by J. J. Dorn
“I can’t believe we just graduated!” Audrey squealed hugging me in the middle of the huge Vanderbilt auditorium.
We had done it. Audrey and I had managed to navigate three years of absolute hell and we came out the other side as law school graduates. It was my single biggest achievement and I couldn’t have been more thrilled.
“I know!” I exclaimed, hugging her back.
“Over here, you smart bitches!” Olivia called out as she made her way through the thick crowd of graduates.
As soon as she reached us, Audrey and I tugged her into our huge hug.
“We did it!” Audrey grinned, pulling away from us.
“I know. It doesn’t seem real,” I told her smiling at my two best friends.
Our families were also there. My parents, Jacks, Lukas and Libby all came to watch me reach my crowning achievement thus far. They sat with Audrey’s parents and brother. They were planning to take us out to a fancy dinner to celebrate. I’m sure my Mother and Audrey’s mom planned something beautiful and over the top. I couldn’t wait.
“Are we meeting everyone there?” Olivia asked as we headed to the doors of the exit.
“Yeah I told them we would just meet them at the restaurant after Audrey and I change. You coming with us?” I asked Livy.
“Of course.”
It took us over a half an hour to finally get home. I was worried we were going to be late so I quickly ran to my bedroom to put on my dress I had picked out. I was in my bedroom when I heard the doorbell ring. I didn’t think much of it. I figured it was just one of our family members who got confused and showed up at our apartment instead of going to the restaurant.
“Jenna, you need to come out here,” Liv yelled from the living room.
“Okay just give me a second.” I shouted back as I tugged my teal ombre dress on and zipped it.
When I joined my friends in the front room I was totally confused. There was a hulky dude in a suit holding something and talking to my friends.
“Uh what’s going on?” I questioned them.
“Seems you have a secure delivery, whatever that means,” Liv said giving me a look of complete confusion.
“Uh, okay. Who is it from?” I asked the beefy guy in the suit.
“Are you Jenna Middleton?” he demanded.
“Yes,” I replied.
“Can you show me some ID please?”
“Okay…” I grabbed my clutch from the counter and flashed him my ID. “What is this about?”
“Here you go, Ms. Middleton,” he handed me a large wrapped box.
“Jenna?” Audrey questioned me like I knew what the heck was going on.
I shrugged my shoulders at her letting her I had no clue what this was about. I opened the box and inside sat a smaller black velvet box.
“Open it, Jenna.” Livy peered inside the box.
I slowly opened the lid and to my complete shock there was a beautiful round diamond pendent. It was simple yet completely elegant.
“Whoa, who the hell is that from?” Livy demanded.
“I have no idea,” I said pulling it out of the box looking at it quizzically.
“It’s beautiful, you should wear it tonight.” Audrey lightly touched the beautiful stone.
“There is also this Ms. Middleton,” The delivery man said handing me a sealed envelope and then left.
I opened the envelope quickly and left me in utter shock. I read the card slowly twice before handing it silently to my friends.
Jenna,
Congratulations on accomplishing your goal. This is a huge achievement and should be celebrated. Please accept this diamond pendent as a graduation gift. I miss you.
Always Yours,
Jamieson Wellington
I didn’t think about it. Not even for a second. I ran to the door and yelled at the delivery guy who was almost to the bottom of the stairs of our apartment complex.
“Hey I don’t want this,” I yelled at him.
“He said you would say that.” The big guy chuckled and kept walking.
“No seriously, you have to come take it back. I don’t want it,” I told him.
The delivery guy stopped and let out a deep breath. “He said he won’t pay me if you don’t accept it.”
“Well how much is he paying you? Maybe I can pay you to take it back.” I was desperate.
“Are you going to pay me ten grand?” he asked with a cocked eyebrow.
“He paid you ten grand to deliver that to me?” I screeched out in disbelief.
“Yes, and I could really use the money. I have a sick kid.” The delivery guy slumped his shoulders slightly.
“Did he tell you say that too?” I wasn’t sure I believed this guy’s story.
The delivery guy walked up the stairs so he was once again at my door. He took out his phone and held it up so I could see the screen. It was a picture of young bald boy hooked up to machines.
“He is sick, but is doing better,” he said with a half-smile looking at his child. “The money will really help us.”
Classic Jamieson, he refused to fight fair. “Alright. I will hang on to it until I can give it back to him in person.”
“Thank you,” he said giving me a smile and began walking down the stairs again. “I don’t know what the guy did but at least he’s trying to make it right.”
“Yeah a little too late,” I laughed sarcastically.
“Well for what it’s worth he sounded like he was pretty desperate,” he shrugged and then disappeared into the parking lot.
I went back into the apartment with my head spinning. I had no idea why he would do something like this. He broke up with me, he cheated on me, and he’s the one who didn’t want me, right?
“What the hell, Jenna?” Olivia demanded upon seeing me reemerge. She thought I had been talking to him or maybe even seeing him again.
“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him in over two years. I don’t know why he would do something like this,” I squeaked out in barely a whisper.
“Maybe he’s trying to make amends,” Audrey offered optimistically.
“Or maybe he is just trying to fuck with your head again. What a miserable prick,” Olivia huffed.
“I have no clue but it doesn’t really matter does it? It doesn’t change anything really. I will return it to him when I get a chance. I definitely won’t be keeping it,” I said defiantly.
“Good,” Livy agreed. “Now can we please get a move on? I’m starving.”
“Yeah just let me grab my purse,” I left it next to the now opened box and on it sat the card. I read it over one more time still perplexed by its exact meaning. What could have possibly brought this about? What had changed?
“Congrats Jen Jen!” Cain hugged me and kissing me tenderly.
Cain was the only person that called me that, I wasn’t exactly fond of the nickname but it didn’t totally annoy me either. Livy hated it. She said it sounded like something he would name a small dog like a Shitzu or something. I could tell Liv wasn’t a huge fan of Cain’s but I also knew she would never come out and say that because she loved me that much. If I was happy, she was willing to overlook it.
“You too,” I smiled up at him.
Cain had joined us at the restaurant later after he had said goodbye to his family. I got to meet them and I must admit it was slightly overwhelming. His mother was very formal. I should have expected as much since she is one of the top trial lawyers in the country, but still I was a bit taken aback by her lack of warmth. Cain’s father was easier to read. He was your typical southern father strict yet approachable. I liked him. He too was a lawyer and I could see he conducted himself with much less formality than his wife. I also got to meet Cain’s sister, Ellen. She was tall, skinny, blonde, stunningly gorgeous and a complete bitch. I could tell she didn’t think I was worthy of her brother and had no problem letting me know it. Cain tried to shrug it off but it had upset me. I tried to not let her ruin our celebration but in all honesty, it ha
d slightly.
I was glad to finally be alone with Cain in the privacy of his apartment. I wanted to relax and not think for a while. I knew tomorrow I would have to wake up and finish packing. Audrey and I were moving back to Huntsville in two days. I had secured an apartment of my very own in downtown. Audrey had decided to live with Livy until she found a job. Liv had offered for me to live with them as well, but I was looking forward to having my own space.
“Have you thought more about what I asked you the other day?” Cain asked pulling back to look into my eyes.
“Yes, but I still think I will keep my apartment,” I said turning him down yet again.
Cain was also moving to Huntsville. He would be working at one of his family’s firms in town. He had asked me to move in with him, but I wasn’t ready to do that. It just didn’t seem right so I politely declined. I felt bad for telling him no but in truth I wasn’t ready for that level of commitment. I liked how things were going and I wanted to keep things the same.
“I hope that doesn’t mean you won’t ever move in with me,” he said frowning.
“No it doesn’t mean I will never move in, it just means not now,” I countered.
He handed me my glass of wine and grabbed his as well. “Maybe when I ask you to marry me you will agree.”
I nearly spit my wine out that I was sipping. Damn, him. He always liked to catch me off-guard with comments like that. “Marry you?” I shot him a questioning look.
He moved closer to me again. “Yes Jenna, one day I am going to ask you to marry me and you are going to say yes, making me the happiest man on the planet.”
“I am?” I squeaked out.
“Yes. I love you, Jenna Middleton,” he said kissing me lightly. He leaned his forehead against mine staring deep into my eyes. “Don’t you love me?”
“Yes of course I do,” I said closing my eyes tightly.
I wanted to love Cain Stratford. I truly wanted nothing more; but for some inexplicable reason all I could hear in that moment was Jamieson’s voice in my head telling me he missed me. I knew before then of course that he had ruined me. I knew the first time Cain and I had sex. The entire time I compared him to Jamieson. I knew it wasn’t fair but I couldn’t help it, Jamieson had left his mark on me. My only hope now was to just try to ignore it and move on. I tried my best not to crave what was gone but I feared I always would.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“You ready to go?” Jamieson asked watching our friends dance on the stage at Gossips.
“Yes,” I told him eagerly.
He held out his hand and I took it, threading my fingers with his. We walked hand in hand through the crowd of tightly packed people. I didn’t see her coming but I felt Jamieson stiffen beside me.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
I didn’t understand what he was apologizing for until I looked up and saw a very pissed of Trinity storming towards us.
“Really Jamieson? Really? You have to be fucking kidding me right now,” she spat out.
“What do you want, Trinity?” he asked in a cold tone.
“How could you do this?” she demanded refusing to answer his question.
“Do what Trinity?” he growled.
“This! Her!” she screeched and pointed at me.
“Trinity…” he said her name in frustration, tucking me behind him.
“Are you sleeping with her? Please tell me you’re not,” she yelled back at him.
Jamieson sighed, exasperated with her.
“I could only be so fucking lucky,” he told her simply and began walking again pulling me with him.
We made it to the parking lot and I didn’t say a word. I didn’t really know how to feel after seeing Trinity’s reaction to us being together.
“I’m sorry,” he said again opening the door to his truck for me.
“It’s okay.” I gave him a grim half smile.
He shut the door and climbed in the driver side starting the truck. “It’s not okay, Jenna. I have screwed everything up so badly.”
I felt bad for him. I knew I really had no reason to. He had created all of this. He was the reason why Trinity had the feelings she did and he the reason I had been literally broken in two for the past five years. But regardless my heart sank for him.
“It’s going to be okay,” I said covering his hand with mine.
He briefly looked down at our joined hands while driving and let out a steadying breath. “I don’t deserve your understanding or sympathy.”
“I know that.” I gave him a small smile.
He gave me the tiniest of smiles back and continued to drive us home.
It didn’t take long before the rest of our friends made their noisy entrance. I had retreated to my bedroom to change into my pajamas and I assumed Jamieson had gone to his room as well. I could tell he needed some space after what happened at the bar. He needed to think and frankly, so did I.
“Jenna, get down here and party with us!” Livy called from downstairs.
I obliged and joined my friends in the kitchen. To my surprise, Jamieson was also downstairs. He was sitting on the counter watching Julian chase Olivia around the kitchen with a tequila bottle that had a giant worm in it.
“Stop chasing me asshole or I refuse to be your date to your parents wedding,” Olivia shrieked as she ran in front of me.
“Fine,” he said and stopped chasing her.
“What day are we leaving?” Derrick asked leaning against the counter, one arm draped over Audrey’s shoulders.
“We leave on the 25th I think that is a Tuesday,” Julian answered back.
“Where are you guys going?” I asked confused looking around the group at a total loss as to what they were discussing.
“You haven’t asked her yet?” Julian smacked Jamieson’s arm.
“Uh…I was going to do it tonight,” Jamieson spoke up.
“Ask me what? What are you guys talking about?” I demanded.
“My parents are getting married…or I guess remarried. Anyways, the wedding is next month at their house in Santo Domingo and this jackass right here was supposed to invite you as his date,” Julian said nonchalantly.
“Oh.” Clearly Jamieson had decided to not ask me.
“We are all going,” Audrey explained excitedly. “Derrick asked me to be his date and Julian is taking Livy obviously.”
“Fun,” is all I could muster. I was jealous. I wanted to go to the Dominican Republic with all my friends, but obviously Jamieson didn’t want to take me for some reason.
I looked at Jamieson but he didn’t look at me, instead he just stared at the kitchen floor. I could feel emotions welling up inside of me threatening to break loose.
“Well I hope you guys have fun. I’m tired so I’m going to head to bed,” I told them, turning and making a hasty exit.
“Nice going, dickwad!” I heard Livy say to Jamieson as I took the stairs two at a time.
I made it to my room and shut myself inside. I felt stupid. I should have known better than to think things could go back to how they were. It was never going to be like that again and I needed to accept that fact.
There was a gentle knock at my door a few minutes later. I knew Livy and Audrey would follow me and try to comfort me.
“It’s open,” I told them.
But who entered my room wasn’t Audrey or Olivia. It was him. He stood by the doorway silently watching me.
“What do you want, Jamieson?” I glared at him.
“I did it again, didn’t I?” he asked quietly.
“Did what?” I sniffed trying to keep my tears back.
“I hurt you again,” he said.
“I just was caught off guard is all,” I tried to make excuses for my emotions.
“Jenna…” he said coming closer to my bed. “I was going to ask you tonight. I was going to do it after we left the bar but when we ran into Trinity it just didn’t seem like the right time. Then Julian just blurted everything out. That wasn’t ho
w I had planned it,” he explained.
“It’s alright. You don’t have to explain anything.”
“Yes I do.” He moved to stand next to me. “I want nothing more than for you to be my date to the wedding.”
He reached his hand out cupping me cheek.
“You do?” I asked.
“Yes of course,” he replied gently. “I’m sorry you were upset this evening. That is not how I pictured this going.”
“It’s alright, I had a good time for the most part,” I told him.
“Well for what it’s worth I had an amazing time. Thank you for agreeing to go on a date with me,” he said still holding me gently.
I blushed under his intense stare.
“Jamieson…” I pleaded but to no avail. He lips met mine and I easily submitted to his greedy kisses.
I got lost in his kisses. Our magical connection kicked in and I was consumed by the need that came over my body. We kissed like we were starved of each other and in many ways I guess that was true.
“Come to my room with me, baby.” He pulled back whispering in my ear.
“I can’t. You know I can’t,” I told him honestly. Just the mere thought of the dark bedroom sent ice water coursing through my veins.
“Please, come with me,” he tried again.
“Not in that room, Jamieson, anywhere but that room,” I pleaded again clawing at his shoulders begging for more kisses.
“Please, I have a surprise for you,” he nipped at my bottom lip. A surprise?
“Fine, but I am coming right back to my room after you show me whatever it is you’re going to show me.”
He lightly chuckled cocking an eyebrow at me, “Okay.”
He grasped my hand, pulling me from the bed and leading me down the hallway to the grand double doors of his bedroom. I sucked in a breath preparing for the memories to flood me once he opened the doors. But to my surprise when he opened the doors I couldn’t even recognize the room I once knew.
“What did you do?” I gasped taking in the room before me.
His bedroom had always been dark and sexy. His massive black bed and matching dark furniture had now been replaced with all crisp white and cream pieces. Even the bedspread was bright whites and grays.
