He was taking her to a dance. A girl who his mother approved of and he had known his whole life. My stomach felt sick. She would be all dressed up in a fabulous, expensive dress, and he would put his hands on her as they danced. I stepped back from him, needing some space.
I had asked for this when I had decided to enjoy Jason while I had him. I should have known there was a Johanna. There always was.
“Jess,” he said, reaching for me, but I pulled my hand away and put it behind my back.
“I should go,” I told him before walking to the door.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” he said, running in front of me and blocking the door. “You aren’t walking out of here mad at me. You’re the only girl I want. If I could get out of this thing with Jo, I would. But it would leave her in a bind for an escort, and she’s a friend. That’s it. A friend. She knows it, even if my mother would like to pretend otherwise.”
I wanted to believe him, but it still stung. I felt like he was choosing “Jo” over me. Which didn’t surprise me. No man had ever put me first. Why I should expect that from Jason just because I’d told him I loved him, I didn’t know.
“Fine. I still want to go home. Can you have your driver take me, please?”
Jason grabbed my waist. “No. You aren’t leaving like this. You’re upset, and I can’t fucking handle that. I don’t want you upset. What do you want me to do? Tell me how I can fix this, and I’ll do it, Jess. Just please don’t be mad at me.”
He looked determined. I wanted to believe him, but I had already voiced my concern. He had ignored that. I couldn’t ask him not to take her, because I knew he would give me the same excuse again. “What night is it?” I asked him instead.
“Next Saturday,” he said, almost wincing as he said it.
I wasn’t a whimpering, pathetic female. Something about Jason was making me weak. The protective walls I had lived behind were crumbling, and I was letting myself be pushed around. I was tougher than this. I looked him directly in the eye.
“Fine. She’s your friend. Take her to her cotillion,” I said, and relief touched his face, but I wasn’t done yet. “I’ll have Dewayne take me to the music festival next Saturday night on the beach, since he’s a friend I’ve had since I was a kid and I never miss a music festival. Especially since Blake Shelton will be there this year.”
Jason’s entire body went rigid, and I flashed him a smile. “We should probably go to breakfast now,” I said sweetly.
“Why Dewayne?” he asked in a low, even voice. I could tell he was trying to control his reaction.
He had been dealing with the lovestruck Jess. He’d forgotten that I could play dirty. “Because I know if I ask him to, he’ll not only get me a ticket, he’ll take me.” I added a shrug. “And, of course, he’s an old friend.”
Jason grabbed the door handle and took a deep breath. “Okay” was all he said before opening the door and standing back for me to exit first.
I walked into the hallway and had no idea where to go next. “You’re gonna have to lead. I’m lost,” I told him.
He was still standing at the door, staring at me, when I glanced back at him. There was a pained look on his face, and I silently cheered that my threat was getting to him. If he wanted me to live with his world, then he’d have to learn to live with mine.
“How’s he gonna get tickets this late?” Jason asked.
“We’re locals,” I replied with a grin. “We know who to call.”
Jason’s frown was verging on angry, and I couldn’t keep the grin off my face. Guess it didn’t feel too good to him, either.
He didn’t say anything else on our way down to the dining room, and I became more and more aware of the fact that I was way underdressed for breakfast with his mother the closer we got. I had been busy making sure Jason knew how it felt to be left on the sidelines that I hadn’t thought about my clothing.
“She’s not going to like what I’m wearing,” I said, pausing outside the door.
Jason touched my arm and gave me a reassuring squeeze. “You’re fine. I’ll handle this.”
The safe feeling was back, and I nodded and walked inside when he opened the door for me. His mother’s eyes were on me immediately, and the distaste on her face was obvious.
“I’m glad you could finally join me. I thought I was going to have to come back up there and remind you.” Her haughty voice was like ice.
“No, Mother. We remembered. We just aren’t working on your schedule. We have our own,” Jason replied, and held out a chair for me to sit down.