Love Me to Death (14 page)

“So, Jackson, what do you do then?” Layla asks.

“I’m a fitness trainer to the celebrities.”

“Seriously? Who are some of your clients?”

“Kelly Milton, Terry Sift, Yonda Rowley are a few.”

“Oh my gosh! Kelly Milton? I loved her last album. That is so awesome. No wonder she lost her baby weight so quickly.”

“Yeah, she’s very committed.” Jackson nods.

“You must be an awesome trainer,” Layla says. I have to refrain from rolling my eyes.
Whose side is she on?

“I just help people to set goals but they have to do all of the hard work,” he replies.
Blah, blah, freaking blah.

“He’s being modest. He is one of the best trainers I know. How else do you think I’ve stayed in shape,” Ned says softly.
Excuse me?

“You’re her trainer?” I question.

“Yes, Ned didn’t tell you?” he asks with a subtle smile on his face. My hands would look so good wrapped around his throat right now.

“Well, he
was
,” Ned interrupts, breaking the tension a little bit. “Up until he left me five months ago to take a live-in job that pays him ten times what I used to,” she teases, looking at him.

“You told me to go, so no complaining.” He smiles. I hate his smile.

“Yeah, well maybe I didn’t think it through. I may have been a little hasty in my decision.”

“This is my home so I can always come back … just say the word.”
He’s not talking about fitness.

“Don’t be silly.” She’s giggling. Oh my gosh, she’s flirting with him. Not on my watch, babe.

I join in with the irritating laughter. “Ah, don’t worry Jackson; Ned gets all the exercise she needs with me around. Your services are most definitely not required anymore.” I feel Ned tense under my arm and Layla bursts out laughing.

“Too much information, li’l Bro,” she says shaking her head.

Ned glares at me but I am saved when Michelle arrives with our food.

“Bruschetta?” she asks.

“Yes,” I say.

Michelle places the plate of bruschetta in front of me.

“Lasagna?”

“That would be mine,” Layla says politely.

“I will bring the rest in just a moment.” She smiles before leaving the table.

“Mmm this is good,” Layla voices as she takes a bite of her lasagna.

“La Vita does good food.” Jackson smiles.

“You’ve been here before?” she asks.

“Yeah, there are a few that are already open. This is just the first one in New York.”

Layla nods.

Michelle returns with a tray, holding two bowls, in one hand and a plate in the other.

“Four cheese pizza?”

“Thanks,” Jackson says before she hands him the plate.

“And I’m guessing the cannellonis are for you two,” she says smiling.

“Aww, they even order the same food,” Layla teases.

“Actually, he is just copying my exquisite taste in food.”

I roll my eyes but don’t deny it.

“My taste in food is as good as my taste in women.” I wink. She blushes. Jackson scowls and Layla gushes.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and start typing as I eat.

Me: Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?

Moments later I hear Ned’s phone notify her of a message. She gives me a sideway glance before pulling it out of her purse. I take another bite of my cannelloni which is nice but nowhere near as nice as Paradiso’s. I glance at Layla and Jackson but they are both focused on their food. I watch as Ned types out a message and then rests her phone in her lap.

Ned: Is that your way of saying sorry?

I read her message before typing my own.

Me: No, that’s my way of saying you look beautiful tonight. Babe, is English not your first language?

Ned: You and I are not on speaking terms right now. I can’t believe that you followed me here. And take your arm from around my waist!

Me: We need to fix that … we can leave right now and have make up sex, your choice? I prefer Paradiso’s cannelloni anyway (ps. We are so going back there). Technically, I didn’t follow you. I just decided to eat at the same place. And the arm stays.

“So, what is it
you
do, Cole?” Jackson asks.

I try not to scowl. “I’m an actor.”

“Oh, that’s fantastic, have you been in anything, recently, that I might know?” he asks in a patronizing tone.

“Other than Ned, probably not.”

I hear Ned start to choke on her food. I pat her back but she swats my hand away while giving me a look of death. I look across the table and see a red-faced Jackson who has clearly been stunned speechless while Layla is doing everything in her power to suppress a laugh.

“I’m so sorry, Jackson, sometimes Cole has no filter,” Ned says once she has caught her breath. I smile unapologetically.

“No need to apologize,” he says trying to regain his composure.

Ned glares at me as I mouth the word
what.
She ignores me and I know that I am going to be in big trouble later. Oh well, it was worth it to see the look on Jackson’s face.

The rest of the meal is pretty silent. I think that everyone is too afraid to speak. I pull out my phone again since nobody is conversing.

Me: Was that a no to the make-up sex?

Ned: You just don’t know when to quit, do you?

Me: Ah come on you can’t seriously still be mad at me …

Ned: Of course I’m mad! Jackson is a good friend and you’ve been rude to him all night.

Me: He’s not your friend, Ned, he’s your ex and his only mission where you’re concerned is his fastest track to pantyville. I don’t like him.

Ned: Do you really think that all men are as shallow as you?

Me: Yes!

Ned: Then you’re a bigger idiot than I thought.

Me: I can’t believe our first argument is over Jackson.

Ned: It’s not about Jackson, it’s about you and the way you have behaved tonight. Why does he bother you so much anyway?

Me: Because he’s a slime ball who is only after one thing.

Ned: Why do you care?

Me: I don’t.

Ned: Good, because Jackson and I are going out for a drink after this and you are not invited!

Me: Like hell you are!

Ned: Watch me!

“Jackson, are you still up for that drink tonight?” Ned asks with a sound of determination in her voice.

“Yeah sure, if you want.” He smiles in my direction.

“I do.”

I stare at Ned for a few seconds before standing to my feet.

“Ned, can I have a word please?” I say looking down at her. She looks at me defiantly but nods her head.

“We won’t be long,” she tells Jackson and Layla.

She walks ahead in silence until I say, “turn right.” She obeys and walks toward the restroom. Once we are in the hallway and I am confident that no one is around, I lay my hand on her stomach and push her gently against the nearest wall.

“What are you doing?” she asks in shock.

“You’re not going out with him tonight,” I say quietly.

“Yes, I am.”

“Ned,” I warn.

“You are not my boss, Cole. I’m yours, it’d do you well to remember that,” she says, pushing my hand away from her.

“You were with him for
three years
?”

“Yes, is that a problem?” She huffs.

“Yeah, it’s a damn problem.”

“Why?”

Yeah, why, Cole?

“Because you want
me
to follow the rules of your stupid contract but you’re the one that is jeopardizing it.”

“By going out with a
friend
?” She looks perplexed.

“No, by going out with an
ex
who clearly still has feelings for you.”

“Trust me, he doesn’t have feelings for me.” Her tone sounds off but I can’t figure out why.

“You know, you are the dumbest smart person I’ve ever met.”

“And you’re the biggest jerk
I’ve ever met
!”

“I can’t do this,” I growl.

“Then don’t,” she hisses.

“You know what?” I ask angrily.

“What?!”

I smash my lips into hers. I don’t know why but I do.
This is not a part of the contract. What are you doing? You need to stop. I can’t.
I angrily force my tongue into her mouth. It’s like all the rage goes into this kiss. She kisses me back with equal amounts of passion. I don’t even think that I can call this a kiss. I’ve kissed many girls and nothing has ever felt like
this
. This is something else. This is more. This is nameless. Right now, this room is suffocating me and she
is
my oxygen. I pull her closer and her hands slip into my hair. She kisses me like her life depends on it. I groan into her mouth.

Suddenly, she pushes me away and the spell is broken. We stare at each other as we try to catch our breath. She looks mad and confused; probably because what we just did had nothing to do with the contract. I’m confused. I don’t know what the hell came over me but I know that I don’t want her to kiss anybody else like that, for the rest of her life. I know that she’s about to say something that will make me mad, so I speak first.

“Enjoy your night with Jackson,” I say before turning and walking away.

I pull my wallet out of my back pocket and take out enough money to cover mine and Layla’s meal. When I get back to the table, I throw it down and look at Layla. “We’re going.”

She looks confused but nods.

“Where’s Ned?” Jackson asks perplexed. I ignore him and walk away without looking behind me.

“Bren, slow down. Where are you going?” Layla asks as she attempts to keep up with me. I don’t look back at her.

“Home, Layla,” I say. “Home.”

Layla and I have been driving in silence for the last five minutes before she finally breaks it. “Are you ok?”

“I’m fine,” I lie. Why the hell the idea of Ned going out with Jackson is annoying me this much, I don’t know but I know that I need to get it out of my system.

“For an actor, you are really bad at acting. You know that, right?” Layla adds making me smile.

“Honestly, I’m fine.”

“You don’t like Jackson much, do you?”

Oh, you picked up on that?

“I don’t really know him.”

“Yes but you know Ned, right?”

“Your point?” I ask in frustration.

“My point is that if you know her then you should trust her not to do anything wrong.”
Things are not that easy, Sis.

“Yeah.”

“Relationships are about trust, Bren not game playing. So, if you don’t want her to go then you need to be real with her and let her know.”
I did!

“Honestly, I couldn’t give a damn where she goes or who with for that matter. Right now all I’m thinking about is getting so drunk that I don’t even remember tonight when I wake up.”

“That can’t be your answer to everything,” she says softly.

“Says who?” I smirk but she can see right through me.

“Says life, Brennan. One day the games are going to have to stop. I just hope that sinks in sooner rather than later. And before you lose something you really care about.”

“Ok, I know you’re just trying to help but that’s about all I can take of the mushy stuff, Sis. It’s true, I don’t like Jackson he’s a leech but honestly Ned can do whatever she likes … it’s not that serious,” I say.