(54) Jessica

Jessica

My assistants surveyed the venue before finally sitting down at the bar. Kierra and Jason's rehearsal dinner was officially a success. Some guests, including the couple's relatives, were starting to thin out as the night began to approach midnight.

I looked over my shoulder, looking for Matthew. Maybe he's with Kierra, so I just proceed to the bar.

I gestured to the bartender, and he smiled cheerfully. "What can I get you?"

"Just a bottle of water, please."

My assistants gave me a look. I assumed they had had a couple of vodka shots.

I shrugged playfully. "What? I'm a changed woman."

Well, in a way, I was. I'm no longer single, which is something that I never thought would happen the way it did.

I took the water bottle and went to search for my boyfriend. I stepped out into the garden, starting my search at the now-empty fountain.

"What are you doing out here?"

I gritted my teeth, knowing full well whom the voice belonged to. I look over my shoulder and tried hard not to slap the disloyalty out of his unfaithful ass.

Instead of giving in to my vigilante urges, I took a nice long breath and decided against it.

"I'm looking for Matthew. Have you seen him anywhere?"

His eyes fluttered drunkenly. "So, it's true then. You guys are dating."

"Of course, it's true." Despite my best efforts to be decent, I rolled my eyes.

However, I think he was too drunk because he only responded with a chuckle. "Who would've thought my goody-two-shoes pal could score someone like you?"

I snorted. "Well, duh. Matthew's a hottie. What would you think would happen? I'd let the opportunity pass me by?"

He cocked his head to one side. "Don't you think you'll need someone less bland than him?"

I arched a brow. "Oh, I see where this is going."

"Oh, good." He took a step forward, a hand reaching out to me.

I swatted it away. "Keep your filthy hands off me," I hissed, my resolve dropping all at once. "You're always after whatever Matthew has that you don't, aren't you?"

Jason flinched.

"Oh, I'm right, aren't I?" I scoffed. "Always snatching whatever you could take. You can't help it because you're pathetic that way."

The playfulness in his face was replaced by anger. "Who do you think you are?"

I definitely hit a nerve.

"I'm Matthew's girlfriend, one who will make sure you'll never take any more of anything from him."

His hand clutched my wrist even harder.

I tried not to wince. "Let me go."

He didn't budge.

I cursed under my breath... because his grip was really starting to hurt. "Let me go or I'll walk right up to Kierra and tell her about your adulterous affair with Brenda West."

His eyes slit lividly. "Or I could tell her about how you cornered me by the fountain and seduced me."

Why am I not surprised that he would do this? I guess I got used to every man who's ever been alone with me at a party falsely claimed. And I was so used to not caring about it much. But right now, I want to slap him hard on the face and kick him in his precious jewels.

So... that's what I did exactly.

His grip on my wrist loosened as he toppled over, clutching his crotch.

I turned away, determined to flee the scene. However, I ran into what felt like a wall and almost toppled and fell myself.

"I'm sorry." Matthew had his arm around me in a heartbeat.

When I looked up, I must've still had murder in my eyes because his brows knotted together worriedly. "What happened?"

I gulped.

It was on the tip of my tongue, but for some reason, I couldn't speak. I probably didn't have to because confusion was no longer in his eyes as he noticed Jason in the corner of his eyes. He shook his head and cursed Jason under his breath.

His eyes found a struggling Jason. Something fleets past his gaze as his jaw shifted tautly. The steps he took toward Jason were deliberately aggressive. He grabbed Jason's collar and tugged him off from where he was still crouching in pain. "What is wrong with you?"

Jason had his hands up in the air in surrender. "Listen, she initiated everything."

My hands fisted at my sides.

The son of a bitch.

For a second, I was in defensive mode, but when I saw Matthew's face, it drew back. Matthew was unfazed, which made my heart swell because I didn't have to defend myself.

"Do you really think I would buy that?"

To my surprise, Matthew swung his fist and Jason doubled over, losing his balance. "Next time you pull a stunt on my girlfriend I won't stop at one punch."

Matthew's back was on me, but from the look on Jason's face, I could tell he was livid. However, his blue eyes softened when he turned back around.

What happened next after that went by in a blur. All I could be certain of was he held me close in the limo ride and on the elevator ride to our floor. We didn't say much even after he ushered me to his apartment.

I felt like stress-eating because of the inevitable conversation I had to have with him.

Kierra doesn't deserve that dickhead. She deserves better.

So much better.

Matthew followed closely. "Jessica, wait." His hand clutches my wrist.

I winced.

We both looked down at the slight bruising on my wrist - the one Jason almost crushed earlier. I didn't have to tell him that though.

Matthew's brows furrowed together. His jaw stiffened as he examined my wrist and realized it was bruised.

"It's okay. It'll probably be gone tomorrow," I blurted out.

"No, Jessica. It's not okay." He grazed his fingers frustratedly over his hair. "I should've-"

"I kicked him in the nuts, and you punched the living daylights out of him-I'd say that's a win for us. Besides, there's nothing a bag of frozen peas can't fix."

Matthew didn't say anything. Instead, he guided me toward a bar stool and grabbed frozen peas from the fridge. He then sat on the bar stool beside me and gently took my hand.

He still had murder in his face.

"Matty, really, it's fine." I cupped his cheek, willing him to look at me. "I'll be fine."

He stares at me for a moment, and then he lets out a long heavy sigh. "Does it hurt?"

I shake my head. "To be honest, I've had worse."

His brow arched worriedly.

"I've got them doing something fun," I clarified.

"What kind of fun stuff?"

"Well, last Christmas, I gave Ethan and Georgie a trampoline."

He tilted his head, confused. "But I never saw a trampoline at their playground."

"That's because I tested it out in case it wasn't safe."

"I take it it wasn't safe?"

"Mm-hmm. I'll spare you the gruesome details. In the end, I got myself bruised in the hip."

His dimple started peeking out, so I went on. "By the way, that was a great punch. I mean, who knew you'd be great at beating someone up?"

Matthew's dimple hollowed as his lips curved and gave way into a full-fledged smile.

I grinned having finally coaxed out his smile. "I can't tell if I'm a good or terrible influence on you though."

Matthew lets out a soft chuckle. He brought my hand to his mouth and kissed my palm, holding it close to his cheek. He looked at me with soft blue eyes. "You make me so happy. Where's the terrible influence in that?"

My heart did a flip. Then, after a surge of happiness came an indisputable dread that I might lose him. And my life will never be as colorful as he made it.

There was a suspicious prick in my eyes. I tried to blink them away, but they started blurring my vision.

I pulled away from Matthew before he could see the tears in my eyes.

He reached for me. "What's wrong?"

Ugh. Too late.

I swiped my palm across my eyes, but it didn't make my vision clearer. A knob formed in my throat instead.

"Jessica?" There was panic in his voice.

"You need to tell Kierra," I pushed the words out of my mouth. I looked at Matthew, expecting a look of denial.

However, he nodded. "I know."

I shake my head. "I'm not talking about tonight. There's something she should know."

His brows crinkled, but he urged me to go on.

I took a huge breath. "He's cheating on her with one of the bridesmaids. Bonnie. I should've told you sooner, but I needed to make sure."

There was fury in his eyes. Then, defeat. And then, understanding. "Okay."

I looked down at my hands on my lap, not knowing what to do with them.

Matthew's hand covered one of mine. He took me in his arms and held me in silence.

Even when he held me close, I was terrified that he'd go away. I couldn't help but think that now that Jason is potentially out of the picture, there'll be no one standing in his and Kierra's way to be together.

Well, there's me.

But I'll happily step out of the way when Matthew asks me to. Well, not 'happily'.

I think I will let him go tearfully.

Miserably.

Brokenheartedly.

Inconsolably.

It's been a while, I know. I'd like to thank @thebrknbuttrfly123 , @nagasreegarapati , @Maddybae123 , @aditi184 , and @BusiMusi for offering me comfort when I was in a dark place. I appreciate you guys so much.

Thank you for waiting patiently. Updates will be a bit sporadic for now. Have a nice day. :)