Ruining Me (7 page)

Jill laughed and I’m pretty sure she
murmured
,
“Good
l
uck with that.”  I told her I would see her sometime next week and we hung up.  

Around
seven
o’clock I
started thinking about
Kane.  I’m not kidding myself and knew that if I didn’t show up he would probably have a bimbo in the wings waiting.  Not ever being the type to wait around on a guy
myself
, I decide
d
to get dressed and head downtown.  I slip on a pair of tight jeans and a black sexy off the shoulder shirt.  The shiny black heels that I bought last w
eek complete my look.  I brush
out my hair
and spray some perfume. 

The drive took a little longer because of traffic.  When I left I wasn’t exactly
sure
where I was going.  I didn’t want to go to O’Malley’s because that is where Kane would be and Rhye wou
ld be at Vortex.  The
r
e
were several more bars downtown, b
ut those two were my favorites.  I decided on Vortex and I didn’t want to think too hard on why.

I found a parking space
at
Vortex
and flipped my ID to the bouncer outside
. 
He stamped my hand with an
“
over 21
”
stamp. 
The bar used to be an old warehouse that was converted to a large room.  The stage is on one side and the bar on the other.  In between are tables and booths and a small dance floor in front of the stage. Until the band goes on they have rock music playing overhead.

Since it was eight o’clock it was still early
,
Rhye’s band, “The Mavs”, wouldn’t go on until ten.  For now, I knew that the band would be in the corner hanging out in their booth.  The guys in the band are older than Rhye and
me
, but I had gotten to know them when I dated him before.  When I walk
ed
in
I s
ee
a
good number of people already hanging out. 

Walking
directly to the bar
I d
id
not look to see if Rhye was
around
. 
The bartender was a different girl who I didn’t know. 
She
looked at my hand stamp to verify my age.

“What can I get you to drink?”

“Vodka and cranberry juice please.”

She fixes my drink and I hand
over money for the
cocktail
plus a great tip. 
My mouth puckers as I take a sip of the stout drink. 
 

“Thanks,” I say and turn
around
.  A couple of cute guys were checking me out, but all I could think
about were vibrant green eyes and t
h
at
tattoo on the
side of
Kane’s
neck.  I should have read it
,
because now it’s driving me crazy just thinking about it.  The stool next to me w
as pushed back as someone steps
up next to me at the bar.

“Well, well if it isn’t Jay.”

I turn to that voice that still makes
my body come alive.  Rhye was smiling at me.
  His eyes were a little glassy, but I could te
ll he was still lucid.  He looks
over my body
and
his gaze
lingers
on my breast a little longer than the rest. 

“I’m just here for the music Rhye.  No
t to be your fuck buddy.”  I ta
k
e
a sip of my drink and glance at the people starting to move on the dance floor.  Flyleaf’s
“
Something I
C
an Never Have
”
,
start
s
to play
. 
 
He grabs m
y drink and set
s
it back on the bar
so he can
reach for my hand. 

“Come dance with me Jay?”  His question caught me off guard.  Rhye never liked to dance unless he was totally out of it. 

“I didn’t think you danced?”  I was curious
as to
what his answer would be, but he didn’t
say anything
. 

He pull
ed
me to the dance floor and straight into his arms
, m
oving
his bod
y fluidly against mine. 
I’m stunned for a second
,
because he
has
learned a few moves since we were last together.  My hips rock against his and I
follow
his lead letting the music take
over.  He s
ings
the song gently in my ear and I close my eyes praying my knees
will
not give out. 

Toward
s
the e
nd of the song
,
warm lips touch
my
shoulder.  The first song turns
into the second and it was a slower rock ballad.  I was already lost in dancing with him.  This is what he always
offered me
,
a chance to forget
everything
.  
Both of h
is
hands
move
down my body and grip
my hips. 

“Tell me what it will take Jay?”  His voice whisper
s
in my ear.  “I want you.”  His lips rub back and forth against my neck.

I raise my face
and h
is dark eye
s
b
ore into m
ine
.  We stop moving and I sh
ake
my head at him.  This was a mistake.  Rhye must have guessed that I was going to pull away because in that moment he captured my mouth with his.  His lips were hard against m
e
and he nipped at my upper lip when I didn’t open up.  I jerk
away from him. 

“Damn
it Rhye,” I shout at him and br
e
ak
away from his grip so I c
an
walk away. 
Headi
ng straight to the bar, I order
a beer.  When I turn back around he
is
gone.  I glance in the direction
of
his booth and
see
he
is
sitting with the band, staring at me. 
He
knows if he pushes me
, I
will leave and for some reason he wants me to stay
to
hear him sing. 

At about fifteen after nine my phone buzzed with a text. 

Kane -
Where R U

Ignoring it,
I slip my phone back into my jeans pock
et and take a drink of my beer.

The next hour pass
es pretty quickly.  Rhye never tries to talk to me an
ymore.  A couple of the guys in the band did walk over to say, “Hi,” but that was it.  The bar started to fill up the closer it was time for the guys to go onstage.   
 

When Rhye walked out on the stage everyone went crazy.  He has so much
charisma
that it really did light the stage up.  He waved his arms downward to try and silence the crowd. 

“Hey Guys.  Glad you all could join us at the V tonight.  You want to hear us play some music?”  The crowd scream
s
for them.  The first two songs must have been new because I didn’t recognize them.  Right before he started the second one he hushed the crowd.

“Okay this next one I wrote about a
girl that I c
an’t
get out of my mind.  I know you guy
s
know what I’m talking about.”  I swore he
said it directly to me as he
looked across the crowd
.

The guitar started playing a
slow melody and his first words stunned me.
  Rhye closed his eyes and beg
i
n
s
singing.

“
Her
eyes haunt me when I close mine

I can’t
imagine what secrets they hold

But if she’
ll give me just one moment

I will remove all that pain from her soul.

I was careless when I held her

If I could do it all just once more

I won’t make the same mistake

And let her walk out the door. 

So it’s your voice that I hear

And it’s all in my head

And it’s your pain that I feel

But you’re not here instead

I want to take it all away

Take it all away

Take it all away
”

I didn’t
stay to hear
him finish
, I just
walk
ed
out of the bar.  He was talking about me and I knew it.  How dare he write that song. 
I don’t want a song about me.  Angrily I walk to my car and dr
o
ve home.  He cheated on me the rat bastard.  How could he
?

By the time I arrive
home it was about eleven o’clock.  I was too wound up to sleep so I decide to watch a
chick flick. 
Something with
Channing Tatum
so I c
oulc
forget all the in-real-life eye candy I have to deal with. 
I threw on my
J
uicy sweat pants and tank top.  Nights like this
, when I really need someone to tal
k to
,
I
really
miss Molly and Reed.  I almost pick up the phone and call
Molly
, but I’m pretty sure
s
he would just hang up on me. 

Several minutes into the movie I decide to run
down to the kitchen to get a drink when I hea
r the sound of a motorcycle.  Mr. Mounts our next door neighbor must be going through one of his Harley phases again.  A
couple
of
minutes later
the doorbell
r
ings
. 
It’s almost eleven thirty and I’m not sure who would be coming by this late. 

Our
front door is all beveled glass except for the center
circular
window
which is
clear. 
As I walk
to open it I notice Kane looking
at me.  He was wearing a b
lack leather jacket and he looks pretty pissed.  I turn
the alarm off and open the door. 
Leaning a
gainst the frame not allowing him to enter
,
I
cross my arms
.  He d
oesn’t
say anything
at first just stares
at my face and then slowly
he
swe
e
p
s his gaze
downward
. 
My body lights up l
ike a c
ircuit board.  God, I just ache
looking at him. 
I’m
instantly swamped with need and
I notice his nose flare out
.  It seems like I’m not the only one
affected.

“
It’s late
and I’d love to know how you found out where I live?”