“I’ll have another—” The word ginger ale dies on my lips as Jake walks through the door with Britney on his arm.
Chapter 8
Humiliation is the first emotion that hits me, and then betrayal. Even as the logical side of my mind argues Jake doesn’t belong to me, it doesn’t prevent pain from slashing my heart open. It doesn’t help that he looks unreasonably hot in skinny jeans, a black T-shirt, and leather jacket, or that Britney looks equally hot—and thin—in stretch pants and a crop top.
Frowning, Nancy follows my gaze. “Shit.”
“Anything the matter?” Steve asks.
“Her future husband just walked in,” she says with frost in her voice.
Can I make it around the back before Jake sees me? Too late. Sensing our stares, he turns his head and stops in his tracks. His gaze goes from me to Steve and back to me. The expression in his dark eyes turns from broody to downright murderous. Dumping Britney on the spot, he makes his way over with long, angry strides.
Questions bombard my mind. Why is he charging at us like a fuming bull? Is Britney the reason he’s ignoring me? Are we making an even bigger mess of our situation by getting married? None of the answers I’d like are meant for other people’s ears. Whatever he’s going to say when he reaches our table, it’s best we take it outside. I open my mouth to say so, but before I get a word out, he swings back his arm and hooks his fist under Steve’s jaw with a force that makes Steve fall backward from his seat.
I jump to my feet. “Jake!”
Nancy comes charging around the table, screaming, “What the hell is wrong with you?”
She grabs Jake’s arm as he tries to land another punch.
Cracking his neck, Steve gets up slowly. “Whoa.” His body is tense, his non-verbal language a warning that he’s ready to fight back. “Whatever you’re thinking, buddy, you’ve got it wrong.”
Jake turns his attention to me. “Did he touch you?”
A small crowd has gathered around our table, Jan and Kallie included.
I grab my bag. “Steve, I’m so sorry. Jake, we’re talking outside.”
“Not before you answer my question.”
“Back off,” Steve snaps. “This is no way to treat your future wife.”
Jake charges again, but this time Steve is ready. He lands a blow on Jake’s cheekbone before Jake hits him in the stomach.
“Stop it!” I yell, trying to break them up, but they’re really going for each other.
Fists fly while the crowd cheers them on.
“Shut up,” I scream at the spectators, “and stop them.”
Jake kicks Steve’s feet from under him, but Steve has his hand fisted in the fabric of Jake’s T-shirt and both men go down. They’re rolling in the grass, their arms cartwheels as they swing more punches.
“Get the bouncer,” Nancy yells, but nobody moves.
Jan pushes from the crowd, taking up a stance in front of me. “Why should we do anything you say?”
Are they all crazy? “Now’s not the time.”
I try to move around him, but he catches my arm. “We’ve got unfinished business.”
Grunts fill the air as the two men on the ground strangle each other.
“Let her go,” Nancy says, trying to shove Jan away.
“My money’s on the new guy,” someone says.
“Fifty on Jake,” someone else calls out.
Between the fighting, the hooting of the crowd, and Jan’s fingers that are locked around my arm, my head is spinning.
Nancy grabs a beer bottle from a nearby table and points it at Jan. “Let her go. Jake! Steve! Stop fighting you idiots and help Kristi.”
Two bouncers come charging outside. One grabs Jake while the other takes hold of Steve’s shirt collar. Pulling them apart, they drag them to their feet. Jake’s nose is bleeding, and Steve is sporting a cut on his cheek. Steve’s shirttails came free of his jeans and Jake’s T-shirt is torn. They’re both covered in streaks of mud. Grass sticks to their hair.
“Out front,” the bouncer restraining Jake says, pushing him toward the door. “That goes for you ladies too.” He points at Jan. “And you.”
Jan releases me and lifts his hands. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Out. Now. Or I’ll drag you by your ear.”
Jan throws his arms in the air.
“Show’s over,” the other bouncer says. “Everyone back to their tables.”
The crowd slowly disperses as we make our way to the front where Talana, the owner, waits.
“I can’t believe you lot,” she says when we’re lined up in front of her, our heads down. “You’re banned from my bar for a month.”
“A month!” Jan says. “But that’s until January.”
“Two months,” she says.
Jan purses his lips. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Three months.”
“Fucking hell,” he mumbles under his breath.
“I called Sarel,” she continues. “You all wait here until he arrives.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Jan says again.
Giving us a disapproving shake of her head, Talana goes back inside and leaves us with the bouncers.
“You’re wearing his hat,” Jake says, spitting blood on the ground.
I’m so focused on Britney who has just joined us, it takes me a minute to register he spoke to me. “What?”
“I said you’re wearing his hat.”
“She was keeping it for me,” Steve says.
Jake’s attention doesn’t waver from me. He doesn’t even acknowledge Steve. “Give it back to him.”
My first reaction is to tell him he can’t tell me what to do, but Britney is watching the spectacle with too much interest.
Removing the hat I’ve forgotten I still have on my head, I hand it back to Steve. “Sorry for ruining your evening.”
“You all right?” he asks.
“How she is, is none of your business,” Jake says.
Nancy steps between the two men. “Cut it out, Jake. You’ve caused enough trouble as it is.” At trouble, she glances at Britney.
Jake only continues to stare at me, the intensity of his gaze so uncomfortable I can’t help but look away.
It’s a small town. It doesn’t take long for, judging by his civilian clothes and safari hat, an off-duty and unhappy Sarel to arrive.
He points at Jake and me. “You and you, get in the van.” He turns on Jan. “You too.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Get in the van, Jan.”
“Want to lay charges?” he asks Steve.
“No, sir.”
Sarel nods. “Then we’re good here. The rest of you can go home.”
“Where are you taking Kristi?” Nancy asks.
“Police station.”
“Wait.” Nancy grabs his arm. “Why?”
“For something she should’ve reported this afternoon. Had any alcohol, Nancy?”
“No.”
He tips his hat. “Drive safely.”
“Call me,” Nancy mouths as I turn to follow the guys.
Britney comes running up, trying to take Jake’s hand, but he shakes her off. At the rejection, she clenches her jaw and follows two steps behind.
“Not you, Britney,” Sarel says as we get to the van.
“I came with Jake. I’m leaving with him.”
Sarel plants his hands on his hips and utters a sigh. “Get in. I’ll drop you at home.” He opens the back but catches my wrist as I make to clamber inside. His gaze drops to my stomach. “You can sit up front.”
The divider between the front and back of the van is open, a fact I regret when I have to listen to Britney and Jake’s conversation on the way to the police station.
“What’s going on with you, Jake?” Britney asks.
“Nothing,” he says in a flat voice.
“You still care about her.”
“Shut up, Britney.”
“Why else would you go after a
guy over a hat?”
“That’s enough,” he grits out.
“I thought you said she was a gold digger.”
My ears burn. My cheeks flame. My heart thumps like a pendulum in my chest.
Without taking his eyes from the road, Sarel slams the window partition shut, mercifully saving me, albeit a little late.
After dropping Britney off, he brings us to the station and makes Jake, Jan, and me sit in his office while he stands in front of us with the same disapproving expression Talana had worn.
“You’re legal, Pretorius,” he says to me, “but considering your condition, I’ll call your mom if you’d like her to be present.”
“No,” I say quickly. “I’m good.”
He slams a piece of paper and a pencil down in front of me. “Declaration of this afternoon’s events.”
Jake turns his head toward me. “What happened this afternoon?”
I’m too upset to even look at him.
Jan jumps to his feet. “I already told you.”
“Sit back down, son,” Sarel says. “I want to hear it from her.”
“What the hell happened, Kristi?” Jake asks again.
Sarel pins Jake with a stare. “You can wait in the cell if you’re going to be a problem.”
Jake lifts his hands. “Calm like a daisy.”
I stare at the blank paper. “Where do I start?”
“From where Jan and Kallie came into the picture,” Sarel says, standing over me like a headmaster.
As I press the sharp point of the pencil on the paper, Jan mumbles, “She started it. I told you.”
Sarel places the toe of his boot on Jan’s chair and leans an arm on one knee. “That’s not what Eddie said.”
“Eddie’s lying,” Jan exclaims.
“How can you know he’s lying if you don’t know what he said?” Sarel asks, twisting his moustache between a thumb and forefinger.
“Eddie attacked us for no reason. We want compensation for what Kallie is suffering.”
“Is that so?” Sarel straightens. “According to Eddie, Kristi was lying in a ditch with you raising your fist at her.”
At the word ditch, Jake is on his feet so fast Sarel doesn’t have time to stop him before he jumps for Jan. Both of them crash to the floor as Jake tackles Jan in his chair.
“If you touched her—” Jake growls.
Sarel grabs him by the back of his T-shirt and tears him off Jan. “Be wise and shut your mouth before you utter a threat.”
Jake shakes off Sarel’s touch. “Did he hurt you, Kristi?”
“Eddie got there on time,” Sarel says. “Kallie got a pellet in the ass for his trouble.”
Jake balls his fists. “I swear—”
“Threats, Jake,” Sarel warns. He doesn’t offer Jan a hand when he struggles to his feet. “You’re going to do six months of community service,” he says to Jan. “Use the time while you collect litter wisely to reflect on why you’re picking up other people’s trash.”
“But—” Jan starts.
“One year,” Sarel says.
At that, Jan shuts his mouth.
“You, Jake,” Sarel turns on him, “will do voluntary work at the old age home until you leave town.” He hands out more notepads and pens. “I’ll also need a statement from each of you about tonight’s fight. Make it snappy. It’s late, and I haven’t finished dinner.”
We each write down our version of the events, but Sarel has already made up his mind about punishments. Jan and Jake aren’t complaining. If Sarel goes the proper route, they’ll each end up with a big fine and a record for violent behavior.
When we’re done, Sarel drops us off at Sugar Loaf to get our vehicles and asks if I need a lift.
“I’ll take her home,” Jake says.
“No, thanks. I prefer to go with Sarel.”
“We need to talk.” He doesn’t seem to care that both Jan and Sarel are still present, overhearing our argument.
“We don’t,” I say.
“I’m going to let you kids fight it out,” Sarel says. “You make sure she gets home safely, Jake, or you’ll get to deal with me. Just to be on the safe side, I’ll follow you home, Jan.”
Jan huffs and puffs like a big, bad wolf, but he gets into his truck and pulls away with Sarel following behind.
“You should’ve told me about this afternoon,” Jake says when they’re gone.
“Why?”
“You know why.”
“Actually, I don’t.”
“I fucking care, even if you don’t.”
“Is that what you told your girlfriend, that I only care about your money?”
“She’s not my girlfriend.”
“Could’ve fooled me and everyone else at Sugar Loaf.”
“It’s not how it seems.”
“You know what? You’re right. I don’t care. In fact, I don’t want to marry you. I don’t want your money. I’ll manage on my own.” Flinging around, I head toward the road.
Before I make it to the end, Jake’s fingers close around my wrist. “Britney is a friend.”
“That’s not what she believes, not that it’s any of my business.”
“I can’t believe that just came out of your mouth. We’re four fucking days away from getting married.”
Says the man who brought another woman to the bar. “We’re not.”
I jerk free and start walking again, but Jake cuts me off.
“I’m marrying you, Kristi. I’ll even do it on your terms, just seeing what happens afterward. What I’m not going to do is let you carry all the responsibility for a mistake we both made.”
Yes, it’s a mistake, but deep down I don’t want it to be, and that’s what hurts the most. It’s that he regrets what we’ve done. “I don’t need your money.”
“Stop being so fucking proud.”
As much as I’m in love with him, I hate him for being right, because I still don’t have a job, and there’s really no way I’ll be able to afford the medical bills on my own.
Angry tears blur my vision. “I don’t want to be a gold digger. Let me go past.”
“You know I’ll never let you battle it out alone. I’m more than willing to pay for everything. In fact, I insist.” He hesitates. His next words sound like an accusation. “My mother told me you and your mom came to the house.”
“My mom was upset. Can you blame her? She thought she could talk sense into your parents.”
“Did you do it on purpose?”
“Did I do what on purpose?”
“Fall pregnant. Did you try to catch me?”
I can’t believe my ears. Is that what his mom told him? He believes her? If I ever regretted having sex with Jake, it’s now. “Go to hell, Jake Basson.”
I try to slip around him again, but he takes a step to the side, blocking my way. “Tell me.”
“If you have to ask me that, you definitely don’t know me.”
He grips my arms. “Maybe I shouldn’t have listened to my mother, but look at it from my side. You claim getting married is only for financial reasons just before you all but chase me away. That hurt. Then I come here tonight and find you with another man. What am I supposed to think? That you need my money but want someone else?”
“Don’t be like your father.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“Don’t be a hypocrite. You came here with Britney.”
He holds up his hands. “I didn’t.”
“Are you saying there’s something wrong with my eyes? With everyone’s eyes?”
“Are you jealous?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Tell me.”
“Why is it so important?”
“I thought you didn’t care.”
“I never said I didn’t care.”
“Does that mean you do?”
“Of course I do.”
“About what? Us? That guy whose hat you were wearing?”
�
��For crying out loud, Jake. It’s you. I care about you.”
“How? Like a good lay? Like a friend? Or just like the accidental father of your child?”
“What do you want from me?” I cry in frustration.
“If you care so much, why did you chase me away?”
“I didn’t chase you away.”
“You told me to leave. You were very clear about it.”
“I told you to go to Dubai. There’s a difference.”
“Why? Why do you want me gone so badly? And don’t give me some bullshit excuse about my dream being better than yours.”
I give up. I don’t care if it makes me vulnerable or weak. I’m tired of hiding my feelings. I’m tired of playing this game of emotional ping pong.
The words leave my mouth in a rush. “Because I’m in love with you, dammit.” There. I said it. It feels scary rather than good, but also liberating. “That’s why I’m letting you go, why I want you to chase your dream. If you haven’t figured it out by now, you’re a fool.”
He looks taken aback. “You’re in love with me.”
“Why does that surprize you?”
“I knew you were kind of physically interested—I saw the way you looked at me in school when you thought I didn’t notice—but I never thought a clever girl like you would fall in love with someone like me.”
“Oh, come on, Jake. Don’t pretend to be humble. Half of the town is in love with you.”
“I don’t give a fuck about half the town or anyone else. I care about what you feel. I thought you didn’t want more.”
“I never said I didn’t want more.”
“No,” he says gently. “You never said that. You just put my interests before yours, and I was too blinded by hurt and jealousy to recognize the sacrifice for what it was.” He folds his arms around me, dragging me to his chest. “Fuck, Kristi. I’m such a jerk. I don’t deserve you.”
“You’re right. You don’t.” I push away, flustered by my admission, and still angry and hurt by his behavior. “Why do you even care? You ignored me for the past weeks like you ignored me for all the years we went to school together, and tonight you show up with Britney.”
“Have you ever wondered why I stayed so far away from you? I wanted nothing more than to get my fingers in your panties since you turned sweet sixteen in that pink dress with the white flowers. I couldn’t think about anything but getting my cock between your legs from the moment you grew breasts. That’s why I stayed away from you. You’re a good girl, a good woman. You’re sweet, and honest, and caring. You don’t deserve a bastard like me.”
Catch Me Twice Page 11
