Scars (Marked #2.5) Read Free Page B

it told me he didn’t like my attention on another.
    “He doesn’t fit in, looks pretentious as all fuck. Like the type of idiot that looks down his nose at anyone without a trust fund.” I fingered the rim of the glass, dipped the tip of my digit inside, and brought the wet flesh to his lips. Jaime’s lips wrapped around the offering and sucked, his chest rumbling in approval. “Plus, I know him.”
    That last tidbit got his attention. His fingers on my thigh tightened once more, and I winced. “How? From where?”
    “He knows that bitch,” I spat and grabbed my shot with my other hand. Leaning over, I bit his bottom lip hard before downing the clear liquid. No salt. No lemon. Just straight down. I welcomed the heat down my chest and limbs. “The one Talan’s fucking to spite me.”
    “Jani—” Jaime began, but I was quick to stop him. Enough with the opinions.
    “Don’t.” My warning came out as a low hiss. “I know he is. He loves me. She’s just a distraction until he’s ready for more with me.” His sad eyes locked on me. Those beautiful blue eyes bore into mine, and the hurt in them made my chest ache. “I’m not going to give up on him, Jaime. Please don’t ask me to choose, because Talan will always win.”
    He recoiled from me as if I’d slapped him or cursed his mother. “Nice. So I’m only good for a quick, hard fuck and to pick up damaged pieces?”   His bar stool scraped against the floor while he pushed away from the table.
    I shook my head vehemently. “No. Please don’t think I’m playing you…I couldn’t.”
    “Right,” he sneered and made a move to walk past me; my hand on his arm stopped him. “Let go, Jan.”
    “Don’t leave me.” The desperation in my voice couldn’t be hidden. My heart wouldn’t handle another person walking out of my life. All my life—since the accident—I’d been alone, insignificant to those around me. Everyone, but him and Talan. I’d die if I lost them both.
    “I’m not leaving you, Jan. You know I can’t, but baby girl, I can’t continue picking up the scraps he leaves behind. I’m no one’s second choice.” He turned back to face me, his jaw ticked and his hands clenched. Anger dominated his features.
    “What’s that supposed to mean?” I hedged carefully, trying to control the shaking in my hands.
    “It means that I am sick and tired of trying to put together what doesn’t want to be fixed. That it kills me to see you like this!” Jaime yelled out, his body now towering over mine.
    “Like what?”
    “Desperate, alone…scared.” The softness in his tone betrayed the anger that radiated off his body. His hands reached out for me, but this time I pulled back. I didn’t want his pity.
    “Fuck you. I’m not alone.” Bullshit.
    “You would be so much happier if you’d just let it go. He’s happy with her , Janice.”
    “I’d rather die.” It was my truth. My world revolved around Talan.
    “What about what you said outside?” His warm hands caged my face, bringing me in closer. No matter how much I wanted to get up and walk out of his club, the softness in his touch wouldn’t let me leave. I’d been deprived of this closeness for so long. His lips swept over mine softly, like a feather’s touch. “About realizing that he didn’t want you, but her? Or was that just bullshit to make me…”
    “It’s not like that.”
    “What the fuck am I supposed to think?” he hissed and pulled back, yet his hands never released me.
    “That I am a woman in love that sometimes says shit she doesn’t mean. I said that in anger and hurt—venting because the tsunami of emotions I was under at that moment were too much to bear. Please try to understand.”
    He scoffed at that. “You scare me, Jan. I’m worried about how deep this shit with Talan runs.”
    “Not you too,” I sighed.
    “You need to speak to some—”
    Enough of this shit. If he couldn’t deal, then fuck him too.
    “I don’t need another therapist.