The Beats in Rift (13 page)

We go to a small bistro a couple of shops down from Jay’s. I place our order, ignoring the obvious flirting of the young waitress as she invades my personal space while placing my cutlery in front of me. Beats notices too and sniggers at me.

“What’s funny?” I ask with a smirk.

“Oh, nothing. I just find it funny that the waitress rubbed up and down you while giving you your fork.”

“She has no shame. I’m here with another female and yet she still makes a play.”

“Maybe I should come and pee around you. Mark my territory,” she says, raising an eyebrow.

“You don’t need to go to those extremes. I know who I belong to.”

She stiffens and then fidgets with her napkin. “So, your Mom and Drew huh?” I ask, to take the awkwardness away.

“Yeah. It’s crazy. I never thought she would settle down and I never realized her and Drew ever had a thing. I kind of guessed when he took her in after she got evicted, and your Dad mentioned” Her head shakes like she’s clearing a memory a false smile sets in place “but marriage? I never saw it coming.”

“So, what happened with Justin, when I left?”

Her eyes flick up to mine and she shifts in her seat. “Your Father told him he caught us together. Didn’t Justin talk to you about all this?”

“He only asked if something went down with us. I told him no and then I didn’t hear from him until a month ago when he asked me if I was coming here for the wedding.”

“He told me you weren’t coming. That you’ve settled down with a girl and have no reason to want to come back here.”

“He played us. If you knew I was coming, would it have made a difference to the outcome that night?”

She sighs. “I got wasted because of what Justin said, so yeah I guess, maybe. God, this is a mess. I don’t even remember going back with Justin. How stupid was I? I guess I was lucky he took care of me. I can’t make excuses. I was reckless and could have ended up in a gutter somewhere. I’ve learned my lesson.”

I fight back the retort and venom wanting to strike out about him. I’m pissed at him. She was wrecked, but if she was so out of it, what the fuck was happening in Justin’s mind to still take her to his bed. How desperate to be with her was he?

“Rift, you’re grinding your teeth,” Beats tells me as the waitress places our plate of French toast in front of us.

“Enjoy, and if you need anything just let me know,” the waitress says, rubbing my shoulder.

Beats watches her leave. “Wow! I think you could probably do her over our table right now the way she was flirting.”

Hearing her say that has visions flooding my mind of me bending
her
over this table. Hmm, flipping that little sundress up, grabbing onto her fine ass and ramming into her sweet tight pu...

“Rift!”

I shift in my seat and sit forward to hide my growing erection. “What?”

Her eyes are wide. “You groaned.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t talk about me fucking someone over the table. You’re putting thoughts in my head.”

Her mouth drops open. “Wow, if you want to get her number or something, I’m sure she would oblige your fantasy, pervert.”

I grin big. “She wasn’t the one bent over the table in my fantasy.”

I relish in her innocence as the blush creeps over her cheeks. God, she’s beautiful. I missed her.

“Eat your food, Rift,” she tells me, her voice higher than it usually is. She’s still affected by me and that puts a huge smile on my face.

“Bloody hell. I thought Jay was screwing with me when he said you two came in here,” Drake says as we walk through the door of Jay’s. He charges Beats and pulls her into a bear hug. “Damn, you’re still ridiculously hot woman.” She smiles at him. “When are you going to dump the Jacobs boys and give someone else a chance?”

I punch his shoulder. “Hey, I hear you’re going to be a rock star. You’ll have a million girls, and then you can stop chasing mine.”

He grins and looks back at Beats. “Yeah, but she’s one in a million.”

“You’re not wrong. So we’re here to get her a new guitar.”

“Yeah, Jay told me. I’m glad you’re going to play again. I’d love to get together when I’m back in town and maybe talk about doing some writing together,” he tells Beats.

Her eyes nearly fall from her head. “Wow, I haven’t written in a while but I’d love that. I don’t live here anymore though, so I’ll have to give you my phone number so you can let me know when you’re back.”

His smile makes me want to kill him, hit her over the head, sling her over my shoulder and disappear with her to my man cave.

“Sounds good.”

I pick up the black Fender for her and tap her hands away from my card the whole time I pay for it. She accepts it with a promise she will never stop playing again.

By the time we get back to the hotel it’s past seven. “Movie and room service?” Beats asks, placing her new guitar on the bed.

“Sounds good. I think we have the last Die Hard film we need to watch.”

“Okay, good. I’m going to shower and change. You order food.” I trial her with my eyes as she goes into the bathroom before I pick the phone up and place our order of two burgers and fries.

When she comes out of the bathroom, her fruity scent from her shower wash invades my nose. God, she’s wearing little shorts and a tiny t shirt. “Are you trying to give me blue balls?”

Her face turns crimson and she looks down at herself. “Am I showing too much skin?”

I swallow. “No, you could never show too much. You’re beautiful.”

She tucks her hair behind her ear. “Thank you, but maybe this wasn’t a good idea, I’m pretty tired. Do you think we could maybe take a rain check on the film?”

I want to kick my own ass for being so bold and frightening her into pulling back from me.

“I’m sorry. Can’t we just rewind this conversation and pretend it didn’t happen?” I ask, optimistic.

“I’m tired, Rift. I had a wonderful time today and I love my guitar. Thank you.”

I take the hint that she needs space. I climb from the bed and cup her face, bringing my lips to her forehead. “Night Beats.”

I MANAGED TO avoid both Jacobs’s boys yesterday after spending the day with Jared the day before. All my feelings for him have become heightened. I need space, to reign in my emotions. I can’t spiral down that rabbit hole again; I’ll never find my way back. So I stayed away, despite his many attempts to see me. Today is the wedding and I’ll be forced to see them both.

I check out of the hotel and make my way over to Drew’s. The place is all decorated in ribbons and balloons for the reception.

“Nice of you to show up,” Mom says as I dump my suitcase behind the bar.

“Is there anything you need help with?” I ask, ignoring her bitter tone.

“No, everything’s ready now. Help would have been nice yesterday. Just get your dress on, the cars will be here in an hour.”

She’s walking around in her underwear, her hair pinned up with a few loose curls tracing her neckline. Her subtle make-up makes her look younger than her years.

“You look good, Mom.”

She stops pacing and looks over at me. “This is it for me, Meadow. I love him and I’ve changed into a better person because of him.”

We stand in silence for a few minutes before I turn to go get ready.

She picked my dress for the color; it’s violet like my eyes. Satin, sleeveless, tight and finishes a few inches above my knee. There’s a black ribbon fitted under my breasts, and despite the shortness, the dress looks good. I pin my hair up to match hers and apply some mascara and lip gloss. I slip on my black stilettoes and make my way downstairs.

“Oh, you look gorgeous,” Mom says, taking me in. I try not to gape at her giving me a compliment and store it away in my very few, good things she’s said about me folder. She’s wearing an A-line white wedding dress.

“So do you.”

“The cars are here,” Ellie informs us, and we make our way outside. It’s just me and Mom in the first car. I have no idea who the other cars are for.

We arrive at the town hall and I’m approached by Justin; he’s wearing a suit and looks handsome. His hair is neatly styled but I can’t help looking past him to Jared. I catch my breath when I see his wearing a suit, his hair a dishevelled mess giving him a rougher, sexy edge. God, he is so gorgeous.

“Meadow, we need to talk. You’ve been avoiding me. I’ve been going out of my fucking mind.”

I tear my eyes from Jared and look at Justin. “There’s nothing to talk about. You lied to me.”

He reaches for my hand. “I know, but I need to explain my reasons.”

Jared, Max and Maria all spot the scene Justin is creating and they quickly walk over to us.

“Justin, what’s going on? Who is she to you? I thought she was a one night stand of Max’s but I’m not stupid. You’ve been acting weird since that day.”

She grabs onto Justin’s arm and his head drops. “Meadow, are you going to talk to me?”

My eyes flick past him again to Jared. Justin notices my focus fall on his brother and he sighs. “I can never compete with him in can I, Meds?”

I reach up and hug him. I’m done arguing. He lied but God, this is the story of our lives. We love, lie and leave each other and we all hurt from it. I don’t know when I will ever see him again and I go with what my body wants and that’s to offer him a little comfort and in return gain some. The blonde’s hand falls from his arm. He embraces me and squeezes.

“I really missed you and it was good seeing you again but I’m going back home as soon as the wedding’s over, the same way I came. Single.”

That’s my way of letting him know there isn’t a choice to make. He has a girlfriend and Jared has his own life to get back to. I break away from him and see the blonde has stormed off. Jared has also vanished.

I go inside the building; there’s an impressive white marble staircase leading up to the wedding venue. A few of the wedding party are standing around, waiting. “Have you seen my Mom?” I ask Ellie.

“I think she’s downstairs. There’s a room allocated for the bride to wait in, I’ll show you.”

I follow her down, and she points to the door then goes back up the stairs. I go over to the room and open the door. The walls are painted cream. There’s a vanity table and a chair, a small window letting in the soft glow of the sun, and black railings in front of the window to prevent break-ins, reminding me of the window in Drew’s office at the bar.

“So, are you going to take him back after everything?”

I spin around to see Jared standing behind me.

“You didn’t lock the door,” he says.

He strides towards me, forcing me back against the railings of the window, his breath hitting my face as he speaks. “I heard him talking to our Dad, at the hotel, saying he’s going to leave that Stepford wife girl because he loves you, and then you were hugging him outside. Is he who you want, Beats? Does he make you feel the way I do? Does he make your heartbeat skitter, your body come alive by just being near him?” He places his fingers over my erratic pulse in my neck. “Does he make you heat up? Does he dampen those panties?” His other hand moves to my inner thigh. His finger brushes over my pussy and I hold my breath.You wanted it to be me in that bed, Beats. You wanted to feel my tongue on your body.” He brings his mouth to my neck and licks the sensitive spot below my ear.

“Oh, God,” I moan as he tilts my head back. He lifts my arms above my head.

“Hold on to the bars,” he growls into my ear.

“No,” I breathe back, but I comply and hold the bars anyway. He moves his lips down my neck, across my chest to the top of my breasts. He yanks my dress down slightly, exposing them. My breathing accelerates as my chest heaves towards his waiting mouth. He captures my nipple between his lips with a growl reverberating from his chest.

“No, stop. I can’t,” I weakly protest, while lifting my leg up his hip.

Jared’s eyes pierce mine with a lustful stare. We’re so close, my breasts on display for his devouring. His groin pushes between my legs.

“I can’t do this, the wedding starts soon,” I tell him, trying to get him to back off but he just grins and tugs my dress up to my hips. My breath catches and sparks ignite my skin, sending a pulse of heat through my body. I can’t help but lick my lips. Lifting my hips to his waist, my legs curl around him.

“Don’t move your fucking hands, Beats. Hold on.” Unbuttoning his trousers he releases his hard cock then rips away my panties with a quick tear. He lines himself up at my entrance and plunges straight into my wet heat. I let out a scream of pleasure; I’m so ready for him the entry doesn’t hurt. It’s tight and feels amazing.

Feeling him inside me floods my body with so many emotions it’s hard to breathe. He pulls back then thrusts back in. It’s hard to keep hold of the railings with the sheer power of his thrusts.

“Oh, God,” I moan as he continues to thrust in and out of me, his cock teasing the sensitive spot on my front inner wall with every stroke. His mouth captures a nipple, sucking hard, grazing his teeth over my tight bud. His fingers dig into my ass for leverage. “Rift, that feels so good,” I pant.

He steps backwards, taking my hips with him, arching me as his hands hold my lower back. “Don’t let go, Beats,” he commands as he steps back again.