Hyde and Seek (12 page)

However, standing in the middle of Jake’s room in my panties, my chest bare as I awkwardly fumbled with the tiny hooks on my top, I couldn’t remember ever feeling so mortified.

I’m never wearing anything but t-shirts again. Ever.

Jake cleared his throat. “I’ll just be in the other room,” he muttered as he left.

Blinking back tears, I quickly finished dressing.

I thought riding on the back of Jake’s bike again would be torture. As we started towards my place, though, it became obvious how preferable it was to taking his car. There was no uncomfortable silence, or worse, awkward conversation.

I’m sure the conversation would’ve been awesome. He’d probably just grunt at me while I discussed my vow to maintain a monogamous relationship with my showerhead and plans to adopt a cat.

Or ten.

Unlike the ride to Jet’s, I didn’t hold on tight or enjoy the view of the city passing by. I let the cool air whip around my overheated face as I blocked the world out.

When we arrived at my place, Jake still walked me to my door even though I didn’t want him to. I bit my lip to stop myself from saying something stupid to break the tense silence.

Thankfully, Jake spoke first, though we both knew there wasn’t anything to say.

“Piper, I—”

“Just… don’t.”

“Yeah.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’ll… I’ll see you around.”

Unlike last time, I knew his words were a blow off.

I gave him a small, tight smile. “Yeah, Jake. Bye.”

I hurried in, locking the door behind me. I leaned my back against it, listening as his bike roared to life. A minute later, he took off.

Dropping my head back, I couldn’t help feeling like there was more wrong than I knew.

Chapter Four

^Changes

“Maybe a penis tattoo would’ve been a better idea.”

Looking around the packed club, I was relieved no one heard me talking to myself.

Or, if they had, they were pretending they hadn't.

As much as I wished I was sitting at home in my yoga pants, watching mindless TV and eating Chinese food delivery straight from the carton, I knew I needed a change of scenery.

I was in a rut. And not a minor one.

Ray must’ve known, too, since she’d threatened me with an obscene face tattoo if I didn’t come out.

For almost two weeks straight, I’d been swamped with school and cakes. I’d also started pouring over my financial books. The bank had been in contact quickly to tell me that my loan had been denied. I’d researched everything in hopes that there was an obvious cause but I hadn’t found any.

It was easy to not dwell on Jake ending things when I barely had time to think.

Can you end something that never even began?

Well, I didn’t dwell
too
much, at least.

When I’d gotten home that night, I was mentally drained and physically exhausted. Even still, I’d forced myself into the shower to wash away the smell of him. Skipping all of my usual nighttime routines, I’d collapsed into bed though sleep was hard to find. My mind wouldn’t settle as it replayed the night, once again filling in all of the things I should have said.

I’d wondered if he would try to clear the air again.

He hadn’t.

I wasn’t sure how the situation with Jake was going to affect things with the other guys. I’d hoped it wouldn’t, but knowing he was their boss, I’d understood if they didn’t want any weirdness.

That didn’t mean I’d like it.

My worry was for nothing. The guys texted and acted like nothing was different.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t say I did the same.

*******

The day after my epic crash and burn with Jake, Kase texted to invite me out with them. I was so swamped, I couldn’t have gone even if I wanted to.

For over a week, every time one of the guys invited me out, I used my schedule as a crutch. I was busy, definitely. But I could’ve found time if I tried hard enough.

After flopping on the bed one night, too exhausted to even pull the blanket up, I couldn’t fall asleep. Instead, I found myself wondering what the guys were up to. I hadn’t wanted everything with Jake to change things between me and them, but it had.

And I was the one responsible for the change.

Waking with the sun the next morning, I began baking a giant batch of donuts in three different flavors. I texted Kase when it reached a suitable time and asked him to come pick them up to take to work.

“Hey, these were on your porch,” he blurted out quickly as he handed me a giant vase of Stargazer Lilies.

I looked around for a card, but there was none. It wasn’t uncommon for me to get flowers from clients but I liked to know who sent them. Knowing that something I did made someone happy and that they appreciated it was a thrill that never lessened.

I took the flowers before handing him two big containers of donuts with instructions to freeze them at the shop. I also gave him a box to be eaten right away.

Since Kase seemed perpetually cheerful, I was surprised when he leaned against the open door frame and his expression turned serious.

“Jake’s being a real dick around the shop. Barking at everyone over stupid shit.”

“So it’s business as usual?” I joked.

“This is worse than Jake’s normal warm and snuggly personality. I don’t know what happened and I’m not asking you to share. All I know is you two looked tight at Jet’s. Next day you’re suddenly too busy to do anything and Jake’s a major prick.”

“I really have been busy.”

“I don’t doubt that. I’m just saying that there’s more to it. I know Jake can be a little… controlling.”

Yeah, and a hurricane is just a little windy.

“It’s not that, Kase.”

“But if there was something he said to make you end things or—”

“Honey, I appreciate this. I really do. But I’m not the one that ended things.”

“Jake did? Shit, we’d all just figured…” Kase shook his head. “Well, it doesn’t matter what we figured. Really?”

“Yup.”

His brows lowered. “What the hell is wrong with him?”

“Sometimes people just want different things. Doesn’t make either of us right or wrong.” I smiled up at him. “Now get going. I have cakes to bake.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Kase began walking off my porch towards his car before stopping. “Don’t think any of that means you can get rid of me and the guys.” Though his voice was teasing, I was pretty sure his words were more of a warning than a joke.

“Of course not. Hence the donuts. You’re still my boys.”

“Boys? Hell, woman, we’re men!” he yelled back as he got into his car and drove off with a wave.

*******

When Eli had texted to tattle on Kase for hoarding donuts and ask if I was coming out with them, I again declined. This time, though, it was because of my plans with Ray.

A Friday night with the boys would be a chill time.

I needed more than that.

Shaking off my kind of funk definitely called for getting decked out and partying with my girls.

Blowing off my last class of the day, I’d caught up on my baking before getting ready.

Using hot rollers and enough spray to be personally responsible for a sizeable hole in the ozone, I’d styled my hair in a wild tumble of curls. I went heavy on my eyeliner and mascara, but offset it with a simple nude gloss on my lips.

While my makeup had balance, my outfit was all-out. Pairing a black mini skirt with a fitted, dark purple, scoop neck top, I was showing more than a hint of leg
and
cleavage. I’d even dusted shimmer on my legs before putting on matching purple, strappy heeled sandals.

I felt good. I was ready to party.

Until I walked into the club.

It wasn’t anything against the place itself. Voodoo was kickass, and I wasn’t just saying that because I knew the owner and was best friends with his woman.

I was just in a rotten freakin’ mood.

“You can do this. Be normal for once,” I whispered to myself as I made my way around people. “Okay, not talking to yourself is probably the first step in being normal.”

I reached the bar and saw that Ray was already there with Marcy and Lily, two other tattoo artists from her all female studio.

Lily was a little taller than me and more rounded, with an angelic face framed by blond hair. Her innocent looks contradicted with her far from heavenly interests. She was constantly on the hunt for a partner that understood that. She also had rotten luck finding one.

Marcy was almost six feet tall with smooth brown skin that glowed, hypnotic light brown eyes, and a love of weaves in bright colors. She was also a self-proclaimed nerd with an anti-possession symbol tattooed around her bellybutton. She even dressed up as Star Trek’s Uhura for Halloween.

Every year.

Hugs and greetings were given, everyone talking over each other before Ray interrupted.

“Honey, there’s time for chatting later. Right now you need a drink.”

“That obvious?” I asked.

“Uh-huh. You look totally hot, of course. But if you climbed on the bar, not to dance but to sleep, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

“Yeah, it’s been a long few weeks.”

I hadn’t told Ray much about what had been happening. She knew there was a guy I dug, he didn’t end up being into me, and I was a bit bummed out.

Right after Jake halted things, I wasn’t ready to analyze and dissect everything with her. Once I’d made the decision a few days ago to put on my big girl panties and get over it, I didn’t feel like revisiting it all.

Jake and I were
kinda
friends on the way to
maybe
more. Things not working out was hardly a great romantic tragedy, even if the end was a bit of a fiasco.

The girls and I tossed back a couple shots and were already on our way to tipsy by the time we hit the dance floor. We danced, laughing and yelling over the music to talk.

“I’m getting thirsty. Anyone else want another drink?” Ray asked.

I opened my mouth to agree when I felt the hairs on my neck stand up, something that seemed to happen often.

“Hellooooo, handsome. Isn’t that Jake Hyde?” Marcy asked.

Of course. Seriously, of fuckin’ course it is. And next in will be Billy Mason with a new pair of sneakers for me to throw up on.

“Oh, damn. If I weren’t in Edge’s bar right now, I would say something very obscene regarding what I want to do to him, and which of his tattoos I want to lick,” Ray said with a laugh.

I didn’t bother to turn around to look. I figured that, based on his magical ability to know and see all, he’d already noticed me. I didn’t want to see him with what I assumed would soon be a harem of women flocking to him.

So I went with pretending he didn’t exist.

It wasn’t the most mature reaction, but it was the best one I could think of.

“Okay, eye candy gone,” Lily said. “Let’s go get a drink.”

We headed back to the bar, throwing back a shot as the bartender mixed up some fruity, but dangerous, concoction.

Wincing, I looked at Ray. “God, that tasted awful. Like ground up cinnamon potpourri and antifreeze. What was it?”

She opened her mouth to speak when her eyes went beyond me and a smile spread across her face.

I turned to see a familiar pair of sexy blue eyes looking down at me.

“Rhys!” I squealed in delight.

“If it isn’t my very favorite hot baker. Hey, darlin’.”

Ray looked between us. “You two know each other?”

“I had the great pleasure of eating Piper’s cookies.”

Am I just super horny, or did that sound filthy
?

“So good, I licked every crumb.”

Okay, yeah, totally filthy.

“I saw a show at Rye recently. I made him cookies to make up for the whole
law-breaking
thing,” I told Ray, using finger air quotes.

Her bottom lip jutted out in an exaggerated pout. “You didn’t make Edge cookies tonight. I want some cookies.”

“I’ll hop on that this week.” I turned back to Rhys. “What’re you doing at the competition?”

“Edge and I are old friends. We try to plan events that would draw similar crowds on different days. How do you know Ray?”

“Old friends. She did all my ink.”

“I knew it was quality when I saw it,” he said with a wink to Ray. “Let’s dance.”

“Well, I’m here with my girls, so—”

“Yes!” all three girls said behind me as they pushed me towards Rhys.