Dark Desire (3 page)

“Who was that?
Have you fuckin’ moved on? You fuckin’ rip one up me about Sharleen when clearly you’ve been doing the same.”

Oh my my my, this is delicious. Big, bad ass Jagger is wild with jealousy. Maybe I won’t tell him Joey is gay, let him sweat it a little longer.

“I haven’t done anything. I met him while I was away and it’s none of your business because you’re still clearly hanging out with your wife, so let’s not get judgmental.”

“Willow, I swear to…”

“There you are baby!”

Sharleen shows up behind Jagger and
reaches out to take his hand, but he slaps it away and snarls a curse.

“We need to go,
” Sharleen murmurs, as though she didn’t just get her hand slapped away. “Say goodbye to Wilmer.”

I glare at her
and my temper flares. “It’s Willow, you stupid mol…”

Jagger puts his hand up, stopping me.

“Enough,” he snarls, then turns to Sharleen. “Meet me in the car, and you know damn well her name is not Wilmer! Don’t do it again!”

Sharleen nods, and smirks at me once more before walking to
wards the check out. I continue to shove my items through and try hard to avoid the glare that’s burning into the side of my face.

“Willow,
are you seeing that man?”

I ignore him.

“Willow!”

The
checkout chick is darting her eyes between us, clearly shocked by the moment we’re having right in the middle of a store. Real mature.

“I have
to go,” I say, handing her some money. “Bye Jagger,”

I grip my bags and walk out. Jagger snarls a curse, and I feel a small smile creep across my lips. Jagger’s jealous, that has to means something, right?

~*~*~*~

I see
Joey as soon as I walk into the café, my heart quickens. I’ve missed him. He stands when I reach the table and pulls out a chair for me. I sit down and grin across the table at him.

“So, was that the man you were running from?”

I sigh, “That was him.”

“
Ouch, but he was smokin’,”

I laugh. “Hands off, he’s all mine.”

“Doesn’t seem that way, how are you going to get him back?”

I pout. “I can’t, it seems he’s made his choice.”

Joey reaches across the table and slaps my face lightly. “Girl, if I have to come over there you’re gonna wish you didn’t just say that!”

I burst out laughing and he joins in.

“Seriously though, you aren’t just giving up are you?”

I smile weakly. “I don’t see that I have much choice.”

He lets his gaze rake me. “He’s hot for you, and you have the body to make him sweat it. So work him girl, work him and make him see what he’s missing out on.”

“Well…there is this party tomorrow night and
he kind of thinks I’m seeing you...do you see where I’m going with this?”

Joey grins and claps his hands together. “This day just got better, tell me where to be and I’ll make him so damn jealous he’ll try to beat me behind the bushes and I’ll love it!”

I snort a laugh and people around us turn to stare. “Are you free then?”

He grins. 
“I’m there and all over you like a bad rash!”

I grin and give
him a high five. “Thanks Joey, are you still coming around tonight?”

“Heck yeah!”

CHAPTER 3

“Hey Willow,” Angel says when he and Ava walk through my door later that night with arms full of pizza and cola.

“Hi Angel, how are you?”

“Fuckin great; it’s good to see you.”

“Ditto,
”

“Love the hair.”

I laugh, “Thanks.”

“So tell us,” Ava says, throwing a box
of pizza down onto the counter. “What did you do to Jagger?”

“What? Nothing,
”

“He came home from the store so angry he smashed four plates. Then he told Sharleen to fuck off when she tried to follow him to his room, it was epic
and completely enjoyable.”

He did? He was that upset? I know it shouldn’t make me feel good inside, but it does. It gives me hope.

“He saw me with…err…a friend that was male and got angry,”

“Oh, do tell,” Ava grins, opening the pizza box.

“I met him in Hawaii, he’s coming over soon.”

“What?” Ava shrieks. “You didn’t tell me?”

“We’re only friends. Jagger must have gotten it wrong.”

“Jagger got it wrong alright, he was furious!” Angel laughs.

“I don’t know why he flipped out; he was there with Sharleen.”

Angel laughs. “Sharleen has him by the short and
curly’s. She’s using him because she knows he feels guilty that he moved on when she wasn’t really dead. Whatever you did today, it worked. He flipped out, which means he’s not over it. In fact, it tells me he wants you more than he’s letting on. He and Sharleen aren’t the same anymore, so whatever you did, do it again. Make him sweat.”

I laugh. “And you think that’ll work?”

He shrugs. “Treat em’ mean, keep em’ keen – right?”

Ava slaps him on the shoulder and he laughs.

“It’s true,” He protests. “She’s not falling at his feet and begging, and it’s making him hungry for her. Keep doing it Willow, if you want him back, fight.”

I frown. “I can’t compete with Malibu Barbie over there.”

Angel roars with laughter. “Malibu Barbie has the personality of a rock.”

“Then why’
d he marry her?”

“He was young, stupid,
and angry. Jagger believes in doing the right thing, it’s the only reason she’s still there. He thinks he’ll turn out like his father if he’s a bad husband.”

“Do you think he still loves her?”

“I think he did love her, but now…no. I think he’s fighting against himself.”

“It seems to me he’s made his choice…”

Ava grins and waggles her brows. “Not if you fight.”

“I shouldn’t have to fight.
” I pout.

“Do you want him
, Willow?” Angel says simply.

“Of course I do,”

“Then you go to my party tomorrow night and you make him drool until he can’t drool no more. Work him, make him desperate, and show him what he’s missing. If you’re just willing to give up the fight, then fine, but you can’t complain and mope around. If you’re not done fighting, then get your ass over there tomorrow and show him what he’s living without.”

I smile weakly and Ava shoves me. “Come on…what’s it gonna be baby? Mope or fight?”

I feel a grin stretch across my face. “Fight, definitely fight!”

“Atta girl!” Angel whoops. “Now I’m going to eat, I’m starving.”

Joey arrives ten minutes later and I introduce him to Angel and Ava.

“Oh, I see why Jagger g
ot emotional.” Ava grins, winking at Joey.

“I like h
er, she knows a good man when she sees one.” Joey laughs, patting her on the shoulder.

“He’s gay…you two have picked that up right?” I say, laughing.

“Yeah, we got that.” Angel yells from the couch as he flicks through the channels for movies.

“So, did she tell you about our plan?” Joey asks Ava.

“Heck no…what plan?”

I go over what we’re going to do at Angel’s party, and Ava squeals with delight. “I love it, totally love it!”

“Right?” Joey laughs.

“You lot are a mean
bunch.” Angel says from the couch.

“It’s a good plan, ev
en you have to admit that Angel,” Ava says.

“Heck yeah it’s a good plan
but man will he flip when he finds out.”

I laugh and we all settle in to watch movies. I’m grateful to
these guys for being here, it really helps. I get awful lonely in this apartment now that Ava is shacking up with Angel. When they leave later, I crawl into bed exhausted. I pull out my phone and stare down to see texts from Jagger.

J: You’re fucking rippin my heart out.

J: I need you Willow, need you so fuckin bad.

J: Willow…I’m sorry.

I think he’s drunk. In fact, I can almost bet he is. I respond anyway.

W: Are
u drunk?

J: Yeah.

W: So u only want me when you’re drunk?

J: Not a fact.

W: Where’s your WIFE?

J: Don’t fuckin care.

W: I find that hard to believe.

J: Can I come over?

W: No.

J: Y?

W: Becoz you’re drunk…

J: So?

W: Go to sleep, I’ll see u tomorrow.

My phone rings then, great, drunk Jagger won’t get the hint. I pick i
t up and answer with a snappy, “What?”

“Why won’t you talk to me?” He says
in a slurry tone.

“Because I’m tired,
”

“You don’t talk to
me when you’re not tired either.”

“Jagger, you need to go to sleep.”

“Who was that fucker today?”

“What does it matter?”

“Fuckin’ matters, fuckin’ matters alright,”

“Jagger…”

“I want you, so fuckin’ bad. I’m so fuckin’ hard for you Willow.”

My mouth drops open, what the fuck did he just say? Oh, he’s drunk.

“You have a wife for that.”

“Fuck off, stop saying that.”

“Well, you do. Can’t you screw her? I’m sure you already have.”

He’s silent a moment and my heart stops.

“You have, haven’t you?”

He’s still silent.

“JAGGER?”

He doesn’t answer and that’s enough for me. I hang up the phone. Pain rips through my heart. How could he? He didn’t even have the nerve to break it off with me first. I drop to my knees and all the strength I
’ve created over the last six weeks, comes crumbling apart. He was my everything and he just broke me, he broke me.

CHAPTER
4

“Willow! Open up!”

I’m on my couch, curled up and sobbing. My heart is broken, how could he sleep with her? How could he do that to me? He couldn’t say goodbye first? Let me move on. Let me go. It’s a selfish act, he told me he hadn’t made a choice but all along he was trying out the options.

“Fuck, open the door!”

He’s been banging on my door for an hour now, and I refuse to go and open it. He’ll go away eventually or he’ll do something stupid like break a window.

“Jagger, fuck dude, what are you doin’?”

“Ace, she won’t fuckin’ open up. I said some things and…fuck…Willow? I didn’t fuck her!”

My eyes widen and I sit up on the couch.
Did he just say he didn’t fuck her? I don’t understand, if he didn’t why the hell is he beating down my door?

“What are you talkin’ about dude?” Ace asks.

“She thinks I fucked Sharleen, I didn’t! WILLOW I DIDN’T!”

“Come on, you go home and I’ll talk to her. She obviously doesn’t wanna see you bro, so just go.”

“Ace, what if she…”

“What?”

“Willow…she…hurts herself.”

Well sure Jagger, why don’t you just tell everyone?

“Fuck, just go and I’ll get in. She doesn’t need extra shit going on if you’re drunk and ranting. I’ll call.”

“I can’t leave…”

“Jagger, fuck off, you’re drunk and she doesn’t need that.”

“Fine, but you fuckin’ call me Ace, I swear to
God if you don’t…”

“I will, now piss off.”

A moment later a soft knock sounds out.

“Willow? It’s Ace, he’s gone.”

I stand and walk over, opening the door. Ace’s eyes widen and I see relief flash across his lovely features. I’ve missed Ace, and I didn’t realize how much until now. He looks good, as gorgeous as ever and giving me that dazzling smile.

“Well hey there girl, how are you?”

I smile weakly, “Alright.”

“He’s gone.
”

“I know, I heard.”

“Wanna tell me what’s goin’ on?”

“I thought…I asked him if he slept with Sharleen and he went silent, when I asked again he remained silent and I thought…”

“He said he didn’t…”

“I know he said that, do you think it’s true?”

“I haven’t even seen them touch Willow, I think it’s true.”

With a sigh, I slump onto the couch and Ace falls down beside me.