“Well, I can hear music. Hopefully they’ll have a good party going to. I could use a beer,” she said, sounding chipper at the thought.
“They have a program for that, Hailey. It involves twelve steps. Bad news, though, one of them requires you apologizing to all the people you’ve wronged. It might take you awhile.”
She slugged me on the arm. “Hey, you better be nice to me. You need me right now.”
Along with hearing the music, we could see light up ahead through the trees. When we entered the campsite, I saw Cece dancing closely with Dante to the Shakira song playing.
I didn’t see Gianna. Spotting me and Hailey, Dante shot us a strange look. Cece glared at me took a step in my direction but Dante held her back from confronting me. I didn’t have the patience to listen to Cece right now. A few guys were doing their b-boy thing and couple others were sitting. Hailey and I circled around them.
Hailey’s laugh brought my attention to the direction of her gaze. “Please don’t tell me that’s your girlfriend, Caleb. I take that back. Please tell me she is because she isn’t acting like it.”
“Shut up, Hailey.” Clenching my fists, I was preparing to use them.
Jared sat in a lawn chair while Gianna stood in front of him, giving him a private dance to the Shakira song playing. I don’t think I’d ever want to watch another sexy Shakira video again after watching my girlfriend do a good impersonation of her for another guy.
We had a side view of them as Jared looked up at Gianna with lust in his eyes, while Gianna looked down at him flirtatiously. I started towards them just as Jared grabbed Gianna by the waist and pulled her in between his legs. They still hadn’t noticed us, lost as they were in each other.
I approached them as Jared was about to pull her head down for a kiss. Reaching an arm between them, I put a hand on Jared’s face, pushing it away from Gianna’s. “You do not want to do that.”
Gianna’s head tilted my way. “Actually, we do want to.”
Putting an arm around Gianna’s waist, I moved her away from Jared. While I did that, Jared had gotten out of the chair. “Stay away from my girlfriend.”
Jared didn’t appear worried. “From what I hear, she isn’t your girlfriend anymore.”
By this time, everyone was watching the scene unfold. Taye put a hand on both of our chests, but addressed me first, “Hey, man, maybe you should go.”
“I’m not leaving without Gianna.”
Gianna angrily pushed me from the side. I didn’t budge from where I stood which seemed to make her angrier. “I’m not going anywhere with you ever again! And, I’m not staying here if you are!”
“I can explain, Gianna. I even brought Hailey with me so she could tell you nothing happened between us.” I pulled Hailey forward from where she’d been quietly watching the drama. “Tell her, Hailey.”
Hailey crossed her arms over her chest, emphasizing her low cut shirt. “What do you want me to tell her, Caleb?” Her sly tone implied she’d say whatever I wanted.
“The truth,” I snapped.
Hailey unhappily looked Gianna up and down before saying, “We went out clubbing last night and one thing led to another. . . .”
“What the fuck, Hailey? Tell the truth,” I demanded.
Hailey sighed dramatically. “Listen, Gianna, Caleb and I haven’t fucked for a really long time.”
“What the fuck, Hailey? Did you have to say it to her like that?” I roared. This was not going the way I’d planned.
Tears formed in Gianna’s eyes and she turned around, heading into the trees, probably planning on escaping me in her Jeep again. Cece immediately followed after her. Hell, now I was hurting for my girl.
Before I could reach the trees, Jared stepped in front of me. “Don’t you think you’ve done enough?”
“That’s the thing. I haven’t done anything.” I shouted, ready to lose it. “Now get out of my way!” I snarled, pushing him to the ground.
Gianna came back and I thought I’d have to catch her when she almost ran into me. Instead she pushed me in the chest and yelled, “You know what? I’m not running away this time! You need to take your slut and leave!”
As proud of her as I was in that moment, she was frustrating the shit out of me. “Not until you listen!”
“I’ve heard enough already! Hell, I’ve seen enough already!” she shouted, pushing me again.
Fed up, I picked her up and carried her to where Hailey stood with an amused look on her face. I set Gianna down and held onto her. “Now, Hailey, could you please do the right thing and tell Gianna everything that happened last night?”