his head flying back to collide with the wall behind him at the very moment a quiet gasp filled the hallway.
Chapter Twelve
Em
Em stood at the end of the hall desperately trying to recall when and where she’d fallen asleep because surely this must be a nightmare. Jay was pressed up against the wall with Sahara practically melded to his body. And he was kissing her.
“Em! ” Jay shoved Sahara away. “It’s not what it looked like.”
“Oh, really? That’s good because it looked like you were kissing that tramp. Is that not right? Please, tell me how that wasn’t exactly what it looked like.” She shocked herself with the vehemence she possessed, but she’d never felt so hurt in her entire life as she did in that moment and she lashed out like an injured animal.
“Em . . . I didn’t . . . I’d never . . .” Em stood there, waiting patiently as he stumbled through the English language. “I didn’t mean to.”
“Kiss her?”
Jay nodded miserably as Em started the tiny rocking motion he knew she used to sooth herself when she was really upset. Of all the things that had happened recently . . . “I’m not sure how you could call that an accident.”
Tears clogged her throat and she knew there couldn’t be any more said without causing an even bigger scene. As the case was, they’d already managed to bring the party to a screeching halt.
The music continued to play, but conversations had cut short. Everyone stood around awkwardly aware of the sudden drama unfolding. A few gawked openly like they were watching some kind of reality TV, while others made a valiant effort not to stare. Mason sat on a barstool, drink clenched in his hand, making no such effort.
His eyes flicked between her and Jay as she made her way across the restaurant toward Ash lyn who already stood near the door with her car keys in hand. They held concern and a fair amount of anger, but the one thing she didn’t see—the thing that surprised her—was not an ounce of satisfaction. Mason took no enjoyment from what had just happened.
“Come on. Let’s get out of here.” With a scathing glare over her shoulder, Ashlyn ushered Em outside and across the icy lot.
Snow began falling like tiny white crystals, sparkling in the glow of the streetlights as the car puttered to life. Em didn’t know where they were going and she honestly didn’t care. She just needed to be away from there. From Jay. And that hurt almost more than anything.
“He was drunk, Em.” Em shot a glance at her friend who frowned back at her. “I know it’s not an excuse. It’s just . . . You know Sahara. That girl can pounce on unsuspecting prey like a damn cheetah.”
That was true. And she knew Jay, too. But the fact remained . . . “He wasn’t exactly fighting for his life back there.”
Jay had looked like he was practically in the throes of ecstasy when she’d found them. She’d never seen him like that before. Never been able to give him that.
“No. True. But he’s a guy. They sort of have this of switch that gets thrown at a certain point when—”
“I wouldn’t know.” Em hadn’t meant to let it slip, but it was all she could think. She’d done this. Practically hand fed him to Sahara. She couldn’t give him what he needed. She may never be able to. Could she really blame him for wanting it where he could get it?
The tears finally found the release they’d been denied earlier.
“Oh, Em, I didn’t mean—” Ash’s attention flickered between the hazardous road and her friend having a meltdown in the passenger seat.
“I know. But it’s true. He’s been so patient. How can I really expect—?”
“He was dunk, Em. The wolves descended and he couldn’t beat them back. End of story. It’s got nothing to do with you.” Ashlyn threw the car in park and Em blinked up at the small white farmhouse cloaked in shadows.
“What are we doing here?”
“You’re staying with me tonight, and I bet Jay shows
Chapter Twelve
Em
Em stood at the end of the hall desperately trying to recall when and where she’d fallen asleep because surely this must be a nightmare. Jay was pressed up against the wall with Sahara practically melded to his body. And he was kissing her.
“Em! ” Jay shoved Sahara away. “It’s not what it looked like.”
“Oh, really? That’s good because it looked like you were kissing that tramp. Is that not right? Please, tell me how that wasn’t exactly what it looked like.” She shocked herself with the vehemence she possessed, but she’d never felt so hurt in her entire life as she did in that moment and she lashed out like an injured animal.
“Em . . . I didn’t . . . I’d never . . .” Em stood there, waiting patiently as he stumbled through the English language. “I didn’t mean to.”
“Kiss her?”
Jay nodded miserably as Em started the tiny rocking motion he knew she used to sooth herself when she was really upset. Of all the things that had happened recently . . . “I’m not sure how you could call that an accident.”
Tears clogged her throat and she knew there couldn’t be any more said without causing an even bigger scene. As the case was, they’d already managed to bring the party to a screeching halt.
The music continued to play, but conversations had cut short. Everyone stood around awkwardly aware of the sudden drama unfolding. A few gawked openly like they were watching some kind of reality TV, while others made a valiant effort not to stare. Mason sat on a barstool, drink clenched in his hand, making no such effort.
His eyes flicked between her and Jay as she made her way across the restaurant toward Ash lyn who already stood near the door with her car keys in hand. They held concern and a fair amount of anger, but the one thing she didn’t see—the thing that surprised her—was not an ounce of satisfaction. Mason took no enjoyment from what had just happened.
“Come on. Let’s get out of here.” With a scathing glare over her shoulder, Ashlyn ushered Em outside and across the icy lot.
Snow began falling like tiny white crystals, sparkling in the glow of the streetlights as the car puttered to life. Em didn’t know where they were going and she honestly didn’t care. She just needed to be away from there. From Jay. And that hurt almost more than anything.
“He was drunk, Em.” Em shot a glance at her friend who frowned back at her. “I know it’s not an excuse. It’s just . . . You know Sahara. That girl can pounce on unsuspecting prey like a damn cheetah.”
That was true. And she knew Jay, too. But the fact remained . . . “He wasn’t exactly fighting for his life back there.”
Jay had looked like he was practically in the throes of ecstasy when she’d found them. She’d never seen him like that before. Never been able to give him that.
“No. True. But he’s a guy. They sort of have this of switch that gets thrown at a certain point when—”
“I wouldn’t know.” Em hadn’t meant to let it slip, but it was all she could think. She’d done this. Practically hand fed him to Sahara. She couldn’t give him what he needed. She may never be able to. Could she really blame him for wanting it where he could get it?
The tears finally found the release they’d been denied earlier.
“Oh, Em, I didn’t mean—” Ash’s attention flickered between the hazardous road and her friend having a meltdown in the passenger seat.
“I know. But it’s true. He’s been so patient. How can I really expect—?”
“He was dunk, Em. The wolves descended and he couldn’t beat them back. End of story. It’s got nothing to do with you.” Ashlyn threw the car in park and Em blinked up at the small white farmhouse cloaked in shadows.
“What are we doing here?”
“You’re staying with me tonight, and I bet Jay shows
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