The Broken Girl (Lonely Girl Book 2) (13 page)

“That’s not an option anymore
, Jacob. You know why? Because on a scale of one to a million, I’m a million percent fucked up, that’s why. Whose fault is that, I wonder? Jacob, I want you to leave. It shouldn’t be too hard, you were ready to do it twelve hours ago.” The inner bitch has reared her head and I don’t see her going away anytime soon.

“Jake, you need to go.” I turn to see my brother standing in the doorframe
, confused at the scene before him. “I don’t know what the hell your problem is, Jake. I didn’t hear much but what I heard I didn’t like. She asked you to leave. Now I’m telling you to get the hell away from her.”

“Alec, it’s a misunderstanding
. I swear.” Alec shakes his head and points to get out. Jake walks up to my brother and I’m worried it’s going to get physical.

“Stay away from my sister until you get your shit straight.” Jake let the tense
ness leave his shoulders. “I love her, man, you know that. If she needs a friend to talk to or anything, I’m here for her no matter what you say about it. I will always be there for her.”
Alec lets out a sarcastic laugh. “Not from what I’ve heard. I hear you threw a pussy fit when she didn’t run off into the sunset with you. She had doubts; she’s allowed a moment to have some fucking doubts. For fuck sake, her whole damn world came crashing down around her. Don’t act like Key. She deserves a good guy and if that can’t be you, or you keep fucking up. I will make damn sure she is never around you, friendly or not. I will push her towards anyone but you. Now leave her alone until she comes to you. Maybe you will be lucky and she will. But you don’t deserve a damn thing from where I’m standing. You and Key are both screwed.”

Jake turn
s and looks at me. “Becca, you might not believe me, but I love you. I think I was right last night.” I know what’s coming so for self-preservation, so I do it first.

“Love can be toxic if given to you by the wrong person. Some use it as a weapon
and others use it in desperation. I know how I love you but, clearly, I’m alone in that since you’re trying to give me a goodbye speech again. Just get the fuck out of here, Jake. You got what you wanted. Goodbye.”

“Becca, I missed the hell outta you.” Jake uses our words to try and savage this conversation but the damage is done.

“Goodbye, Jake.”

Jake is speechless,
and he just turns and storms out. I didn’t mean what I said about his love being toxic or any of it but I won’t be this pathetic girl that everyone keeps dumping.

“Becca, what happened?” Y
eah, I’m not going there, not now, not ever.

“Your sister’s love life just exploded, but hey
, what else is new?” I’m pushing myself to keep being snarky in order to keep my emotions in check.

“Becca
, it’s okay. I know what that took for you to say.” Oh, Alec, if you only really knew.

“I don’t want to feel like this anymore.” If Jake doesn’t want me,
and the Keegan I love is gone, then why bother. If they are both like this, I’m better off lonely and broken.

It’s been two weeks. I haven’t so much as talked to Jake or Keegan. They have kept their distance, which I think hurts more. I know I said to stay away but I thought they would try at least. Instead I see them laughing and talking with friends
as if they didn’t just break me into a million tiny shards. They’ve looked at me but I always turn and look away. Alec eventually dropped the questions and gave up. It’s not hard to believe that my love life is really that screwed up. He didn’t like that I wouldn’t hang out with him and his friends anymore. I made a joke about dating another one of them and he dropped it. Telling him it is time I live away from them all and get my own friends was really freeing.

It was the most heart-shattering thing I’ve ever done. Not knowing what is going on in Jake and Keegan’s life is unbearable but there is just too much damage done. Meeting girls from the dorm was awesome. They were all about having fun but keeping out of trouble. Until tonight
, which I knew if my brother or Charlotte knew about, they’d be pissed.

Standing in front of my mirror
, I feel like I’m not Bec or Becca anymore. For tonight, I’m not. I’m Larissa Cole. At least that’s what my fake ID says. The girls thought it would be fun to play dress-up with Becca. I’m wearing six inch silver stilettos and a red short dress that I swear is cutting my breathing off.

“Damn girl, where were you hiding that body of yours?” I turn and see Nicky standing at the door. She is taller th
an me and curvy in all the right sort of places. Her hair is jet black and curly.

“I don’t know
, maybe I just didn’t have a reason to flaunt it.” I am trying to be the new confident, Becca.

“No, you had no reason to get all dolled up with those boys from the team chasing you, but tonight it
’s all about new prospects.” Lily has arrived at my door as well. She has chestnut brown hair with blonde streaks and has a body a runway model would kill for. She also doesn’t work for it. She eats more than any girl I have every seen and just spouts some crap about a great metabolism.

“Come on
, bitch. It’s game time.” They say in unison.  I laugh at them. “Let’s go, bitches.”

When we arrive at the club, my confidence has gone down. Lilly seems to pick up on it. “Don’t worry
, we will get right in and get you some liquid courage.” We walk up to the bouncer who takes our IDs. He barely looks at them. Instead he is just looking at us in our outfits and nods us in.

“He only takes the IDs to check them to cover his ass. He’d let us in if it was my grandma’s ID
.” Nicky is all about the truth. She doesn’t sugar coat anything, which I find pretty awesome. Looking around the club, it’s not what I’ve expected. It doesn’t seem to have endless possibilities. Really, it is just four walls with some fancy lights and a DJ. I hear a familiar laugh and I don’t have to turn around to know it’s Jake.

“Drink time
,” I say to the girls and they cheer, hauling me off to the side bar.

“What can I get you ladies?” The bartender asks what we’d like; I don’t wait for the girls to answer before I order. “Nine shots of Tequila.” I hand him money and he starts pouring our shots. I take the first one and down it.

“Come on now, don’t make me do them alone.” Nicky just laughs while Lily is shaking her head. Nicky grabs one and down it goes like nothing.

“Lily doesn’t do tequila.” I look to Lily hoping for some explanation.

“Tequila makes my clothes come off and it’s too early for that shit.” I laugh and grab my other two shots and down they go. It burns but I’m using this to keep my mind off the group behind us. I don’t want to think about Jake or Keegan tonight, that was the deal. Nicky grabs her two and downs them; I look to Lily and smile.

“Last chance.” She shakes her head
, laughing. “More for me,” I say, then drink the last two shots.

“Dance time!” I cheer. They both giggle and agreed. Not before we each have another drink to take with us though. I’m not even sure what mine is but it’s fruity and yummy. I make my way into the middle of the dance floor
, making sure I’m covered so Jake won’t see me. Not that I’d care if he said something. I just don’t want him to make me leave. Tonight is about my fun and having it my way.

The music is pounding through the speakers and the bas
s makes the floor vibrate up through my shoes. A few guys have come up to me but I just wasn’t into it and told them I was out with the girls tonight. The lights are spinning and I’m feeling great. I’m not tanked but I have an awesome buzz going on. My drink needs to be filled again so I take off to the bar, leaving the girls on the dance floor with guys flocking towards them. I laugh as I walk away.
As I approach the bar, I don’t even think about where I am. I’m all about the fun right now. The bartender gives me the same thing I’ve been getting all night, which I found out is called a jolly rancher. I decide to hang out at the bar for a bit before returning to the maze on the dance floor.

“Hey, what’s your name and can I buy you a drink?” He sounds cocky. I turn around to find Jake and Keegan standing next to this guy who I have seen around
. I know he plays hockey with them. Keegan and Jake’s back are turned to me so they don’t see who he’s talking to. “Wait a minute… aren’t you Potts’ sister?” With that, both Keegan and Jake spin around to find me standing here trapped.

Before they even get a word out
, I turn to the bartender. “Two shots of tequila.” He pours them for me and I down them. I don’t even feel the burning anymore. I turn to leave but Keegan and Jake are standing in my way. “What are you doing here, Becca?” Jake says.
“It’s neither of your business what I do or where I go. Now, if you will excuse me. My new friends who aren’t interested in fucking with my heart are dancing and I’m going to join them.” I go to step around them and they both get in my way, causing me to bump into a guy I recognize as the teacher’s assistant for Charlotte’s English class.

“You’re not going anywhere but out that door with us
, Bec,” Keegan says. “He’s right. Fun time is over, Becca,” Jake adds.
“I don’t believe I’d asked for your permission.” I go to leave and I notice that the guy I bumped into is watching me. So I get brave and spiteful.

“Hey, do you happen to play hockey?” He looks puzzled.

“No.”

I smile. “Well
, if the way you’re looking at me is any indication of interest, how about we dance?” He smirks at me and takes my hand, guiding me out to the dance floor. We end up next to Lily and Nicky who give me the thumbs-up.

“I’m Tracey
,” he says.

“Becca
,” I add. He smiles and puts his hands on my waist moving against me to the music. After a few songs I’ve somehow loosened up and am now turned around with my backside grinding into his front. I look up, seeing Keegan and Jake staring at me. Jake is on the phone and he doesn’t look happy. Great, they are probably calling my brother or Charlotte.

I’d forgotten I was dancing with Tracey until his lips graze my neck. I see Keegan and Jake glare this way and I know it won’t be long before they start over
here. I motion for Lily and Nicky to come to me and they do.

“See those two guys
? Those are my old boyfriends. Distract them so I can get out of here.” They nod and Nicky gives me a wink.

I turn to Tracey. “Want to get out of here?” His face lights up
as if he just won the jackpot. I’m not really sure what I meant by what I said. At this point, I can’t screw things up any more. Linking arms with Tracey, I maneuver us out the side entrance and he waves down a cab. We quickly get in and set off. I’m assuming it is towards his place.

As soon as we pull up
, his lips are on me. I don’t even get a chance to take in my surroundings, but instead of doing the Becca thing and overthink things. I say screw it. I give him everything I have, causing him to gasp at my willingness. I am always trying to do everything right in my life, so maybe it’s time to try something wrong. We somehow make it inside of his building and he fumbles with his keys. As soon as his door is open, we are inside. His mouth hasn’t left mine. I want to say it’s hot and amazing but it nothing compared to my more recent kisses.

I hear the door shut behind us and before I know it
, we are crashing into his bed. His shirt is gone and I feel his skin against me. He brings his hands up my back, undoing the zipper of my dress. It slides off easy, exposing the black Victoria’s Secret set Charlotte had told me was to die for. He seems to agree because I hear his belt buckle undo and his pants are now off. All that’s left is his boxers. I try to pace things but his hands are all over me. He’s just about to slip his hands into my panties when I hear a noise. “Get the hell off of her right now.”

Tracey jumps back
, leaving me exposed on the bed. I rush to wrap his blanket around me. Alec and Drake are staring at me. “Oh shit.” I say.

“Yeah
, Becca. Oh shit is right. Time to go.” I shake my head, not really wanting to stay but definitely not wanting to deal with my severely pissed off brother.

“Alec
, no. Drake, take him home.” Drake shakes his head at me and I know I’m all alone in this one.

“I don’t know what’s going on here but
it isn’t anything she didn’t want. It was her idea to leave the club.” Ugh, thanks, Tracey. I could have lived without my brother knowing that.

“That is my sister and she’s leaving
,” Alec says.
“She looks grown up enough to me to make her own choices and I don’t think Becca wants to leave.” Oh, this guy is going to end up getting his ass kicked.

“Did my very grown up sister also tell you she is only eighteen?” Tracey turns to me
, looking shocked, and I just shrug.

“I didn’t know but it’s still not a big deal. She’s still an adult. She’s hot
and I’m not making her leave.”

“We aren’t asking buddy
. Becca, Alec will either walk out of here with you or he will drag your drunk ass out of here,” Drake replies.