Broken (Breaking the Rules)

by Webster, K

  “Um, I was thinking steak,” I teased. He just grinned as he started walking away. “Wait! I didn’t tell you my address,” I called after him.

  “No worries. George already did,” he assured me as he walked out with Ian right behind him.

  “Oh my goodness, Andi! Jackson looks like a keeper. Are you sure you want to ditch him after the weekend?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Those are the rules, Olive. So, yes, I will be ditching him,” I told her honestly. She pouted—actually pouted—at my words.

  “Why do you care so much?” I demanded. Looking embarrassed, she glanced down at her napkin and began fiddling with it. “No reason,” she whispered quietly.

  Suddenly, I realized why she cared. She really had an interest in Ian. “Ah, you like Ian!” I teased.

  Her eyes frantically darted to mine. “I do not!” she hissed, but her face told a different story.

  “Whatever, chica. I can read you better than you think. No worries. We’ll make it happen. I’ll make sure you see him again,” I promised. Not waiting for her response, I grabbed her hand and pulled her with me so we could head to the market. I had a date to prepare for.

  A DARK TWO WEEKS…

  So apparently, the doctor says I’m depressed. No shit, Sherlock. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. He said that I need to take antidepressants.

  “Did you take your first pill?” Drill Sergeant Pepper asks.

  I roll my eyes at her and snatch up the pill bottle. I toss the pill back and chase it with my water bottle. Not wanting to converse, I slide back into the comfort of my bed.

  “Look, Andi. I know things are hard for you, but you have to snap out of it. You need to get a hold of that heart and put it in check. Next week you have a finals and you haven’t even studied. Please just do it for me. I am dying right along with you seeing you this way,” Pepper says with unusual softness.

  Sighing, I tell her, “I’ll try, Pepper.”

  Jumping on my bed, she envelops me in her arms and we fall asleep, cuddled like little kids.

  The house was quiet while I got ready for my date. Olive and Pepper had gone to dinner at Pepper’s parents’ house tonight. Her mom needed help getting the house prepped for a fundraiser, so she had told the girls that they could stay the night if it got too late. Turning the music up, I enjoyed my primping time alone. I found a sexy pair of panties and a matching bra to put on. Admiring myself in the mirror, I thought just how much Jackson would enjoy this ensemble.

  In the closet, I found a pair of dark skinny jeans and a green tunic. After dressing, I slipped on some heeled boots. I was ready for my date. Definitely in Man-Killer Mode now. Such a far cry from the hideous woman I was earlier today. It was after that moment that I had vowed to never leave the house not made up ever again.

  Checking my phone for the time, I realized it was already ten after seven. Well, at least Jackson hadn’t arrived yet. Turning off the music, I sat in the recliner, waiting for Jackson to pick me up.

  Jerking awake, I realized I had passed out waiting for him. I looked at my phone to check the time and see if he had messaged me. It was 10:15. What the hell? What was worse was that I had no messages from him. Quickly, I fired off a text to him.

  Me: Jackson, I think you forgot something. Did something come up?

  I got up and went back to my room to freshen my makeup and make sure my hair was still reasonable looking. Fifteen minutes later, I still didn’t have any messages from him. Okay.

  Me: Okay. I’m not sure what to think right now but it sucks. Call me.

  I was trying not to seem desperate. There was nothing I hated more than to have a man thinking I was waiting at his beck and call. After I paced the room for another fifteen minutes, a text chimed.

  Jackson: Something came up.

  What the fuck? Hell no. It was almost 11:00 and I had been completely stood up with a shitty excuse.

  Me: I see. Well, have a nice life.

  There. I officially ended something that had potential for a lot of fun. Whatever. Grabbing my purse, I headed out the door. I was going to Dempsey’s to see the band Ian had mentioned earlier today. Maybe I’d find a new prospect. The weekend was not over yet.

  After the quick cab ride over, I hopped out and headed toward the door with my twenty ready in hand. I had catching up to do. Stalking up to the bar and sliding up onto the only vacant seat, I met Ian’s shocked stare.

  “Andi, I didn’t expect to see you here,” he stammered, realizing I was supposed to be with Jackson.

  “I’ll take two shots of Jägermeister and a Corona,” I told him, snubbing his statement. I slapped down another twenty.

  Ignoring my twenty and my response, he turned to make my drinks. A few minutes later he set them down in front of me. Quickly, I knocked back the two shots and chased them with my beer. When I gave him the look that said I needed another round, he simply nodded and repeated my order. After the second round, I realized I was quickly getting fucked up.

  “I’ll take another round,” I slurred to Ian. He rolled his eyes and made me another round. While I was waiting, some douchebag sidled up next to me. His hair was slicked back and he reeked of cheap cologne.

  “I’d like to throw this blond bimbo over the bar and fuck her tight little ass,” he suggested in a snarky tone to his equally douchebaggy of a friend, both of them laughing hysterically.

  Before I could even formulate a response, Ian slammed his fists onto the bar in front of them and glared their way. He looked quite fearsome with his piercings and angry Irish temper flaring. “Get the fuck out of my bar. We absolutely will not condone any type of derogatory comments to any female in this bar,” he growled. The guys started backing away and were met with Meathead grabbing each of them by the neck, leading them out of the bar.

  “Thanks, Ian,” I acknowledged, turning back to my drinks that were now waiting in front of me.

  “You might want to slow down, Andi,” he warned as I sucked down two more shots.

  I giggled at him and nearly fell off the stool but managed to pull myself upright again.

  “He’s not a bad guy,” he informed me as he wiped down the counter in front of me.

  Instantly, my temper flared. “How would I know? He never gave me the opportunity to see. It’s cool. It was just sex, Ian. I’m a big girl.” I was annoyed that he was trying to defend his friend to me. Me, the girl who had been stood up. “I’ll take two more,” I ordered as the room spun momentarily.

  “I think you’ve had enough, Andi,” he remarked, scowling.

  “Dammit, Ian! Give me two more fucking shots and I’ll leave. Your dumbass friend stood me up without so much a reason. You at least owe me that just for being his fucking friend,” I burst out, getting pissed that he was trying to cut me off.

  He sighed heavily and slammed two more shot glasses in front of me, filling them up. Smiling, I tossed those two back as well. The band started up again so I decided I would go dancing. Feeling more and more affected by the shots by the second, I half-danced half-stumbled toward the stage.

  As the music thrummed on, I started dancing, running my fingers through my hair. A couple of different guys tried dancing with me, but I was so wasted, that I could barely stand and they lost interest. When the set finally ended, I started jumping up and down, shouting, “Encore!” The world began spinning wildly on me and I completely passed out, slamming my head on the hardwood floor.

  When I came to, I was being carried by a pair of strong arms. The arms carried me straight to a black sedan, and I passed out once more.

  A DARK TWO WEEKS…

  The pills help take the edge off of my insanity. And even though I don’t feel like doing anything, I know I have to take my finals. After next week, I’ll be able to finally close this horrible chapter on my life.

  I have the first of five starting in half an hour. Three are scheduled today and the other two will be for tomorrow. Pepper is watching me from her bed over her book, w
hich means she’s analyzing my mood again.

  “Ready for your finals?” she asks quietly.

  “I guess. Just ready to get them all over with,” I say honestly, grabbing up my book bag.

  “Good luck, hon,” she smiles at me.

  Instead of smiling back, I just wave. When I open the door to leave, my heart falls all the way into my stomach. Fucking Bray.

  “Andi, hear me out,” he pleads, advancing toward me. I’m going to be sick. I’m going to throw up right here. My tears are now falling helplessly down my face. He reaches to wipe them and I jerk away quickly, slapping his hand away.

  Pepper realizes something is up and I can hear her bolting to the door. I’m frozen, staring at his handsome face. I hate him. She grabs my hand and pulls me back into the room then rushes out the door, slamming it shut behind her. I can hear them arguing.

  “Leave her the fuck alone. Do not ever come back here again. You have left her a fucking mess, and I just made progress with her. You ruined her, Bray. Leave it be and don’t ever try to contact her again or I will fucking kill you. Don’t test me,” Pepper seethes.

  Retreating back to my bed, I collapse, trying to tune out his response. God, I hate him. And it hurts so bad.

  I could feel the sun shining on my face, causing me to squint. Oh my God. I had a splitting headache. How did I get to bed? I had really no recollection after falling to the floor last night. Wow, I had made a big fool out of myself last night.

  I came to the realization that a heavy arm was draped across my middle. Crap! I took home some stranger last night. I hope to God he remembered to use a condom. Pepper would be pissed at my carelessness.

  Finally, I braved opening my eyes and sighed with relief when I recognized the dark, messy hair on the pillow next to me. Somehow Jackson had found me and brought me back to my apartment last night. I remembered now being carried in his muscular arms to his car. My anger from being stood up resurfaced. I pulled my fully clothed body from underneath him and headed to the shower. After I got the bar smell off of me, I would kick him out.

  In the middle of washing my hair, the shower curtain flung open and a very naked Jackson stepped in with me. “What the hell, Jackson?” I shrieked, covering myself. “Get out of my shower!”

  “No. Listen, Andi. I’m really sorry about last night. I had a work thing that came out of nowhere and I was caught in the middle of an unfortunate business dealing. I should have made time to call you and explain, but quite honestly, I was too stressed out at the moment,” he explained.

  Turning my back to him, I said, “Yeah, well, what’s done is done. I’m not really into this whole thing we’re doing. I think it would be best if you would leave.” Instead of getting out like I ordered him to, he grabbed my hips and pulled them to his hardness. I gasped in surprise, but before I could complain, one hand snaked around, grabbing my breast.

  The instant his fingers grazed my nipple, I melted into his touch. Damn him. Trying to find some resolve to get him to leave, I started to pull away again, but when the other hand met my clit, I no longer had the willpower to try. He furiously started rubbing my sex, causing me to pant wildly. This wasn’t supposed to happen but now I felt powerless against his wishes.

  He had me screaming out my orgasm minutes later. Not giving me time to recover, he spun me around and pressed me into the wall with his body. His mouth dipped down to mine and captured it. We began kissing heatedly, not being able to get enough of each other’s lips and tongues. Breaking from me, he slipped out of the shower and was back in, dick sheathed in a condom before I could even ask where he went.

  Grabbing my ass cheeks, he easily hoisted me up against the wall. Instinctively, I wrapped my legs around him. He groaned at our position and teased my entrance with his cock. “Jackson,” I moaned as I threw my head back. Taking it as permission, he slammed into me. Our slippery bodies slapped wildly, and I had to hold on to him for dear life so I wouldn’t fall.

  He sucked on my neck as he continued to fuck me. My body finally started convulsing as my orgasm coursed through me again. His followed almost immediately after. We both were shaking from the exertion. Pecking my neck, he slowly eased me off of him and back to my feet.

  “So fucking amazing,” he growled into my ear. I smiled because it had been pretty amazing and unexpected. It looked like I’d let him stay for one more day. The weekend wasn’t over yet.

  A DARK TWO WEEKS…

  Luckily, Pepper was good at being a nagging bitch. Even though I missed the first final, she typed out an email to my professor and got permission for me to take it on Wednesday. Her negotiation skills would make her dad proud.

  I walk in with just minutes to spare on my second test. Immediately, the professor hands me the papers and I drop down into a chair to start. The words are just a jumbled mess. I try to focus on the terminology, but it all seems like nonsense to me. Thankfully the test is multiple choice and I can sort of guess my way through it.

  After the test, I practically run back to the safety of my dorm. There’s a letter on the door. Tearing it open, I can hardly read the words through my tears.

  Andi,

  I love you. I made a mistake. Please forgive me.

  Bray

  Fuck you, Bray. You are shredding my heart and I can’t take it anymore! Running into the room, I head straight for the bottle of vodka we keep stowed away for emergencies. This constitutes as an emergency. I start chugging until blackness threatens to take over my vision.

  The rest of the shower was quiet and uneventful. I was still pissed at him for standing me up, but it didn’t really matter anyway since tonight was our last night together. Might as well make the best of it. Opting for comfort, I put on some jeans and a sweater. Deciding he didn’t get pretty Andi, I tossed my hair into a wet bun and went with no makeup.

  After dressing, I noticed he had put his rumpled suit back on. “Do you have to work today?” I asked him hesitantly. His five-o’ clock shadow was really dark now since didn’t have anything to shave with in my shower. It looked rugged and sexy as hell.

  “Nah, I can take a day off. What do you want to do today?” he asked, pulling me in for an embrace.

  “Lunch sounds good since we’ve already missed breakfast.”

  Smiling, he agreed, “Okay. I will run home and change and pick you back up in thirty minutes.”

  I frowned at his words. For some reason, I felt like he might ditch me again. When he saw my face, he dropped his smile.

  “Andi, I said I’m fucking sorry. I’m going to come back. We can grab lunch and then take a walk. I promise I’ll be back,” he shot out, trying to convince me. I just nodded my response. He huffed and got ready to try and persuade me some more, but the bursting of girly voices through the front door distracted us.

  I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the living room with me so I could greet Pepper and Olive.

  “Hey, girls! Did you have fun at your parents’?” I asked Pepper.

  “Meh, it was fine. Mom was once again her scatter-brained self, and I ended up doing most of it all myself anyway. We got it done though, and the event is going on now as we speak,” she told me, glancing behind me at Jackson, clearly waiting for a formal introduction.

  “Hey, Jackson,” Olive chirped, waving to him.

  “Hey, Olive. I’m Jackson by the way,” he greeted, extending his hand to Pepper.

  She ignored it and spat, “Yeah, you’re fucking my friend for the weekend. Wear a raincoat. I don’t need her getting any diseases.” Jackson slowly lowered his hand, realizing she was just being a bitch. Turning to me, she asked, “So, Andi, how was your date? Olive said sushi was on the menu.”

  Understanding she was going to be pissed at him, I decided to skirt the issue. “Oh, it was great. You know me, sushi, yum,” I lied. Olive just smiled happily, enjoying any sort of details from my date. I sensed Jackson wincing at my words, which made Pepper narrow her eyes at him.

  “Sounds fun,” she said unenthusia
stically, sniffing out my lie.

  “Fuck. I stood her up, okay? Then her little ass got wasted at Dempsey’s and I had to come rescue her. I was an ass but I’m going to make it up to her today,” he huffed out guiltily.

  Pepper glared at him. “Oh my God, Andi, I am so glad that today is Sunday. Sometimes your little games suck. I, for one, get exhausted at having to watch you play them,” she seethed and stalked to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

  Looking embarrassed, Olive skittered off to her room, leaving me and Jackson standing awkwardly in the living room. Things were so hot and cold with Jackson. Never a happy medium. Shrugging my shoulders, I walked him to the door.

  “See you in thirty minutes, maybe,” I half-joked as I opened the door. He sighed heavily and pushed me against the doorframe. Leaning forward, he put his lips close to mine as he glared at me with his dark chocolate eyes. They were easy to melt into.

  “I will see you in thirty minutes, I promise,” he vowed angrily. Then he pressed his lips to mine for a chaste kiss.

  Tearing away from me, he ran down the hallway. I guessed he was going to come back after all. Only time would tell.

  A DARK TWO WEEKS…

  Vodka is good. So good. So, so good! Woah? The room just spun a bit. I better not drink anymore since I have another test today. Okay, just one more shot.

  “What the fuck?” demands an angry Pepper as she burst into our room. “Andi! What have you done? You have a freaking test in an hour. Shit!”

  “Bray-di-bray-bray-hey,” I babble at her before succumbing to uncontrollable laughter.

  “Dammit, Andi. Get it the fuck together.” She pulls me up to my feet. Geez, the world is swaying again. “We’re going to the coffee shop. Let’s go,” she barks pulling me from the room.