Chapter 27: Fucking Kidding Me

JAMIE

“Ryan... hi.”

Really?

But they were the only words I could form after breaking the guy’s heart.

That’s just great. Say something else, quick!

“Er, it’s... good to see you.”

It sure doesn’t look like the feeling is mutual.

Mason, with those fierce eyes of his, was looking at Ryan like he wanted to snap him in two.

I was all too familiar with those dark eyes. They were the eyes of the Big Bad Boss.

I hadn’t seen them in a while, and I wasn’t exactly cheered up to see them now.

“Well, I’m here, alone, and getting drunk on a Friday night, so take a guess.”

Joshua leaned into me slightly from his seat beside mine. “So, that’s Ryan.”

I nodded in reply without turning to look at him. I couldn’t take my eyes off Ryan, and I didn’t want to.

I was worried something might kick off if the wrong thing was said. It was clear that Mason was biting his tongue.

“Tell me, how is it?” Ryan braced his palms flat on the tablecloth. “Banging the boss?”

Jesus! Just hearing him say it like that was creating a pit in my stomach.

Having all this come back in my face was ten times worse than anything I could have imagined.

Mason stood from his seat, visibly tense, his jaw clenched. It was clear that Ryan’s presence was enough to piss him off, let alone the words he spoke.

“You need to leave this table before I make you.”

Ryan took his hands off the table and stood up straighter, shoulder to shoulder with Mason.

“Oh, going to make me, are you? Who are you to tell me what to do? You might be able to control every woman you meet, but not me.”

My eyes scanned the room, the faces that had become aware of the scene unfolding at our table.

Not everyone in the restaurant was looking in our direction, just those seated in close proximity and the few passing waiters with silver serving trays in hand.

Not everyone’s noticed—not yet, at least!

Mason stepped close enough to Ryan’s face to have me panicking even more.

Mr. Blair stood at the same time, with the same idea in mind to help defuse the situation.

“All right, I think that’s enough.” Mr. Blair stood in between the two men, trying to keep them separated. “This restaurant is not the place to do this.”

“Mason, please.” I took his arm gently, hoping he would back away. Thankfully he took a step back.

“Jamie and I were perfectly fine before you got yourself involved.”

Ryan pointed his finger at Mason.

“You’ve got your hooks in her for now. But it won’t be long before you break her heart. I know all about you. You’re a murd—”

Before Ryan could finish his sentence, Mason had stopped him with a whopper of a punch to the face.

The sound of gasps from the other diners filled the restaurant. Now everyone was looking in our direction. Just as I had feared.

Ryan fell to the floor with no hope of landing a punch in return.

He lay on the cherrywood floor, wiping the blood from his cut and swelling lip. Beside him lay a wooden chair that he had taken down with him as he fell.

“Ryan!” I crouched down in my tight pants. “Are you okay?”

Of course I’m not just going to stand back while he lies on the floor bleeding. I’m a decent human being.

Most of the time.

Except for sleeping with my boss behind the man’s back.

“Sir, we’re going to have to ask you to pay your bill and leave. Please.”

The manager was speaking to Mason, but he looked between all of us, obviously not pleased about the stir we’d caused.

“Right, fine.” Mason pulled out his wallet and placed a couple bills down on the table, double the amount needed to cover the cost of our meal.

“We’re leaving, Jamie. Grab your things.”

~Grab your things~, he said.

Yet he was already grabbing my coat and purse and getting me ready to leave.

Mr. Blair didn’t look impressed or happy as he picked up his suit jacket from the chair.

Why would he, after witnessing the man he was doing business with use his fists in the middle of a dinner meeting?

Joshua seemed awkward about the whole thing, like he was unsure what to even say. I didn’t blame him.

I looked down at Ryan, a drunken mess with a bloody nose.

I can’t just leave him here like this.

I looked up at Mason. “You go ahead. I’m going to get him home.”

Joshua helped me get Ryan to his feet and sit him down at the table.

Mason was staring at us.

“You’re fucking kidding me right now, Jamie. You’re not staying here with that guy.”

I took his arm and turned him away from the others.

“Look at him, he’s a mess. And I’m not even talking about the swollen lip.”

I turned my head slightly, looking in Ryan’s direction.

“I can’t leave him when it’s my fault he’s like this in the first place.”

“That’s exactly what you do. It’s not your responsibility to take care of him. He’s somebody else’s problem.”

“I already feel so much guilt over this, I want to at least do something to make it right.”

I took my coat and bag from him.

“I’m going to call my brother to come pick us up. I’ll stop by afterward.”

There was a deeply pissed expression on his face.

“You know I’m not happy about this?”

“Oh, I hadn’t noticed.”

“Don’t get smart with me, Jamie. I don’t want you going anywhere with him. I don’t fucking trust him. Frankly, you’re making a fool out of me.”

I kept my eyes on his to show I was in control for once.

“Mason, this is not for you to decide. I’ll do what I think is right.”

I rolled my lips together, feeling bad for telling him off.

But not as bad as I would feel if I abandoned Ryan tonight.

***

Jake and I had Ryan lean on us as we came through the front door of his apartment.

After stepping out of the car he’d stumbled, but I could rely on my brother to help us out.

I was sure I was never going to hear the end of it.

Was it worth it? To be determined.

“I’ll get the door. Will you take him to his room?” I pointed to a bedroom at the end of the hallway, where the door was opened.

Jake shook his head with attitude. “You owe me, Jamie.”

He walked the hallway, carrying a drunk Ryan along with him. “You’re fucking heavy, man.”

I closed the door and followed them toward the bedroom.

Jake clipped his head on the wooden door frame as they passed it.

“Oh my God, Jake!”

My brother winced. “It’s fine, just a bang.” He heaved Ryan down onto the edge of the bed.

“Don’t you get yourself into a state too.” I raised my hands in exasperation. “We’re going to have to move him in a bit so he doesn’t fall off.”

“Just roly-poly him like we used to do as kids.”

Jake pushed Ryan and rolled him into the middle of the bed.

“Problem solved. Can we go now?”

I covered Ryan with the wool bedspread folded neatly on the end of his bed.

“Yes, we can go now. I’ve already texted his brother, he’s going to come stay the night.”

Jake and I left Ryan’s apartment together. I pulled out my phone, expecting to see a text from Mason.

Nothing.

Obviously he’s angry with me; he made it quite clear how he felt.

“Let me guess, the boss hasn’t called?”

Jake smirked as he slipped into the car. Taking my silence as a yes, he didn’t stop there.

“After what you told me, I’m guessing he’s pacing his penthouse, seething with anger.”

I pulled my seat belt across my chest and clicked it into the holster.

“Anger because I didn’t listen to his orders. He isn’t used to that.” I looked over to the driver’s side. “Do you think I did the right thing?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Sleeping with him? I’m sure many women have been there. No offense.”

I clicked my tongue. “No, not that. I mean by taking Ryan home. Should I have done it?”

“You’re Jamie. It was the only thing you could do. The guilt would’ve eaten you alive otherwise.” Jake put the key in the ignition. “Where to?”

As if guilt isn’t eating me alive anyway, no matter what I do.

After the night I’d had, all I wanted to do was sleep. I was mentally and physically drained.

Plus I didn’t know if Mason was in the mood for company, and I didn’t want to take the risk.

I released a long sigh. “Home. Just take me home.”