross.

The light from the moon and the headlights that carried over from the party were enough for me to distinguish Jet’s Mustang in the cluster of cars, and I decided to check his duffel bag he’d been stashing in his car this week between nights at my house, hoping he had some toothpaste or something inside. It was still on the floorboard where I’d shoved aside for my feet earlier, and I pulled it onto the seat, searching the side pocket first.

Score !

There was a mini tube of toothpaste and even an unopened toothbrush right inside. Deciding to replace it for him later, I quickly opened it and brushed viciously over my teeth and tongue, desperate to get the awful taste out of my mouth.

I spit into the sand and unzipped the top of the bag where I knew there were some bottles of water from the last time I’d taken it with me to work. And like a smack to the face, the book Ruby had mentioned borrowing was right on top.

I’d wondered what book it had been. Maybe something about cars, but Mine ? It was the same book Zane had recommended to my boss, and it just wasn’t something I ever pictured Jet reading. No, she’d said it was his cousin’s. The book was Nic’s.

I rolled my eyes. Of course, it was. When did he not pop up?

Shoving the book to the side, I dug around underneath, reaching to each edge of the bag. But when I couldn’t seem to find one of the bottles of water, I took the book out to make more space, relieved to find one underneath.

Grabbing it, I quickly took a swig to rinse and spit in the sand by the car, then polished off half the bottle to help rehydrate. Setting it on the seat so I could take it with me, I grabbed the book to stuff it back in the bag and noticed a folded piece of notebook paper sticking out from the book jacket.

Frowning, I pulled it free and then froze. Blinking. My brain almost not processing the large, black heart that was drawn on the page. Even if I’d written Jet a note at some point, that was not the way I drew hearts .

My pulse began to race, my thoughts springing back and forth as I tried to make sense of it. At who might have given him the note. And as quickly as my confusion had set in, anger flared through me when my eyes landed back on the book.

That fucking bitch . It had to be Ruby. She’d just had the book. Unless it’s Nic’s? Maybe it’s some old love note from his ex his dad mentioned this afternoon?

My emotions bounced between the two possibilities, not knowing what to feel. If it was from Ruby, I was going to tear her to shreds. I was sick of her making moves on Jet. But if it was Nic’s, I really should put it back.

Either way, I’d have to find out whose it was first.

Don’t do it. My gut hissed the warning as I started unfolding the letter, making me pause. But could I really put it back and walk away? Without knowing for sure? No. If it was from Ruby, I needed to see what she’d written my boyfriend. My fingers were burning to not have it open already, and I might as well have been a fucking cat because curiosity was killing me. Besides, if it was Ruby’s, I needed to know specifically what I was beating the shit out of her for.

She would pay. No punches held.

I had the letter open in a second.

Hey…

I’ve been debating for at least a week about if I should even write you this letter. I don’t want the drama if she finds it, but I just have so much to say, and it never seems to come out right when I see you, but I can’t get you out of my head. Since the first time I got to know you, you’re all I can think about .

I think about all of our flirting and the way I laugh when we talk. How I always want MORE time with you. It never feels like enough, especially since I see you so much less lately.

I know it may be hard to believe, or that you might not want to hear it, but my heart’s fallen hard. There’s so much about you that I love. Like how you can be such a gentleman. Your sexy grin. The way you raise your eyebrow when you’re being playful. I love the look on your face when you’re thinking really hard about something. I love your laugh and our banter. There’s just so many things I love about you.

Like the way it feels when you touch me. I will never forget the way you made me feel those times we were together. How possessive you were. The way you demanded things from my body without even a word. It’s unforgettable. Your smell, your embrace, the feel of your hands wrapping themselves in my hair… It was all incredible, and I’m pretty sure you’ve ruined me for anyone else.

But I know you. Just thinking about it now is making you feel guilty. Like she should be the only one you’re with. Especially with the ring you bought her. I’m sure you gave her some heartfelt speech and made promises, but I’m begging you to realize that promises can be broken.

You don’t have to stay with her. Not when there’s so much waiting for you right here with me. You have a choice. You just need to let yourself consider it. You’ve been fighting it for so long, but I need you to know that I’m waiting for the day that you realize how beautiful you and I can be together. What potential we have and how perfectly we fit .

Already yours…

I felt like I was going to vomit all over again.

Jet had slept with Ruby?

He’d cheated on me?

My heart throbbed in my chest, my stomach simultaneously trying to shrivel up and expel the remainder of its contents at the same time. My breaths echoed in my ears as I tried to remember how to breathe.

My hands shook as I lowered the letter that I just couldn’t believe was true. Jet cheated on me? The idea was inconceivable. It literally did not make sense. He’d promised we were endgame.

“Promises can be broken.”

The line from the letter flashed in my thoughts, and my stomach rolled.

The ring on my finger suddenly felt very heavy, and I stared at my shaking hand. Was I losing Jet? Was he breaking his promise? The promise that meant everything in the world to me?

No. No. I did not know how to process this.

“You have a choice.”

If Jet really considered Ruby a choice, if he’d really slept with her, I should be the one leaving him .

Oh, God. Leave Jet? My brain didn’t seem to understand the concept.

I crushed the letter in my fist, my emotions ping-ponging between anger and despair. Could Jet really have done this to me? Could I really be losing him?

I stared down at that damn book with its infuriating title.

Mine.

Jet was supposed to be mine ! He was always supposed to be mine. He’d promised .

Snatching up the book from the seat, I screamed as I threw it against the driver’s side window with every ounce of anger based adrenaline now coursing through my body. The glass cracked, and a jolt of satisfaction rushed through me, but regret smothered it when I knew how much the car meant to him. How he’d feel when he saw it.

I screamed at the window, every muscle in my throat and stomach constricting as I unleashed the next rush of anger, mad that I cared. “Good! You can remind him of everything he’s thrown away! You can remind him of me!” The last words came out as sobs. “He was supposed to be mine.”

God, it hurt. I had to remind myself to breathe. I’d known things had been off with us lately, ever since she’d turned up, but I’d never thought he’d cheat. No wonder Ruby was always so confident. She’d already had him.

No. No. This is nuts. It’s her I don’t trust, not Jet. Why am I believing this letter without even getting his side? This whole thing could be a lie. Right?

My self preservation now at work, I shoved back the tears, hanging onto the vestiges of my hope for my sanity. I slammed the door shut and went to go find him. Jet deserved a chance to defend himself. There had to be an explanation for this. Jet wouldn’t cheat . I just couldn’t believe it. I wouldn’t. Not unless I had proof or he told me himself.

Cheers from the races echoed through the air over the bass of the music as I neared the party, and I stopped for a moment to steel my stomach, working to calm my breaths. There has to be an explanation. You can do this. I pushed myself to continue, but when I passed Noah’s truck, I stopped dead in my tracks, my face paling as my heart twisted and dropped from my chest.

JET

I was still fuming when I reached the kegs. David had been a friend for years, and knowing how casually he’d worked behind our backs, endangering Izzy, even if he seemed to feel bad about it now, I was pretty sure that relationship was shot. I’d always kept our friendship separate from the Zane bullshit, but now, I didn’t see how I’d ever be able to trust him again.

The only consolation was that asshole was about to be gone, and Izzy would be safe.

Making myself dial back my frustration, not wanting to ruin the night, I grabbed a cup when it was my turn at the keg and filled it to the brim, sucking down half of it right there. I topped it off again before stepping away and went to stand off to the side of Corey’s truck, near where I figured I’d see Annie approach, deciding to go look for her if she wasn’t back by the time I’d finished my beer.

“Jet.”

Fuck. Here we go. I turned, trying not to groan. “Hey, Ruby.”

“Hey. I was hoping to get a chance to talk to you alone.” She cocked a hip, jutting her chest, and blinked up at me through her lashes, any ounce of subtlety in her approach now gone. I’d been such an idiot before .

I sucked down several gulps of my beer, preparing myself to shut her down. Even act like an ass if I had to. I couldn’t have her upsetting Annie anymore.

Looking down at her like I was bored, I raised an eyebrow and looked over her, showing her every bit of my irritation. “You need to stop, Ruby.”

“Stop what?” She stepped closer, trying to lean into my chest, but I stepped back and my voice turned cold.

“Stop this . Stop hitting on me and antagonizing Annie. You’ve apparently gotten it in your head that we have a shot, but we don’t. We never have.”

“Yeah, I call bullshit. You’ve never pushed me away before.”

“Because I didn’t think I had to. I told you I had a girlfriend. You were hard friend-zoned from the second I met you. Every girl I meet is. Most respect the fucking boundary of knowing I’m taken.”

She popped a shoulder, still moving closer. “Can’t get what you want if you don’t go for it.” She tried to walk her fingers along my bicep, and I jerked away.

“Do not touch me. I won’t have you disrespecting Annie again.”

“Fucking Annie,” she hissed. “You don’t even know what you’re missing.”

“Nothing. I’m not missing a damn thing.” I moved to walk away when Ruby growled and shoved my chest, pushing me back against the side of Corey’s truck so hard that my head smacked into the window with a crack. Stars dotted my vision for a couple of seconds before I could blink them free and recognized the feel of someone’s lips on mine. Even worse was when I realized Ruby was holding my hand up to her chest. My brain malfunctioned for a moment, like it couldn’t process, but when I heard a sharp gasp, I finally snapped out of whatever stupor I was in and shoved her away.

I turned, my heart freezing in dread, and saw Annie staring at me in horrified disbelief, hurt and betrayal plastered across her beautiful face. Her eyes locked with mine, and she might as well have ripped the heart from my chest to see her look at me that way.

Panic burst through me, terrified of what she would do.

“How could you?” I barely heard her whisper before she turned to run.

“Annie, wait!” I had to explain. It wasn’t what it looked like. But she’d already taken off in a blazing trail down the beach.

Tossing my empty cup down, I wiped my mouth hard against my shirtsleeve, and Ruby grabbed my arm, holding me back when I tried to follow.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” I bellowed, my glare furious.

“I don’t like being made into a fool. If I can’t have you, then neither can she.”

I shook my head, disgusted as I stared at her, possibly seeing the side Annie had all along for the first time. I didn’t even know how to fucking respond. She’d done it on purpose ?

“Fuck off, Ruby,” I spat and took off after Annie. I could just barely see her silhouette in the distance up ahead. She was near the shoreline now, where the moon reflected and shone brighter against the damp sand.

Thank God. I had to catch her. I would catch her. I refused to lose her. I just had to explain. She knew I loved her. I just had to explain…

TUCKER

I finally loosened my grip on Izzy when Jet took off, knowing it killed her to be held back. But I also knew it had to be Jet that reached Annie if they were going to have a chance to fix this.

My gaze narrowed in on Ruby. Izzy and I had decided to head for drinks just in time to see the whole damn thing unfold, and I was fucking done with this chick’s shit. But before I could move, Izzy stormed ahead of me, fire blazing in those gorgeous green eyes.

Ruby’s mouth twisted into a wicked smirk when she saw us, and she started walking away like she hadn’t just brought down a whole shitstorm of drama.

“Don’t even think about it, bitch.” Emma came marching over with Megan, the two of them cutting her off and ready to make heads roll, but Ruby just rolled her eyes and turned again.

Micah and Kurt stepped out from behind a truck, arms crossed over their chests and murder on their faces.

Kurt jerked his chin at Micah. “Don’t know about you, man, but I’m not a fan of jealous bitches hurting my cousin.”

“Cousin-in-law here. But same.”

Ruby’s eyes widened, a trace of panic crossing her features for the first time as she took a step back.

“Hold on, guys. I’ll take out my own trash.” David ran up and threw Ruby over his shoulder .

“The fuck?!” she screeched.

“David, wait!” Izzy called, and I followed her as she ran over, forever her protector. Even when the protective fire in her eyes said she didn’t need me. I had her back no matter what.

Izzy stopped right in front of Ruby and leaned in, her glare rivaling Annie’s. I could see the words sitting on the edge of her tongue, ready to tear her in two. There was so much she wanted to say to this girl that had just hurt her sister, but then Izzy just shook her head, a look of disgust on her face as she stood tall again. “You know what? She’s not worth it. Take the trash out, David.”

“Yes! Love it, Cuz,” Kyle praised, Ruby’s shriek filling the background as David hauled her off to his car.

Izzy gave a weak smile, and I reached down to scoop her up, my arms wrapping under her ass so that she had to look down at me. Her hands rested on my shoulders as she blinked back the surprise, but I beamed. “You’re fucking amazing. I love you.”

A wide smile slowly spread across her face, and her hands came up to grip either side of my jaw. “With fucking everything.”