A Little Bit of Truth (Little Bits) (47 page)

“How?” He laughs once.

“I’ll call him,” I respond curtly and snatch his phone. I quickly put the number in and press dial before putting him on speaker.

Jacob doesn’t look like he believes me, I get that,
I’d be suspicious if I were in his shoes.

“Hello?”

“Kev it’s Marie,” I let out a long breath. “I’m sorry to put this on you especially after the last time we spoke…”

“You mean when you told me to fuck off?”

I wince, my eyes meeting Jacob’s who looks confused. Adorably so.

“Yeah, that time. Well umm, someone has sent Jacob a video of that time in the cinema when we got thrown out.”

Kev chuckles, “Oh yeah, I remember it well. Especially since you fucked me and fucked me off half an hour later.”

What the fuck? “Umm… No I didn’t. That was a totally different…” Ping goes the bulb in my head. “You sent this!”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Kev please, tell the truth. Please.”

“I’m not lying for you Marie,” Oh my god. Oh my god. “I’m not doing this anymore. I’ve got to go.” And then the line goes dead.

I stare at the phone for what seems like years, willing him to call back and tell the truth. Why’s he doing this?

Jacob snatches his phone back and tucks it into his jacket pocket. I reach for his arm but he grabs my wrist and throws it away from him, “Don’t.”

“Jake I swear, he’s setting me up. You have to believe me,” I plead with him, now willing him to believe me. How can he not believe me? “He’s pissed, he’s poisoning you against me because of the shit I said to him.”

“Why now?” Jacob scoffs, his eyes full of hurt. “Why would he do that now?”

“I don’t know, maybe because he’s a sick and twisted bastard that waited for us to be happy before destroying us.”

“He’s a cop Marie, I’m sure he’s got better things to be worried about then who the fuck you’re with!”

“He’s still human, a cop or not and you don’t know him like I do.”

Jacob’s eyes darken, “Yeah, you’re right about that.”

He starts to walk away again, I quickly reach for him but he steps out of my way and throws over his shoulder, “Don’t fucking touch me Marie. Don’t ever fucking touch
me.”

My arms prickle with
goose bumps, my eyes fill with tears. This can’t be happening. “I love you Jacob. Please believe me. I haven’t cheated on you I swear. I wouldn’t do that. You know me.” My panic rises when he doesn’t stop walking. “Look at me damn it!”

“I don’t want to,” he shakes his head solemnly.

“Jacob I swear to god, if you don’t believe me, when you find out the truth, which you will, I won’t come back. I swear. If you walk away from me I’m gone.”

I see him hesitate for a minute, he stops but he doesn’t turn.

“Please,” I beg and touch his fingers with my own, praying he wraps his around mine. “Please Jacob. I swear to you I haven’t cheated. This is all bullshit. We can get passed this.”

He shakes his head again and chews on his lip before destroying my heart completely, “No we won’t. I shouldn’t have put my trust in you to begin with.”

“Jacob,” the first tear falls. I inwardly curse myself for being so weak. “Please. Don’t do this.”

“I wouldn’t have to, if you hadn’t have done him,” he bites back, his hands trembling. “You’ve fucking destroyed me Marie. All for the sake of a quick fuck.”

“Fine,” I snap and wipe at my cheeks. “Walk away.” He does. I quickly and loudly call after him, “Don’t expect me to come back!”

“I don’t want you to.” He responds coolly and keeps on going.

There’s doubt, of course there’s doubt but I can’t deny the facts. It’s all there. Pictures of them arguing outside her apartment only two hours after being thrown out of the cinema, pictures of them hugging on his doorstep,
so many fucking pictures. So much proof.

Christ, seeing her with him, I’ve never felt pain like it in my life. She had her hand on his fucking cock! His cock!

Did she crawl into bed with me that night?

No, I was away, I know that much but we were together
, I also know this much. We were going steady damn it.

Kerry
(my agent) says she hired a private investigator to scope Marie out and scope her out she did. My agent wouldn’t lie to me about this.

Yet there’s still doubt.

We eat and give our speeches, Marie included. She looks fine but I know how good her poker face is. I don’t worry about her though, she made her bed she can lie in it.

Although seeing her cry… ouch. That got me right in the chest.

I don’t speak to her, I also don’t dance with her.

I completely blank her.

Although I can’t help but feel disappointed when I head to my room and find she’s not there waiting.

Surely if it weren’t true she’d fight harder than this.

Nah. It’s Marie. Marie doesn’t chase anybody, this much I know. I don’t care.

Okay, I do care. I care so much I act
ually feel like I’m going to bawl like a baby but I won’t. I’m too angry, too fucking betrayed to cry.

Disgusted too.

It takes me forever to fall asleep and when I finally do, I don’t have good dreams.

Avoiding the Inevitable

I’m officially a pussy.

I cried myself to sleep like a toddler. What in hell is wrong with me?

When I wake up I go through the normal motions, shower, wash, dress and decide not to head to breakfast. Right now I need to sort my head and I can’t do that if I see Jacob. I especially can’t do that if he blanks me completely. I’d love to go down there, to walk in and have him smile at me and tell me everything’s going to be alright but life isn’t a fairytale. Not unless you’re Maya and Loryn.

So instead I find something else to do. My brother is my next option, he’ll listen to me rant about how all men are idiots, though he probably won’t be too happy about it.
I figure Mason will still be in his room nursing his hangover. At least I hope he is.

I don’t knock, I just walk in. My eyes red and puffy, my hair a mess. Who cares?

I’ve got nobody to impress.

“Mace… Oh shit! Sorry I didn’t rea
lize…” Massive pause. “Oh no. Summer?”

I’d know that
tiny butterfly tattoo on her right foot anywhere.

I should do seeing as I was the one that convinced her to have it done while she was drunk.

“Oh shit guys. What did you do?” Oh crap.

Summer peeks over the blanket. I prayed for a second
there that it wasn’t her. Prayed like a nun in church with a bad confession to make. It’s her, oh dear.

“Get the fuck up,” I hiss at her and tug her naked body from bed
, making her squeal and fall to the ground.

“Stop it Marie,” Mason shouts, I glare at him.
Willing pain to cause his penis to shrivel up and hit the floor.

Then I slap his cheek, not hard but enough to startle him, “You absolute bastard! I warned you, I told you to stay away.”

Summer interjects, “Marie, I’m a grown…”

“Don’t say a fucking word,” I snarl
, effectively cutting her off while grabbing her dress from the ground. Then I wrap the dress around her body and tug her to the door. “This is really bad. Really, really bad.”

“I know,”
Summer sniffs, ah shit, she’s crying.

As she should be.

“Come on!” I check the coast is clear and drag her to my room. Every step my heart hammers knowing any one of these doors could open and bust us. When I finally get her inside I slam the door and rummage through my suitcase for some clothes that’ll fit her petite frame. “Go shower. Now.”

“Kay,” she sni
ffles making me feel like a total and complete bitch. I don’t apologize though, my mind is a messed up blur of stupid emotions and fear.

Then as if fate intervenes with a big slap to my cheek
there’s a knock at the door as soon as the shower turns on. I answer it and almost cringe at the sight of Chris.

“She h
ere?” He looks nervous, worried and handsomely disheveled.

I nod, “In the shower. We just got up.”

His shoulders sag with release, “We had an argument… I was worried she’d…” He runs his fingers through his hair. “Tell her I’ll see her at breakfast.” And then he leaves.

Summer exits the bathroom twenty minutes later, fresh and clothed.

“Your husband called
at my door not long ago.”

Her eyes go wide, “What did you tell him?”

“Nothing. What are you going to tell him?”

“I…” her lower lip trembles and then she sobs, bawls and cries like the idiot female that she is. Then like the idiot female I am I hug her tight and sooth her with a hand rubbing her back.
“I just… I was drunk and he just…”

“I know,” I whisper, still rubbing her back. “It hasn’t been easy for you recently.”

She starts sobbing again, “What have I done? I have to tell him… I have to…”

“Not until we’re home. You want to tell him that’s up to you but wait. Don’t do it here,” she nods in agreement. I continue, “
It’s going to be okay.”

“He’s going to divorce me!”

“Maybe so.” Can’t really blame him if he does. I don’t say this part though as not only does she not need it she clearly knows it.

“I can’t tell him, I can’t.” I wipe the tears from under her eyes as she rambles frantically, hysterically. “It’ll kill him… I think. God, will he even care?”

“Yes, you didn’t see him at the door babe. He’ll care.” He’ll definitely care even if he is a total and complete asshole as of late.

“Will you tell him?”

“Do you want me to?”

Her eyes widen, her hands start to tremble, “No. No. Please don’t.”

“I’ll take it to the grave for you babe, you know that.”

She nods her head, a little too much
, part of me is worried she’ll wobble it right off her neck, “Not even Jacob or Maya.”

“Definitely not Jacob,” I respond with a sneer. “You fucked up babe. It was a mistake.”

“A really, really bad yet so fucking perfect mistake,” then she sobs again and she doesn’t stop. “I’m such a slut! How can I enjoy something so…” Whoa, bitch that’s my brother… moving on.

“I promise you
, you’re not a slut.”

“I am… I’m such a whore. With your brother! Ugh, I’m a slut but he makes me feel so…”

“Wanted? Special? Adored?” Please don’t say sexy or orgasmic, those are images I can live without. Great. I just gave myself those images. What in hell is wrong with me?

And she sobs again. Sigh.

“We need to go to breakfast, we need to show our faces,” I say softly and lead her to the bathroom. “Wash your face, let’s get some food and we’ll deal with this later.”

“Okay,” her lips quivers but she does as she’s told. My own problems are locked away in that little safe in my mind that I store all my shit in.

I hate that Summer has done this to herself but I’m grateful because at the same time, she’s helped me lock it away. All of my shit is now air tight and unmoving. My emotions gone to be replaced with numb and maybe a little sorrow for my friend remains but that’s all.

That’s how I deal with things and that’s how I’ll continue dealing with this.

If that asshole doesn’t want to believe me it’s on him.

After giving Summer the best friend inspection and making her hold ice cold, glass bottles of water under her puffy eyes to reduce the swelling, we finally head down for some grub. I’m not hungry, food is the last thing on my mind.

At least when we get there Jacob isn’t there so I can give
Summer my full attention. Fortunately Maya isn’t here either, nor is James. Probably still celebrating their wedding night.

I snatch Evelyn from Sylvia on the way to an empty table and plonk her on
Summer’s lap. My instincts tell me Summer needs a safeguard between her and Chris right now, Evelyn will have to be it.

“I’ll go and get us some food, you sit tight, make baby talk, your husband is coming over,” I whisper and merrily skip to the food table. Okay, so it’s pretend merriness but it’s convincing. I think.

Chris sits in my seat, Summer looks down right horrified. He reaches over to tuck her hair behind her ear and gives her a gentle smile. I cringe when she jerks away and cringe even more when Chris sighs and his body slumps. He thinks she’s angry about the argument. I don’t remember seeing an argument last night. Although to be honest I don’t remember seeing much more than the bottom of my shot glass and the back of Jacob’s head.

Of course I danced with my girls and pretended I was having a brilliant time. I’m so good at pretending nobody can tell when I’m upset anymore.

I like it this way.

Or I did before Jacob. I told him everything, part of me wishes I could tell him about this but that would be weird. Talking to the reason for your heartache about your heartache.

Gah. What a joke. I knew this would happen. Slapped a sign on my own forehead years ago.

WHORE.

What did I expect? I brought this on myself. I wish I’d told him I’d kissed Kev in the cinema. If I’d told him then, he wouldn’t be able to question it now.

I’m so stupid.

Stupid, stupid, stupid with an extra hard face palm at the end.

I make my way over to the table, two plates full of food in my hands. Chris sees me walking over, gives me a sheepish smile before bending low to kiss Summer’s head and walking away.

“Eat,” I order after dropping her food in front of her and snatching Evelyn out of her arms.

“I’m not hungry.”

“Eat, you know you get grumpy when you haven’t eaten,” patting her hand reassuringly I glance over at the table I’ve been at the past few mornings.

Jacob’s there. Shit. His eyes are on me.

I’m glad I’m not the only one who looks like hell. Did he just sneer at me? He just sneered at me! I mean,
wow, that hurt.

I turn away and find
Summer’s eyes are also on me, “What’s going on?” Her tone is suspicious. She doesn’t miss much.

“Nothing.” Definitely nothing, not anymore.

“Spill…”

“There’s nothing to spill.” Definitely and absolutely nothing. Nada, zilch.

She quirks a brow before her face softens and her eyes soften, “Shit sweetie. That’s why you were in a new room, I thought maybe you were fucking too loud or something and had to move… what happened?”

“He thinks I cheated on him.” Her mouth drops open. I don’t give her a chance to respond, I stand and take Evelyn back to Sylvia. “I’ll talk to you later. I need to get out of here.”

“Sure, want me to come with?”

I shake my head, keeping my eyes directed at the exit, “No. Please eat.”

“I should say the same to you,” she flicks me on the arm. “If you need me…”

“I’ll call you I know,” my voice is quiet, quiet because I’m scared it’ll break.

Sunglasses on, back straight and strut. Fuck this heartbreak, I’m not dealing with it.

I
watch Marie walk out of the room, she hasn’t even spared me a glance. Not that I want her to. I’m so over this shit.

At least I’m not the only one who looks like hell.

Part of me is glad she cares we’re done. Part of me wonders if she even cares how deeply she’s fucked me over. All she did was get caught, I had to witness that… I had to see it firsthand.

That image will never leave me. Never.

How can I forgive her for that when she won’t even admit it?

That’s what I’ll do… I guess I could try and… no. I’m not going to try and work it out with her. Never forgive a cheater.

But Maya did with James and look how happy they are and fuck if Marie doesn’t make me happy.

It’s still fresh, maybe in a few weeks I’ll feel different.

So that’s what I’ll do, I’ll track her down and tell her that if she tells me the truth maybe we can work past it. Maybe she just missed me and was looking for comfort.

Why am I defending her?

If she cared she never would have done this and if she truly loved me she wouldn’t let me walk away so easily.

Not unless she’s guilty and not particularly bothered.

Gah. This is all so fucking confusing.

She cheated on me. Just the thought sends painful tingles through my stomach like somebody is inside me twisting it with their bare hands.

I won’t be that guy.

I can’t be Maya, I can’t just forgive all.

She’s had somebody else’s cock inside of her while she was with me. It’s sickening, I’ll never be able to fuck her again without that image flying through my mind like a boulder dropped from the sky before crashing to earth.

No. I can’t do that, I won’t. If she doesn’t want to fight for me then that’s her loss but no way in hell am I fighting for her.

She’s just pussy. Pussy I can replace in seconds.

“But I don’t want to,” I whine out loud by accident. Startling the few dudes I’m sat with. I shake my head to clear it, “I’m gonna go.”

They don’t oppose this, in fact they’re looking at me like I’m crazy.

As I pass I have to go by Summer who looks as miserable as I feel. She reaches out and grabs my wrist, effectively making me stop in my tracks. “She wouldn’t cheat on you.”

I cringe, “She told you.”

“All she said was you think she’s cheated. She doesn’t want to talk about it.”

“I’ve seen the video
Summer,” I murmur, worried about others overhearing. “It’s set in stone.”

She runs her fingers through her red hair and sighs deeply. Then with a shake of her head her eyes catch mine, I’m shocked to find moisture there, “I don’t know what you’ve seen but I know
my friend and I know that when she has love she doesn’t take it for granted. There’s no way in hell she’s cheated on you. She wouldn’t cause herself this much misery.”