Blurred Lines (3 page)

Kennedy and I swiveled our heads just as Chase and Ashley were walking towards our table. She was in front of him, but judging from their flushed faces, and disheveled appearances they were in fact upstairs...

“Sorry I’m late,” said Ashley. “I overslept after my afternoon siesta.”

“Sure you did,” replied Grady, which earned him a slap on his arm from Chase as he took a seat next to his brother. “Ouch, you asshole. What was that for?”

Chase glared at Grady, and there was some kind of silent conversation going on between the two of them. Ashley took the only open seat opposite me – between Chase and Stella - and started fiddling with her napkin. I wasn’t surprised that something had been going on between the two of them. After Chase had sorted his hormones out, and gotten over what he thought he felt for Kennedy, he’d started hanging out with us a lot more, and watching a few interactions between him and Ashley, I predicted it was just a matter of time before they decided to put all that sexual tension to good use.

What I didn’t understand was why they kept it a secret.

With our table complete, everyone in our group slipped into conversation, like they always did when we were all together. The only person who looked bored and uninterested was Stella. Then again, she always looked like she’d eaten shit for breakfast – her face had a permanent scowl, unless she was hanging all over Reid. Then she just looked like a desperate hooker.

“Keep staring at Reid and the Hobbit will hack you into pieces in your sleep tonight,” muttered Kennedy.

My brows dipped into a frown. “I wasn’t staring.”

“You kinda were,” said Grady.

Jesus. Was I that obvious? I hadn’t even realized I’d been staring until Kennedy and Grady had pointed out. Luckily Stella was too busy whispering something into Reid’s ear to notice, so I was safe from her incessant need to kill me. For now.

We ordered dinner, and I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I started eating. The food was incredible, and even after having sushi for a light starter I still put a good dent in my main course. It wasn’t until dessert that I started to feel like I’d eaten too much. I sat back in my chair, and rubbed my hands over my flat stomach.

“I think we should all go for a swim,” said Kennedy. “It’s still early enough.”

“Anything to see you in a bikini, Kitten,” replied Dane. He leaned down and kissed that spot below her ear, causing her to giggle. It was both sweet and sickening to watch, really. She was so happy, and I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving, but I found myself feeling a little envious too.

Despite what people thought I wasn’t a hussy. I’d only ever slept with three guys, one of which was Reid. I hadn’t been with anyone else since him, and I worried that it would take me months, or even years to have the courage to date.

“I could use a cool down,” I said, pushing my plate away. “This heat is going to drive me up the wall.”

I was sweating, and it was one of the most unattractive things to have happen, but the hot sticky air clung to my skin and a swim actually sounded perfect. I could find a corner to sit in, away from my horny, over-affectionate friends that had a hard time being decent in public.

And I can avoid seeing Reid and Stella.

“Well what the fuck are we waiting for you skinny bitches, let’s get going.”

I laughed at Grady’s unfiltered comment. He had an uncanny ability to say the crudest thing in the funniest way, and let’s face it, some things don’t seem as offensive coming from a gay guy.

He took my hand, and helped me from my chair.

“C’mon, sweet cheeks, let’s go before these freaks start giving the other guests a fucking sex show.”

He dragged me away from our table, and I almost tripped going up the stairs.

“Dios Mio, Grady, what’s the damn hurry?”

The elevator doors opened just as we reached them, and he pulled us inside before our friends could catch up.

“The hurry,” he said, banging on our floor button, “is that you need to look shit hot so that Reid will come to his fucking senses and ditch that hobbit. Bitch has been trying to kill you with her squint eyes all night, and I had to stop myself from flying across that table to slap her to Siberia.”

“You’re ridiculous,” I laughed. “Reid seems to be into her, so why should I care?”

He looked at me incredulously, and when the elevator doors chimed, he pulled me to our room. “Reid has been seduced by her hobbit vagina, and he needs to see that the person he belongs with is actually a hot, stubborn Spanish babe. Now tell me you brought a sexy as fuck bikini, or else I’ll send you down there in your birthday suit.”

I sighed. “I don’t want to cause drama, Grady. I’d rather just avoid them altogether. In fact, I think it would be a good idea if I stayed right here.”

He rested his hands on my bare shoulders and shook me. “What is going on with you right now my tootsie roll? Where’s the feisty Jade that never backed down from a challenge? Where’s the girl who was ready to spit fire at anyone who even thought of crossing her?”

I’d been wondering the same thing for quite some time. I was waiting for the moment where I snapped out of my funk, and returned to normal.

But that was pre having-sex-with-my-best-friend-turned-friend-turned-stranger. Grady couldn’t possibly understand what had transpired between Reid and me, but I loved him for wanting to coax Feisty Jade out of hiding. Maybe I needed him to kick my butt.

“You’re going to have to help me find here,” I said quietly.

Grady’s face broke out into a gentle smile, and he cupped my cheek. “For you my sexy amigo, I will cut a bitch if it means we get the old Jade back.” He spun me around, and shoved me towards my luggage. “Now, go change.”

With a tap on the butt, I walked towards my luggage, and took out the several bikinis’ I’d brought on the trip.

Grady was right. I’d been in hiding, and it had to change. Grady didn’t need to know that I had no desire to get Reid’s attention while we were here, but if going along with our stupid plan would somehow bring a semblance of my old self back I’d try anything.

I
strolled down to the pool, and within fifteen minutes Grady had abandoned our plan for the cute bartender who’d made our cocktails earlier. Secretly I was relieved. His idea to get Reid’s attention felt a little juvenile at best and I knew I would regret starting a game I couldn’t finish. So I slipped my sandals off, adjusted my leopard print monokini and stepped into to temperate water, away from the other students who’d had the same idea to take a late night dip.

I waded through the water, trailing my fingers through the ripples, until I reached the deep end where the water slipped over the edge. The view was magnificent, peaceful, still. A sharp contrast to everything I’d been feeling in the last few weeks. I soaked it up, pushing away the subdued thoughts occupying my mind.

A burst of shrill laughter infiltrated the quiet, and I spun my head around. I wished I hadn’t.

Reid had just stepped into the water on the other side, and he lifted his arms to help Stella into the water. She smiled at him, her eyes turning up at the sides, and leaned down to kiss him. I should’ve looked away, but I was a glutton for punishment and just continued to stare. Her eyes lifted, and I swore her mouth tilted into a smirk all the while her lips moved against Reid’s. She was taunting me, dangling Reid in front of me like a damn bone.

I had to hand it to her though. She knew what she was doing, and if her aim was to hurt me, it was working.

Bitch.

I looked away, and rested my arms one the side of the pool. I wasn’t sure I was going to last an entire week, but wouldn’t leaving mean that Stella had won?

Not really, I realized.

She’d already won.

She had Reid.

The water moved next to me, and I looked to the side just as Kennedy stopped next to me. Her blonde hair was piled up on top of her head and her dark purple bikini matched the dyed tips.

“You look lost in thought,” she commented. “Anything you want to talk about?”

“Not really,” I replied. “Not much worth talking about I’m afraid.”

More laughter came from behind us, and I knew it was Stella without having to turn around. Kennedy looked over her shoulder, and let out an annoyed groan. “Can she be any more of an exhibitionist? God, she’s such an attention whore.”

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to turn in their direction and see Stella having fun with Reid.

God, I was so pathetic. I was starting to piss myself off with the whole ‘woe is me’ routine. It had to stop.

Sadly, I could only think of one way to do that.

Cut the few ties I had left keeping me tethered to Reid.

I had to put our lifetime of memories we’d made into a box, and keep them there, at least until it didn’t hurt so much anymore.

“Just ignore them,” I finally said. “She’s not worth it.”

“Are you okay being here, Jade? I mean, with having to see them together?”

“I’m trying to be,” I replied honestly. “I can’t blame him for moving on when I pushed him away.”

Kennedy sighed, and rested her chin on her palm as she looked at me. “I understand why you pushed him away, but what I don’t get is why you allow that bitch to get to you, or why Reid allows her to dictate whether or not the two of you can be friends. I thought he was better than that.”

“She’s threatened by me,” I said quietly. “I don’t blame her. Wouldn’t you be threatened by someone who was in love with Dane?”

“That’s different,” she argued. “Stella is threatened by you because you mean a lot to Reid, and she knows that.”

“Even so,” I sighed. “I fucked up any chance I had with Reid, and now he’s moved on.”

Kennedy huffed. “Moved on my ass. He’s trying to cover up what he feels about you by wasting his time with that...
thing.
He’ll wake up eventually, but until then you shouldn’t allow Stella’s petty attempts to rile you up, get to you. Beat her at her own game by not playing.”

I was about to respond when Kennedy was pulled underwater. She sputtered, and spun around to slap Dane, but he dodged her hand, and pulled her against him.

“Hey Kitten,” he laughed.

“Dane, you ass, I was talking to Jade!” She tried to sound annoyed, but one smile from him and she turned to putty in his hands.

“Mind if I steal my girl for a while?” He asked, looking down at me. Dane Winters was tall, and had a body many girls had fawned over, but he was very much enamored with my best friend, which made him tolerable. Sometimes. When he wasn’t being a dick.

“Sure,” I said. “I was about to head up anyway. I’m beat.”

Kennedy pouted. “Ah really? You can hang out with us if you want? I swear Dane will behave.”

Dane chuckled, and nipped at Kennedy’s throat. “I can’t promise that, sweetheart.”

I couldn’t help but smile at them. They’d had so much to get through, and I knew they loved each other.

“It’s fine, I’ll just go up, take a shower and climb into bed.”

“See you in the morning?” Asked Kennedy. She squeezed my hand below the water, telling me she was here if I needed her.

“Of course.”

I moved back towards the pool steps, and let out a breath when I saw Reid and Stella had disappeared.

Thank God.

At least I could leave without having to see them groping each other.

I stepped into my sandals, and wrapped my towel around my body. I rounded the corner, and should have been paying better attention because my foot caught on something, and I fell onto the hard marble floor. My hands stung from the impact, and I swallowed the need to cry out by biting my lip.

“Ouch,” I muttered. I turned my head, and saw Stella glaring down at me.

“You’d better watch your step, Jade. You could get yourself seriously hurt.”

I frowned. The Hobbit had fucking tripped me.

“What is your problem?” I asked, standing up and dusting my hands off on my towel. I was quite a bit taller than Stella, so I ended up looking down at her.

“You’re my problem,” she snapped, completely undeterred by our height difference. “You keep staring at Reid, and it’s time you stopped. He doesn’t want you Jade, and you need to get over it. I saw you, at dinner, while we were in the pool. It’s pathetic.”

It was pathetic, but I wasn’t about to tell her that.

“He’s my friend,” I replied lamely.

Where the fuck was feisty Jade when I needed her?

“I made it clear that it was either you or me, and he chose me, so just do us all a favor and stay the fuck away from him. He made it obvious he doesn’t want anything to do with you, so why haven’t you caught the hint yet?”

Her words hit their mark, but they also stirred something else inside me.

Anger.

My need to protect myself.

The old Jade.

I stepped closer to Stella, sure to encroach on her personal space. “You don’t know a thing about my friendship with Reid. If he wanted me out of his life for good he would have told me himself.”

Stella’s mouth twisted and her smile turned sinister. “You poor, stupid girl. Reid feels too sorry for you to say anything, but I don’t. So here’s the deal, stay away from him, and we won’t have any problems, got it?”

I shook my head, and started to turn. “No, we don’t ‘got it’. I don’t take orders, least of all from Reid’s latest bed fly. So if I were you, I’d turn the fuck around and pretend this conversation never happened.”

I started walking away, but a sharp tug of my hair had me stumbling backwards.

“You bitch!” Shrieked Stella. I fell to the ground, hitting my elbow on the floor, and lifted my arm just in time to deflect Stella’s fist. My head hit the floor so hard my vision blurred but at least there was no way Psycho Hobbit was going to bruise my face.

“Get off me!” I yelled, deflecting another punch.

“He’s mine!” Stella’s shrill voice echoed around us. “He doesn’t want you!” She spat. She’d somehow managed to straddle me, and I struggled to keep her from clawing at my face. “He said all you were was a fuck, and that it meant nothing to him. Get it yet? He doesn’t fucking want you!”