He jumps up, whirls toward me, and within seconds we’re in each other’s faces. Nose to nose, fury charges the air between us, and years of time dissolve as old feuds resurface.
“Mason?” Jessica’s voice shakes.
“Back off, Mason, or I swear to God—”
“You’ll kick my ass?” I push back my anger, telling myself taking my little brother to the ground in front of her will only make matters worse. I step back and relax my stance. “Love to see you try, brother.”
I slide my eyes to Jessica and force a smile. Her eyes glaze over and a shaky smile touches her lips.
“Hey, Jess.”
She rushes to me and throws her arms around my neck. “Mason, what are you doing here?”
“Jessica, get the fuck over here.” Drake holds out his arm for her.
A muffled whimper sounds against my chest, but she ignores his command. “I’ve missed you.”
Drake glares at me from over her shoulder, and the rest of the guys shift uncomfortably around the room.
“Yeah, hey . . . shhh, me too, Jess. Shhh . . . it’s okay.” I run my hand up and down her back, hoping the touch is soothing enough that she’ll drop the death grip from my neck.
“Jess, now.” Drake’s not giving up, clearly jealous by her clinging to me. Fuck him. She may’ve chosen him after three years of dating me, but right now, she’s choosing me.
I squeeze Jess a little tighter, noticing how different she feels in my arms now compared to when we were in high school. Fragile and frail rather than the muscled track star she was back then. “How are you?”
Took years for me to get over them being together. She was my first everything, my first love. Back then, I thought we’d end up married with two point five kids and a damn retriever. That is until a month before I left for Penn State and I caught her and Drake fucking in his room mere feet from my bedroom door. That was it. She wanted the bad-boy version of me, and she fuckin’ got him.
I should feel some kind of vindication over the shitty way he’s treating her, but my chest aches at how broken she’s become. The lost look in her eyes I feel in my gut.
“I’m okay.” She releases me and turns to the strippers, who are now fully clothed and whispering heatedly with their bodyguard. “Why would Drake hire prostitutes when I’m right there in the next room?” A single tear rolls down her cheek.
Can she really be that clueless?
“Oh, them? Yeah, um . . . they’re not prostitutes. They’re with me.” Fuck, I don’t know why I said that. I don’t want to protect Drake, but the big brother in me can’t help it. That and I’d say anything to wipe the look of sheer betrayal from her face.
Her eyebrows pinch together. “With you?”
“Yeah.” I hold my arm out to the girls and hope that one of them is smart enough to follow my lead.
Trix click-clacks over and tucks into my side. The second her heated body hits mine I bite back a groan. Damn, she feels good. And smells even better.
“Hi, I’m um . . . I’m really sorry about all this. We actually have a policy that we only entertain couples when both parties agree.” Trix tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “If I’d known you were here and not in favor of our being here, we would’ve terminated the contract.”
I squeeze Trix tighter to my side, proud of her quick thinking and relieved by Jessica’s now-relaxed smile.
“See, Jess? It’s fine, and really, it’s my fault. I had no idea you were here.”
Trix looks at her wrist and taps it even though she’s not wearing a watch. “Yep, and our time’s up, so we’ll be leaving.”
A few of the guys grumble from behind me, well aware that their time is not up. I shoot them a quick glare to quiet them. They groan, but don’t protest further.
“See? We were just leaving.” I keep Trix close, safe from the horny group of men who look like they’re about to pounce.
“You’re leaving too?” Jessica asks and pleads with watery-gray eyes.
“I am, but, um . . . you guys are going to be here for a few days, right? I’ll see you again.” I run my hand along her upper arm.