“Listen, just show me. I have to get out of here, but I can’t pass that table over there with those two men and women.”
The waitress glanced over at the table and then at me. “Is one of those guys your boyfriend?”
“Yes,” I lied.
“Is he cheating on you, sweetie?” she asked.
Oh my God, why couldn’t she just show me the way to the kitchen?
“Hold on.” She winked.
Uh oh. I didn’t like the way she said that. Daniel kept an eye on the table and the waitress. He busted out laughing and told me to turn around quickly. The waitress had spilled drinks all over Ian and Andrew. They both looked pissed as they got up from their seats and went to the bathroom. The waitress walked over to our table and smiled.
“Okay, sweetie, you can go out the front now.” She winked again.
“Oh, you’re good,” Adalynn said as she reached in her purse, pulled out a fifty-dollar bill, and handed it to her.
“You two stay and finish your dinner. I’ll call a cab. I meant it. Stay!” I exclaimed.
Adalynn stood up and hugged me. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she pouted.
I smiled at her and Daniel, and walked out of the restaurant. There was a cab coming down the street, so I put up my hand and he stopped. I climbed in and gave him Ian’s address.
When I arrived home, I changed my clothes and headed down to the beach. I sat down in the sand to do some serious thinking. I kept going over and over in my head the things Ian said earlier about relationships. Maybe I was being selfish and only wanted to keep him to myself for the night, or maybe, it was because I was so in love with him and I didn’t trust him. His reputation was pretty bad when it came to women, and he’d made it very clear that we were not in a relationship. I picked up a stick that was next to me and started drawing in the sand. A few moments later, I heard a voice behind me.
“You stayed home.”
I took in a deep breath. “Yeah. Ollie and Jordyn are sick with the flu. Why are you back so early?”
Ian walked over and sat down next to me. “The waitress at the restaurant we were at spilled drinks on me and Andrew. Needless to say, I was soaked. So, we called it a night and I came home and changed.”
“Wow, what a bad waitress,” I said as I laughed hysterically inside.
“Yeah. She didn’t get a tip.” He smiled. “You’ll never guess who I ran into there.”
“Who?”
“Adalynn and Daniel. She asked where you were.”
I waited for him to tell me about Andrew’s cousins, because maybe, just maybe, I’d be able to let it go, but he didn’t.
“Well, I’m sorry you got drinks spilled on you, but I’m really tired, so I’m going to head upstairs,” I said as I got up.
Ian grabbed my hand. “Do you want some company?”
I looked down into his amazing eyes. “No, I don’t,” I said with a small smile and walked away.
Since I was already mad at him and we really weren’t on good terms at the moment, I decided to add a little fuel to the fire. It was better to bring it up now and get it over with. Before I reached the patio, I stopped.
“Why is it that you’ve never taken me to your bed?” I asked.
“I can take you there now,” he replied.
Okay, so me and my big mouth. I couldn’t help it. I wanted to hurt him like he hurt me earlier. The only difference was that I don’t know if Ian Braxton could feel hurt.
“Maybe you should’ve brought home one of those brunettes you were with tonight. I’m sure that she would’ve loved your bed.”
“STOP!” he yelled.
I just shook my head and walked up the stairs. I knew it was only a matter of time before he busted through the bedroom door. I went into the bathroom and locked the door. One. Two. Three.
“Rory! Are you in there?” he shouted as he shook the door handle.
“If you don’t mind, I’m going to the bathroom, Ian.”
“Hurry up! I’ll be waiting on the bed.”
I rolled my eyes as I sat on the counter with my feet on the toilet. I didn’t want to go out there and face him. Shit. I never should’ve said anything. Well, I was going to have to face him sooner or later. I unlocked the door and stepped into the bedroom. Ian was sitting on the edge of the bed with his elbows resting on his knees and his hands folded.
“Adalynn texted you, didn’t she?”
Fuck. I couldn’t lie to him when it involved Adalynn. I had no choice; I had to tell him the truth.
“No, I was there. I was at the restaurant with Adalynn and Daniel.”
“What? No you weren’t. I didn’t see you and I waved to Daniel.”
“That’s because I ducked down into the booth,” I said as I pulled out my nightshirt from the drawer.
“Are you serious? Why the hell didn’t you come over and say something?”
“Like what, Ian? Oh hi, who are these whores you’re with?”
“Rory, stop. Those girls were Andrew’s cousins.”
“Did you know they were going?”
Ian looked down before he answered my question. “Yes, I knew they were going.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because, it’s none of your concern, Rory. Like I said earlier, we aren’t a couple. I’m sorry, sweetheart, if that hurts you, but I can’t help it.”
I gnawed at my bottom lip as his words shot through my heart. My eyes started to fill with tears and my breathing became restricted.
“I’m sorry, Ian. You’re right. I’m sorry.”
The words just came out my mouth. I was apologizing to him for killing me. I needed to think things through. I couldn’t just up and leave like I was about to. I needed to think. Ian got up from the bed and wrapped his arms around me.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” he said as he rubbed his hand up and down my back. “Come on; I’ll take you to my bed,” he said as he kissed my head.
As I broke our embrace, I looked at him. “No, Ian. Not tonight.”
“Are you sure? I’m already getting hard.”
He was slowly killing me. I put my hand on his chest. “Then I suggest you either play with yourself or call one of your other girls, because this girl isn’t ha**ng s*x with you tonight.”
“Okay, fine. I’ll just go masturbate, then,” he said as he headed towards the door.
“Seriously, it’s okay if you want to call one of the other girls over.”