All or nothing (Love in chaos #1) - Missy Johnson Page 0,25
I feel used, but I take a breath, trying to calm the thoughts racing around my head.
I can’t let Jake know anything is wrong.
“It’s fine,” I hear myself saying. “Relax. I’ll keep an eye on him for you.”
“Good. And make sure you don’t do anything stupid,” Jake warns.
“Gee. Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I retort.
There’s no chance of that happening.
“Just be careful is all I’m saying.” Jake sighs, his tone growing impatient. “If he's getting close to anyone, let me know.”
“Trust me. Short of Tara and I—”
“Tara is there too?” Jake groans.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I growl, not liking what he’s insinuating.
“It means I’m fucked,” he laughs. “Tara’s seen more cock than a chicken factory—”
“Jake,” I chastise, even though he has a point. “I’ll keep him away from her, okay?”
“Good.”
I hang up and stare down at my phone. I can’t believe this is happening. Is Ben playing me? My thoughts shift to Tara and the sick feeling in my stomach grows. On this entire boat there are only two people young enough for him to consider marrying—me and her. And between the two of us, she's the more obvious target. She's flirty and fun and would probably find the whole thing hilarious. In fact, she’s impulsive and random enough to marry him, if he asked her. She wants a sugar daddy, and Ben certainly has money. My fingers curl around my phone as I fight the urge to slam it against the wall.
I'm not jealous, but the thought of Tara and Ben together…
The thought of Tara coming to me all excited over her engagement, and, God, would I be expected to come to the wedding? To be her Maid of Honor?
Okay, so I might be a little jealous.
Chapter 9
BEN
I’m fucked.
There’s no other way to look at it.
I’m about to lose everything, because there's no way out of this, short of marrying someone old enough to be my mother. Damn Jake, and damn myself for being cocky and stupid and signing a Goddamn contract while drunk. I guess I should be grateful I didn’t agree to have a kid. I shudder at the implication.
I do the only thing I can do in this situation and make my way to the bar. My agitation grows with every passing second, and if I don’t get a drink into me soon, I’m going to lose my shit. I’m over being angry at Jake, because I should’ve seen this coming. I should have known he’d pull something like this because it’s what he always fucking does.
The only good thing about this ship is it’s loaded with bars. I walk inside the first one I come across. It’s empty, but I still choose the far back corner booth because I don’t want to be interrupted. And let’s face it, a guy like me sitting on a boat like this is bound to attract some attention. Too bad it’s not the kind I need.
The waiter comes over to take my order. He looks as amused as the porter did when he let me on this thing. Is everyone laughing at me? Because it sure feels like it.
“Don’t see too many people your age on these things.” He taps his pen against the notepad in his hand. “Are you here to support your mom?”
“Something like that,” I mutter. “Can I have a scotch? Straight. Top shelf. Actually, make it two.”
He nods and walks off. I meant to say a double; I am so frustrated, I am not thinking straight. Oh, well.
“I hope that second one is for me?”
I look up to see a woman old enough to be my grandmother standing by my table. I fight down the instinctive urge to scoff or be rude to her and motion for her to sit down. I don't like being rude to women anyway, especially the elderly, and she might end up being my last resort given how well and truly fucked I am by being stuck on this cruise.
“Sorry, those scotches are for me, but I’m happy to buy you a drink,” I reply.
She chuckles lowly. She's not terrible looking, really, especially considering her age, which I’d put around eighty. There are deep smile lines around her mouth and eyes, which are a vibrant green, and her hair is short, curled, and almost platinum blonde. She reminds me a little of Betty White—though more Lake Placid than Golden Girls.
I’ll be keeping away from the edge of the boat when she’s in sight.