The Mighty Storm (64 page)

I don
’
t think I
’
ve ever seen him so angry.

Momentarily stunned, I falter, but then I very quickly come back to life.

Turning on the spot, I state, “No, I won
’
t bloody stop and listen to you because I
’
m not interested in a damn thing you have to say!” I curse the betrayal my voice does when it quivers slightly.

“
Jesus fuckin
’
Christ woman!” he growls. “You
’
re so stubborn! And you will listen to me if I have to tie you to that fuckin
’
chair, to do so!” He jabs a finger in the direction of the seat my ass just graced moments ago. “And I will keep on saying this until you hear me
–
I
did not
have sex with that girl, and I most certainly did n
ot
have an affair with her! I fuckin
’
love you, Tru! More than life itself! I would never do that to you! Now are you hearing any of this yet?!” He lifts his hands to his head in frustration.
“
Is any of this
getting through to
your stubborn ass brain?!”

He looks so angry and frustrated, and lost.

But then so am I.

I fold my arms across my chest. “Words, Jake. That
’
s all they are. I believe in facts, statistics and logic.” I
’
m throwing words at him, trying to confuse him, or maybe me, I
’
m not sure, all I do know is right now I sound like Vicky.

“
What?!” he seethes, jaw clenched, brow furrowed.

“
I believe what I saw!”

“
No, you believe what you think you saw!”

“
Are you telling me I didn
’
t walk in on you in bed with her?”

“
No, I just
–”

“
So then I saw right.”

“
NO!”

“
YES!” I wrap my hand around my ponytail, tugging on it hard, like the ache of that will take all of my anger and frustrations away.

“
Nothing you can say or do will change my mind on this,” I continue in a low, firm tone. “I believe what I saw
–
now if you
’
re quite done I
’
m going back to my room.”

I step back, but he stops me with his words.

“
I
’
m not done.” He sounds so authoritative, so angry, that I pale and I literally can
’
t move.

He stalks around the table, coming close to me. His anger is radiating and it makes me want to step back, but I fight the urge.

“
I won
’
t give up until you believe me, Tru,” he says low, leaning into my face. “I won
’
t stop fighting for you
–
for us. I want you back and I
wi
ll keep on trying, with whatever methods I can, until you believe that I
’
m telling you the truth
–
that you forgive me for letting you down with the drugs, and that I have you back in my life again.”

Giving me one last determined stare, he turns abruptly and stalks out of the restaurant, leaving me trembling to the core, and alone with the stares of the waiting staff who were just witness to our fight.

Wrapping my arms around my chest, my face burning, I bite back tears, and on unsteady feet I quickly leave the restaurant heading straight for my room.

I
’
m shopping in Macy’s with Simone. Well Simone
’
s shopping, and I
’
m just trailing around behind her.

She found out about my fight with Jake and ordered that we were going out this afternoon shopping.

Even though I wasn
’
t in the mood, and would have been quite happy to hide in my suite until I had to show my face at the show tonight, I could tell Simone meant business. I
’
d pretty much lost any fight I had in me earlier from my fight with Jake, so I yielded.

I
’
m still reeling from it to be honest.

He
’
s not going to let me go. He
’
s never going to give up on us.

Yeah, well good luck with that buddy, because the more you push the further I
’
m going to pull away.

I think.

I don
’
t know.

Crap.

Jake has this innate way of being able to pull and tie up my strings like no one before, and when I
’
m around him I just seem to lose all sense and focus. And maybe a teeny tiny part of me wants to go back. But a bigger part of me
–
the humiliated, betrayed part of me doesn
’
t.

And for now, humiliated Tru is in control.

Simone is loaded up with clothes she potentially wants to buy. I
’
m so far gone into my own wallowing I can
’
t even begin to appreciate the pretty things surrounding me.

“
I
’
m going to try this stuff on. Keep me company?” Simone asks.

“
Sure.” It
’
s not like I
’
ve got anything better to do.

I follow Simone into the empty changing rooms and take a seat while she goes into the cubical to try clothes on.

“
What do you think?” she asks, coming out of the cubicle in a beautiful, fuchsia pink Miss Sixty dress a few minutes later.

My pretty-dress-spidey-sense finally shows up, and I
’
m instantly in love.

It
’
s sleeveless, high belted; which is studded, has a low hem and a scoop neck, with a raw-edged detail across the chest.

“
It
’
s gorgeous,” I murmur, wishing I
’
d been paying attention before now as I would have picked it up for myself. At least I know Simone will lend it to me if I want to wear it. Not that I feel like going out much nowadays.

“
I
’
d team it with those patent blue heels you
’
ve got there.” I nod in the direction of the pretty high-heeled shoes sitting on the floor.

“
You think?” She pushes her brows together. “I brought them in to try on with the black dress.”

“
Trust me,” I say. “Put them on and you
’
ll see.”

Shrugging, she slips her feet into the insanely high heels and looks at herself in the mirror.

“
Wow! You
’
re right,” she grins. “They do work together. Only problem is this outfit is on the wrong girl. No way could I pull this off, I
’
m too pale. This has you written all over it.”

“
Nah, it suits you just right.”

“
Try it on,” she encourages.

Even though I love the outfit, I
’
m just not in the mood to play dress up. I can
’
t get my mood past Jake.

“
I
’
m not in the mood to try clothes on.” I start to chew on my thumbnail.

“
So don
’
t try, just buy. We
’
re about the same size,” she says, assessing herself in the mirror again.

I snort. It
’
s not the most attractive sound.

“
We are!” She sounds defensive.

“
Yeah, except for that my ass is about ten times as big as yours is.”

“
No it
’
s not.” She gives me a disapproving look. “I guarantee this dress will fit you, so I
’
m telling you that you
a
re getting this dress and shoes if I have to pay for them myself. And you
’
re wearing them to the show tonight as well.”

“
Like hell I am!” I say my head snapping up. “I
’
m going to the show in my jeans and a T-shirt, comfortable flight clothes. I
’
m catching my flight straight after remember?”

“
You can change at the airport. You are going to that show looking your best, Tru.”

“
I
’
m not going to party, I
’
m working.”

“
And don
’
t people generally dress nice for work?”

“
Trash collectors don
’
t.”

“
Knock it off, Tru.” She comes over and sits beside me, in my soon to be owned outfit.

“
You
’
re hurting right now.” Her voice is soft, careful. “As to be expected. And the best way to help that hurt is to try to feel good about yourself. Put on a beautiful dress and a pair of killer heels, and yes, you may still feel crap on the inside, but on the outside you
’
ll look knock out, and that will be the one thing that will keep the smile plastered on your face for the night.” She nudges me with her shoulder, smiling.

“
Fine,” I huff. “I
’
ll wear the stupid dress.”

“
Good. And while I
’
m in an advice giving mood, can I give you another piece of advice?”

I turn my head, looking straight at her. “If it
’
s about Jake, then no.”

She gives me a no-nonsense look. “Talk to him, Tru. I
’
ve kept my opinion to myself on this, and I
’
ve done the supportive best friend bit, but now I
’
m telling you how it is
–
blanking Jake like this is no good for either of you.” She puts her hand on my forearm. “And you can blast me for it all you want, but … I believe him. I think he
’
s telling the truth. I don
’
t believe he had sex with that tramp. I think she
’
s just a gold-digging opportunistic little whore. And honestly, I can
’
t even begin to imagine how painful it was walking in and seeing him in bed with her like that … and yes, he absolutely let you down with the drugs,” she quickly adds, when I open my mouth to speak. “But you can
’
t go on like this. You need to talk to him. And honestly,” she sighs. “I think you know all of this too, but for some reason I can
’
t fathom, you won
’
t let him in to fix things. And it
’
s just not like you to be so unforgiving, Tru.”

I scruff the toe of my boot against the carpet. She
’
s skirting so close to the truth right now. Closer than I want.

“
Jake loves you, that is more than clear to see,” she goes on, “and I know you love him too. So you just need to talk to him and figure out a fix for the both of you.”

And because she
’
s so close to the truth I get angry.

I get to my feet, feeling a little more than vexed. “You
’
re supposed to be on my side here, Simone.”

“
I am on your side.” She stands too, facing me. “And that
’
s why I
’
m saying this. I hate seeing you hurting so badly when it can be so easily fixed. If you just talk to him, listen to what he has to say...” She puts her hands on my upper arms. “Honestly, babe, if I thought for one minute that he
’
d done the deed with the that little tramp, then I
’
d be winging your corner and kicking his ass to Hell and back … but I honestly don
’
t think he has,” she
’
s shaking her head. “He
’
s made mistakes, some big whooping ones, but not that
one
.”

Tears are welling in my eyes.

“
I
’
m not trying to upset you, honey.” She takes me into her arms, hugging me. “It just really needed saying.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, fighting the tears back.
“
I just can
’
t get that image of him in bed with her out of my head.” I bang my palm against forehead. “And honestly…” I bite my lip, cursing myself for finally saying this. “I just … well I just don
’
t think I
’
m cut out for all of this. I
’
m not cut out for his lifestyle
–
everything that comes with him.”