A Little Bit of Crazy (Little Bits) (12 page)

Maya:
Sounds fun! Will he be naked too?

Jacob:
He can be!!!!

Maya:
Dammit… I’m useless. My husband checks my phone every night when I go to

sleep
. I really shouldn’t have put that! Even if I was just playing. Gah! You are a bad influence Mr. Stone!

Jacob:
Promise me you’ll call me that whilst I’m naked and standing over you. HI JAMES!!!

Maya:
PMSL! I’m going! Get back to work! Go milk your face or something you do to make yourself so pretty.

Jacob:
Milk my face…??? Da fuq

Maya:
Bye Jacob.

Jacob:
Bye Maya ;)

     Completely truthful. James checks my phone every night. He thinks I don’t notice but I do and I leave everything for him to find. I’m pretty sure he’s put some kind of tracker on there so he gets every text straight to his computer. Talk about paranoia.

     I don’t mind though, maybe now he’s found out how many people I’ve actually messed around with he’ll stop thinking I’m such a whore that spread eagles for any hot man with a dick. Although I wasn’t lying about Jacob, I would totally screw him if I was single and the fact Jacob would most definitely screw me is a fucking hard temptation. Get it? HARD temptation. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. No takers? Ok then whatever.

      Now as I was saying, so James has zero trust for me and I don’t care what he does. That’s bad right? I’ve felt jealousy of seeing him with another woman but that’s only because I believe his world should revolve around me, it’s true, I can’t help feeling that way but I’ve never denied being shallow and a little self-centered. Something I shall work on… ah, maybe tomorrow.

     “Hey baby,” James says softly as he walks in, two crates of beer in his arms. I raise my eyebrows and follow him into the kitchen where I’ve set out snacks ready and have a few menus spread out. “Good day?”

     “Yep, I spent the day using your bank card to buy new clothes online, maybe a couple of bags and stuff and then I sat and read magazines while ignoring the TV,” I grin and kiss him on the lips before wrapping my arms around his waist. “I hope you don’t mind.”

     He shrugs, “No problem baby.” Gah, what’s with the baby? “What’s mine is yours.”

     “Even though I have a hundred times more money than you?” I snort and then my eyes widen in realization. “Oh my god. Eleven times. I totally forgot. You never asked me about Vegas.”

     He frowns a little before pulling away to load the bottles into the fridge, “Yes I did.”

     “No, you asked me if I fucked anyone. You never asked me about my actual adventures.”

     His shoulders sag a little, “How much did you lose?”

     “What makes you think I lost?”

     “The mischievous glint in your eyes when you do something naughty.”

     “Naughty? What am I… a child?”

     He grunts and rolls his eyes as I pass him bottles from the crates.

     “Fine, how much did you win?”

     I place a hand over my heart, “Why baby, I’m so glad you asked. I started off with a budget of five hundred grand.”

     “You fucking set yourself a budget of half a million?” he practically squeals. “Fuckin hell Maya. Are you crazy?”

     “Yep… so I played a little poker, black jack, and craps. I lost on all of them. I was down to a hundred and fifty grand.”

     “Oh god.”

     “Then I went on the roulette and within a few hours I’d quadrupled my money. I played craps again and won seven mil in total!” I grin and start a little victory dance. “I was totally rolling in it. The manager asked me to stop. Said he’d give me the executive suite if I stopped. That’s why you saw men around me coz I was winning and everyone was watching. I never even spoke to them. They tried to speak to me but I was too busy winning cash.”

     “You do realize, I only earn just under five hundred grand a year running your fucking company.”

     “Hey,” I snap and slap his arm. “That’s good money.”

     “Yet you just inherited everything without barely working a day in your life.”

     I know he’s sore because it seems I spend my money willy nilly but I’m actually good with money. Very good with money. My anger soars at his grumblings. “Fuck you James. I work my ass off. Just because I take time to have fun doesn’t mean I don’t!”

     “I know baby, I just hate the fact I can’t treat you to half the shit you do.” He says, looking resigned and tired. “I love you, I want to spoil you.”

     “Well, I wasn’t lying when I said I used your bank card earlier. Yours was right there on the table, I couldn’t be bothered to get up and get mine,” I giggle and kiss his cheek. “I’ll pay it off tomorrow.”

     “Don’t do that, I don’t want you to,” he frowns and lifts me onto the counter, opening my legs with his hands so his body slots between them.

     I raise my hand to his cheek and look intently into his green eyes. “Trust me baby, you will want me to pay it off when you see how much I spent.”

     “How much?”

     “Umm… I shouldn’t say. You may beat me,” I joke and kiss his lips. “I’ll sort it in the morning.”

     Before he can reply my phone starts ringing. I scoot away from him and grab it noticing the name on the screen before running out of the room. “Hi Margie. Everything ok?”

     “It’s Sophie, my phone is on the blink. I was calling to see if you were ok to start construction in the morning?”

     “Hell yeah,” I grin, totally excited. “Sounds fab.”

     “Good, I’ll see you tomorrow,” I hang up and do another little victory dance. Things are going to be awesome.

     James answers the door as I set the snacks out on the coffee table. I’m stalling, I don’t know how to act around Paul. Or more importantly, I’m worried of how he’ll act around me.

     First in is Jeremy, he pulls me in for a hug, earning him a slap round the head from James before wal
king to the snack table chortling. Next in is Kyle with his shocking red hair that would put and orange flame to shame. He nods at me and flops onto the couch. I hand them both beers, another diversion from the inevitable.

     “So how’s married life?” Kyle asks as I sit in the armchair by the TV, facing them. Paul walks in with a beer and sits on the couch. His jaw is tense but he doesn’t acknowledge me.

     “It’s fucking fantastic,” James grins, winking at me. I roll my eyes and pick up my magazine. “How’s Trevor?” Trevor is Kyle’s nephew I think. I’ve never met him, although he was at my wedding. There were a lot of kids there.

     Kyle nods, “He’s good. Driving my sister crazy. “Paul, pass me the remote.”

     Paul launches the remote at him without saying a word. I turn to James who’s frowning, clearly wondering why his friend is being so hostile. “Hey baby, I’m going to call Sammy. I’ll probably go out for a few. Let you boys have a night alone.”

     “Baby?” Paul snorts and Jeremy elbows him roughly. James doesn’t seem to notice, “Don’t. Please stay here with us.”

     I glance at Paul who is now staring straight at me, the pain in his eyes is clearly evident. “Fine.” I relent and Paul closes his eyes for a moment before turning back to the TV.

     “How’s the business?” James asks Jeremy and the banter begins. They talk and laugh until the game starts, nobody seems to notice Paul’s silence but unfortunately I do. When the game starts and the screaming starts I go to answer the door for the food. I pay for the pizzas and place them on the kitchen counter.

     “So,” Paul says making me jump. I turn to look at him, his black hair, caramel skin and brown eyes. “You seem happy.”

     “Nothing fazes me Paul. You know that. I make the best of a situation I’m handed.”

     “You chose this, you chose him.” He hisses as I place the pizza’s onto plates. “Didn’t fuckin matter bout the fact you and I were fucking around up until your wedding day. Apparently I never meant fuck all.”

     “We’ve been over this,” I snap quietly and lift two plates. “Stop this. Let it go.”

     “Findin that real fuckin hard baby,” he whispers in my ear from behind, his southern accent pronounced with his frustration. “I miss the sweet taste of your skin. Miss the fuckin feel of your ass in my hands. Miss your fuckin mouth when you talk dirty to me.”

     I ignore him and carry the plates into the room. He follows close behind with the other two, his eyes never leaving me as I place them on the coffee table. The men on the couch shift sideways to look around me. I giggle as they thank me, waving their hands to get me out of the way.

     They roar in cheer, their mouths full of pizza as apparently their team scores. Paul doesn’t watch the game, he watches me with a pained expression. Especially when James comes over to me, lifts me from the chair and carries me back to his seat. He cradles me in his lap, between his legs and rests his chin on my shoulder as he watches the game.

     “Fuck this,” Paul snaps and jumps to his feet. All eyes turn to him as he stands glaring at James. “You’re a fucking asshole.”

     “Paul,” Jeremy growls and stands bracing for a fight. “Not here.” Oh crap, he knows.

     “What did I do?” James says as I climb off his lap. He stands and Kyle stands with him. I plead Paul with my eyes but he’s looking directly at James. “Paul. Mate…”

     “Mate?” Paul laughs. “Yeah, mate. We’re mates, that’s why you forced me through your fucking wedding. You forced me through tonight. Mates, what a fucking joke!”

     “Paul please,” I say quietly and James glances at me.

     “No Meme,” he says with pursed lips. I gasp at the use of my nickname that I haven’t heard for so long. “Why don’t you tell him Meme?” his eyes are soft on me but the way he says that stupid nickname is menacing, angry and its freaking me out. Jeremy slaps his hand to his forehead, Kyle looks as perplexed as James.

     “Wait,” James lets out a laugh, completely humorless and turns to me disbelief all over his face. “You’re Meme?”

     “Oh fuck,” Kyle snorts and sits back on the couch. Jeremy face palms again, I cringe at the angry glare from James. “She’s Meme. This is too fucking much.”

     “Shut up Kyle,” Jeremy hisses and sends James an apologetic smile. The team scores again but nobody responds. All eyes are on me and Paul. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

      “You’re Meme?” James breathes and takes a step away from me. He looks at Paul and then to me. “Fuck. Paul, mate. I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

     “Nobody knew,” Paul practically shouted. “I fuckin waited, and waited. Thinking she’d settle. Fuckin joke. Especially when she settles for my best friend.” He waves his arm at me and then James. “Mark my words James, she’ll chew you up and spit you out.”

     “Hey,” I cry but it falls on deaf ears. I will not chew him up and spit him out. I’ll chew him up and keep on chewing. In a good sense.

     Paul glares at me, “She’s a cold heartless bitch.”

     I shrug, “We had an understanding Paul. You never let me know otherwise.”

     “Like fuck I didn’t! I fucking begged you to make it exclusive. I did everything for you!”

     I close my eyes briefly, “Yes, two days before my wedding.”

     “Would it have changed anything? No, it wouldn’t. I could’ve told you months before but you would have called it off! Just like you did with Frankie.”

     “You fucked Frankie?” James seethes and I can see this going downhill real fast.

     “I’m gonna go,” I mumble and go to step around James but he stops me with a hand on my arm. “Or not.”

     “Come on Paul. It was ages ago man,” Jeremy whispers but we all hear it.

     “You fucking knew! And you didn’t tell me?” James shouts and Jeremy’s hands go up in surrender, “It wasn’t my place to say.” This is going from bad to fucking terrible and fast.

     “Ages ago, yeah right,” Paul snorts and I’m ready to launch myself at him to protect what dignity I have left. “Why don’t you tell him Meme? How long ago was the last time we fucked?”

     “Paul,” I beg and shut my eyes. My entire body is tense. “Please. Don’t do this.”

     “Do what? Admit that two weeks before your wedding I had you bent over the hood of my car while you screamed my name?” he laughs humorlessly and pushes Jeremy’s soothing hand away. “Or two nights before your wedding when you had my dick in your mouth? Which one shouldn’t I say?”

     “Dammit Paul stop doing this, you’re hurting your fucking friend,” Jeremy hisses. I glance up at James through my lashes. He looks devastated, on the verge of tears devastated, angry devastated. Purely fucking devastated. My heart wrenches for him.