Jace

"I can't fucking take it, man, I can't fucking take this bitch," Asher says as soon as he storms into my apartment. His hands run through his hair. He paces my floor before going into my kitchen, fishing a bottle of vodka out of my cabinet. "I'm gonna fucking— Argh!" Sweat coats his forehead and even the two big swings he takes from the bottle don't calm him down.

I stand from the couch and don't move. I can't. I mean what the fuck is going—

The front door flies open again.

"Don't you ever put your hands on me again!" Valerie barks, storming through my place like a damn hurricane.

"Woah," I snap, stepping in front of her, blocking her way to the kitchen. But she's tall and I'm not as intimidating and she's honestly pretty scary.

Her nostrils flare and I've never seen her face so red.

I still have no idea what the fuck is going on. Where the hell is Tyler? Why are they both coming to me right now? I don't need this. Not now. I have my own fucking drama. But it looks like I'm stuck in theirs now too.

"Get out of my way, Jace."

I don't move a muscle.

"Fuck you," Asher chides behind me.

"Fuck you," she spits back.

"Okay, Valerie, I think it's best that you leave now."

For a moment, she doesn't move. After her death glare, at both of us, she turns on her heels and storms out.

What the hell did I do? What the hell did he do?

I spin around to see a grinning Asher standing behind me.

"Explain yourself."

He rolls his eyes. "I can't fucking stand her. The girl knows no boundaries. She's not my girlfriend. I don't have to tiptoe around her feelings." He takes another drink.

"I'm still not getting an explanation here."

He sighs. "I had a girl over, in my room I might add, and that bitch walks right on in and has the nerve to start mouthing off at me."

"Where the hell was Tyler?"

"Fuck if I know," he answers, swallowing another sip. "I'm naked, balls deep in this chick, and she just walks in. Ridiculous. And she wouldn't leave. I'm yelling at her telling her to get the fuck out and she doesn't go." He puts the bottle down on the counter. A smile tugs at his lips like he's now actually finding amusement in all of this. I mean, it is kind of funny except for the part where everyone decided to involve me in this. "So I get out of bed, naked, walk over to her and tell her to get the fuck out."

"And then what?"

He walks over to the pantry and pulls out a bag of SunChips. "First," he says with a mouthful, crunching a few times before continuing, "she doesn't leave. And then, she looks at my dick and tells the chick in my bed how sorry she is that she has to endure the horrible sex I'm giving her. Which I wasn't. You know I wasn't. You know I'm fantastic in bed."

Okay, no I don't. I only know what I've heard women say. But I have heard that yes.

"So, I grab her arm and try to shove her out. Then she goes ballistic. Slaps me across the face. And now I'm here." He shoves a few chips in his mouth. Finally calm.

I shake my head with a laugh. "I wonder what story she's going to tell Ty."

"Fuck if I care." Wiping his hand across his mouth, he picks up the vodka and takes another swig. "Mind if I sleep on your couch tonight?"

"Fine," I laugh.

The front door opens again and my breath catches in my throat, preparing for round two of Valerie's wrath.

Kaden strolls in. Sweat soaks through his grey t-shirt and drips down his face, just getting back from the gym. I should have gone with him. Then I would have missed this who debacle.

"I got the mail," Kaden tells mell, pulling his headphone around his neck. "And this came for you."

A pale yellow envelope hangs from his fingers from he tosses it down on the table.

My mouth goes dry. Like I just swallowed a mouthful of sand. Drama, it just keeps on coming. I don't even need to see it closer to know what it is. My father's wedding invitation.

But, out of sheer curiosity, and the slight hope that I may be mistaken, I walk to the coffee table and snatch it up. I slide my finger under the flap and open it. Yellow flowers, the same shade as the envelope, cover the background of the tick card. In cursive reads:

Wedding Of

James Maxwell and Kimberly Dunham

There's also the address for the venue and a link to their wedding website. I don't read what it says though because I toss it back down on the table.

"You gonna go?" Kaden asks, walking up behind me.

I slump down on the couch. Resting my elbows on my knees and my chin on my hands. My dad tried reaching out after what happened on Thanksgiving, but I've been dodging him. I have nothing to say to him. Celebrating his wedding is the last thing I want to do.

I ignore Kaden's question and turn on the TV. I hear him sigh behind me, but I have no answer for him. I told them about what happened, the fight we had, so they should understand why I'm having a difficult time supporting him.

I need a distraction.

The best person I know for that is Loni.

I don't want sex. No, I just want her. Her voice, her smile, her laugh, her presence. I don't need anything else.

***

"That totally would've been a strike!"

"Sure, if it didn't end up in the gutter," I laugh.

Loni pouts her pink lips and slouches as she walks over to me. Her arms cross over her chest, pushing her breasts up. I swear she glances down at them and back up at me, trying to distract me and get me off of my two-strike streak.

"Watch and learn, pretty girl," I say with a teasing hiss into her ear.

Approaching the lane, I have to shake the image of her out of my mind because it is that distracting. On a breath, I release the ball. Strike! I throw my fist in the air in silent celebration.

Turning around, Loni stands there pouting again.

I love how she looks when she gets jealous. Innocent. Cute as hell.

"Maybe we can get you some bumpers," I mock in a childish voice. "I'll go ask the girl up front."

"No way!" She grabs my arm, pulling me against her. "I got this." Fake confidence coats her tone as she picks up her bright orange ball.

She straightens her back, challenging me for a moment before walking up to the lane. She glances over her shoulder, cocking a brow before turning back. Releasing the ball, she crouches down. Watching so closely as it spins over the slick surface.

One pin knocks down.

"Yes!" She jumps in the air, turning a couple of heads our way. Running over to me, she jumps into my arms. "Did you see that? Did you fucking see that?"

"Amazing!"

It really is considering it's her seventh try and that's the first pin she knocked down.

"Let me down," She taps my shoulder with her palm. "I need to go again."

"Not yet." I need this. I need her in my arms and her breath on my face.

She dips her head down and plants a soft kiss on my lips. I don't release her. Kissing her feels too damn good and I need this. A smile pulls on my lips as I kiss her. My hand grabs her ass through her jeans, earning me a little yelp from her throat.

"People are looking."

I don't care.

She's mine. Whatever she says to deny it, I don't care. Loni Davis is all mine. Strings or no strings.

Throughout my life, I never knew I would be able to feel this way. Never experiencing these feelings, I thought I would never get the chance. But here I am. Falling head over heels for this girl.

The part that hurts though, is that she doesn't feel the same. And if she does, will she tell me? I can't tell her how I feel. She'd run for the fucking hills. This whole arrangement was my plan, I can't fuck this up, I can't lose her. Just the thought of not having her in my life makes me sick. It makes my bones ache. Everything seems dull without her.

So, I settle for kisses, hookups, and denying my feelings. It's better than nothing.