Releasing 10-31-13
It Will Rain
Two Weeks Prior…
For some strange
reason there are socially acceptable jokes made all the time about women being
late for dates, but there aren’t any for guys. Take my boyfriend, Jackson
Cruze, for example. He has a face like Channing Tatum, a body that David
Beckham would be envious over, and the time management skills of a well-trained
baboon. The guy couldn’t be on time if it saves his life.
I check my watch
again and sigh. Surely he wouldn’t forget to pick me up tonight? We’ve had this
date planned for our two-year anniversary for some time now. He’s not that big
of a jerk, is he?
I pull out my cell
and call my best friend, Max, while I wait. Like clockwork, he answers on the
second ring and I ask, “Where are you?”
Max laughs into
the phone while the sounds of a wild party fill in behind him. “I’m at Paulo’s.
Why aren’t you here? This is the biggest end of summer bash I’ve ever seen. You’ve
got to get your ass over here.”
Paulo’s has the
best Mexican food, drinks and DJs this side of the border. It’s one of my most
favorite places to hang out with my friends, and it sounds a whole lot better
than waiting on my date who’s already over an hour late.
I pick at my
nails. “I can’t. I’m waiting on Jackson.
It’s our anniversary.”
“Um, Holly, Jackson’s here.”
My nostrils flare
and my brow crinkles. “What?! Why is he there? He’s supposed to be here.” This
makes no sense.
“I’m not sure,
baby girl, but by the looks of him, he’s been here for a while.”
Un-freaking-believable.
“Is he drunk?”
There’s a bit of
rustling on Max’s end. “Judging by the number of beer cans piled on the table
and slight wobble in his stance, I’d say he’s hammered. Better forget tonight, Blondie,
and plan on reaming his ass for it tomorrow. Come over and hang out with me. I
miss you.”
I resist the urge
to chuck my cell out into the gravel parking lot in front of my house. Phones
are expensive, and I don’t have an extra penny to waste. “I’m not really
feeling up to it. I think I’m going to head on to bed.”
“All right. Love
you. Call me tomorrow. I want to know what excuse he feeds you this time,” Max
says.
He’s never been a
big fan of Jackson’s, and this little incident
certainly won’t help win Jackson
win any favor points. I can’t count the number of times Max has encouraged me
to break up with my boyfriend over the last two years.
“Sure thing. Good
night and have fun,” I tell him before ending the call.
I haul my ass out
of the old, white, rocking chair on the front porch and trudge up my stairs. I
can’t believe he forgot—I even reminded him today. You’d think after two years,
being together with me would mean something.
I close my bedroom
door and then fall onto my bed. The yellow sundress I bought special for
tonight becomes my blanket as I curl my legs inside it. Tears push their way
down my temples before landing in the long, mess of blonde hair spread across
my pillow. I can’t believe Jackson
did this to me.
Don’t I mean
anything to him? You don’t blow off people you love for a stupid party.
I know he’s not
been the best boyfriend in the world, but I didn’t expect for him to totally
blow me off like this. I know things have been rocky between us since I came
home from college this summer, but that’s one of the reasons I decided to stay
home this fall. To mend what a year away at school had broken.
I close my eyes,
feeling stupid for loving someone that obviously doesn’t love me back, and cry
myself to sleep.
The next thing I
know my shoulder is gently shaken, stirring me out of a deep sleep. “Holly.
Wake up.”
It’s Jackson, no doubt still
drunk off his ass and feeling guilty. I roll over and rub my eyes while trying
to make him out in the dark. “What time is it?”
“It’s nearly
five,” he whispers.
I sit up quickly.
“Are you out of your mind coming in here at this time of night? If my dad
catches you, he’ll kill you. How’d you get in here anyway?”
After blinking a
few times, my vision adjusts to the moonlit room. Jackson’s sitting on the edge of my bed with
his lips pulled into a tight line. I tense. I’ve seen that look before. It’s
the expression he wears when he’s nervous.
His polo shirt
hugs his toned body as he bends at the waist, resting his elbows on his knees
while he drops his head. “The front door was open, so I let myself in.”
I sigh heavily.
“Really, Jackson,
this can’t wait until the morning? I know you’re sorry for standing me up. I
forgive you for that. People make mistakes.”
He turns toward me
and grabs my hand. “You don’t know how glad I am to hear you say that. I don’t
want you to hate me.”
I don’t like the
way I can sense desperation on him as he’s touching me. There’s something
wrong. I’ve known him long enough that I can just feel it. “Why are you here, Jackson? Did something
happen?”
Jackson runs his hand over his shaved head
and shoots his gaze down at the floor. “I didn’t mean to do it, Holl. You have
to believe me.”
I lean down trying
to catch his gaze, but it doesn’t work. He won’t look at me and this causes my
stomach to drop. “Didn’t mean to do what, Jackson?
You’re scaring me.”
He takes a deep
breath. He takes a deep breath. “I’ve been sleeping with someone else while you
were away at school, and well, I did it again tonight, so I figured it was time
you knew.”
My breath catches at the same time my heart
crumbles in my chest. I clutch my throat. There’s no air and I can’t breathe.
One word keeps assaulting my mind. “Why?”
“Because I don’t
think I love you anymore. If I’m being honest, I don’t believe I have for a while
now. We’ve grown apart Holly and I want to date other people.” His words are
barely a whisper, but he might as well be screaming them at me.
Hot tears pour
down my face as I toss his hand aside. “Get out.”
Jackson stands and shoves his hands deep in his
jean pockets. “I’m sorry, Holl. I’ve wanted to tell you for a while now, but
I—”
I cover my ears. I
don’t want to hear anything else he has to say. He’s already said enough. “Get
Out!”
The sound of me
shouting must’ve been loud enough to wake my dad in his bedroom downstairs.
Footsteps pound up the steps and my father comes bursting in the door with a
baseball bat in hand. Panic wells in my father’s eyes until he spots my
boyfriend in my room, then his expression turns from fear to anger. Before Dad
has a chance to scold Jackson
for being in my room, Jackson runs out of my door and out of my heart for good.
Chapter 1
Closer
Holly
I lay on my bed
staring up at the ceiling. It’s been two weeks since Jackson dumped me. Two weeks since my heart
was obliterated. Two weeks since I basically stopped living my life. For the
last two years Jackson
has been my world. Without him I’m not even sure how to carry on.
A loud pounding on
my bedroom door makes me jump. “Blondie, I know you’re in there. Get decent,
because I’m coming in.”
“Max…” I whine.
“Go away. I don’t want to see anybody.”
The door flies
open and my best friend, Max, comes barreling through. He marches over to my
bed and grabs my wrist, tugging me to sit up. “Jeesh, Holly, this is pathetic.
Get your cute, little ass up. We’re getting you out of this house. It’s been
two weeks.”
I groan and try to
fling myself back onto my pillow, but Max’s hold won’t allow it. “Oh, no. No
more lying in this dark room, depressed over a man that’s good riddance as far
as I’m concerned. You, missy, are going out and rejoining the land of the
living, whether you like it or not.”
I try to protest,
but Max grabs my arm and leg and hoists me over his broad shoulders. “No, Max.
Please.”
He sighs. “Holly,
this is for your own good. I’m tired of seeing you waste your energy on Jackson
Cruze. He’s an asshole, and I’m glad you aren’t with him anymore.”
“But, I love him,
Max. I don’t know how to live my life without him,” I argue as Max carries me
down the hall towards the bathroom.
Once we’re in the
bathroom, Max sets me down and turns on the shower before facing me. “You need
to find new happiness without him. It’s over between the two of you. I’ve
already seen him with other women. Trust me, he’s not pinning away over you.
It’s time to move on.”
Tears burn my eyes
of how little I actually meant to him. “He’s dating already?”
Max nods and
places his hands on my shoulders. “It’s time for you to get back out there too.
Now get your skanky ass a shower and get ready. I’m taking you to a club.”
A couple hours
later I find myself downtown with Max. It’s 90’s
Nite in one of the hottest clubs in town, and I love to dance and drink.
It’s the perfect combination to wipe away the memories of a man that’s done me
wrong.
I glance around
and survey all the men in place. Why are all the really hot men either gay or
taken? I swear there’s one decent man left in Tucson. Thank God my best friend is with me.
I have terrible gaydar.
“I told you this
would be great,” Max yells over the music as he dances with me to the beat of a
Roxette song blaring through the
speakers. “You’ll be saying, ‘Jackson
who?’ by the time we leave this heavenly bar filled with hot men.”
I giggle and take
another sip of my Sex on the Beach—compliments of Max and my fake ID. “This is
a great idea—nothing like celebrating your birthday two weeks after getting
dumped by the biggest jackass in the state.”
Max laughs and his
brown hair falls over the corner of his left eye before he takes me by the hand
ready to spin me. “That was the best thing that ever happened to you, Holly.
Trust me. He didn’t appreciate what he had.” He raises his glass of soda.
“Here’s to a new start in your twenties, may they be better than your teen
years.”
“I’ll drink to
that!” A tingle erupts in my hands, signaling I’ve nearly hit my limit, but I’m
not about to let this yummy drink go to waste. Plus, it’s hot in here. I down
the last of it and hand Max the glass. “One more?” I give him the best pleading
puppy-dog eyes I can manage.
I’m not ready to
stop having fun yet. It’s nice to not have to think about Jackson for a change and just have fun with
my friend.
He sighs. “One
more and that’s it. And it’s only because you’re finally smiling for once in
the last two weeks, but we’re leaving while you can still walk out of here.”
I throw my arms
around his neck, leaning up on my tiptoes and kiss his cheek. “Thanks, Max.
You’re the bestest friend and designated driver a girl could ever have.”
He laughs.
“Remember how much you love me when you’re praying to the porcelain god in the
morning and cursing me for letting you drink so much.”
“Deal,” I say as I
release him and go back to rocking my hips to the beat.
I fling my hair
from side to side and sing along to the song, dancing like I’m alone in my
bedroom instead of at a crowded bar. Normally, I’m reserved, but tonight I’m
cutting loose and living up being single. I need a break from my straight-laced
life.
Half way into the
song, a body presses up against my back, dancing in time with me. That didn’t take long. I tug the bottom
of my little, black dress down around my thighs. The dang thing rides up every
time I move and it’s getting on my last nerve.
The music pumps
all around me and the faceless stranger while the amount of alcohol I’ve
consumed has my head swimming. I close my eyes and lean my head back against
the hard chest behind me and breathe in the spicy scent of men’s cologne. He
smells mouth-watering, and I just pray that when I turn around he’s as hot as
I’m imagining.
The song changes
and our bodies move in sync to the erotic beat of Closer by Nine Inch Nails.
Trent Reznor’s voice growling through the speakers about fucking causes a
strange surge of arousal to come over me.
The guy behind me
feels it too. Our dance turns slow and sensual as he grinds himself into my
ass. His hands run down my bare arms then rest on my hips. He jerks me against
him even tighter and brushes my hair to the side. I should stop him, but it’s
been so long since I’ve been touched like this, I don’t want it to end. I like
it too much. The feel of his nose gliding against my neck causes my mouth to
drift open and I allow myself to enjoy his close proximity.
“I want to fuck
you,” the stranger growls in my ear before biting my earlobe.
Normally, this guy
would be getting a fist to the face right about now, but because it feels
amazing to have someone want me, plus I’ve been drinking, I’m going to allow
it—if he’s cute, that is.
Hell, if he’s as
hot as he sounds, I might just drag him into an empty bathroom stall and let
him do exactly what he wants with my body.
I turn slowly, my
eyes closed, praying to the hotness gods to take pity on me. My gaze lands on a toned chest wearing a
tight, black t-shirt, with both of his arms covered in intricate tattoos. Good
so far. My eyes travel further up and I take in the light beard on his face
covering his strong jaw-line before my gaze locks on his bright green eyes. The
dark hair on his head is shaggy and wild, just like the look in his eyes.
Not only is he hot,
and this may be just the booze talking, but he’s beautiful too. He could be
possibly the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. I lick my lips and allow him to
tighten his grip on my hips and mash me against his body even harder. My
fingers dart out and run down his pecs before I wrap them around his neck and
allow him to rock my body to the sensual beat of the song.
The devilish smirk
he wears draws my attention to his mouth. No man should have lips that
inviting, and I bite my own to keep them from attacking his. This man would be
the perfect fling to take my mind off Jackson.
I’m sure an hour alone with him would make me forget how pathetic I’ve been,
pinning over a man who no longer wants me.
The beautiful
stranger notices the expression on my face and, without asking permission, he
leans downs and presses his lips to mine. I close my eyes and allow his greedy
tongue entrance into my mouth. Every inch of my body comes alive and goose
bumps erupt from my flesh as I open myself up to him.
I could do this
all night—wait scratch that—I want to
do more than this all night with him, not even caring that I don’t know his
name. Isn’t the second person you sleep with supposed to be the complete
opposite of the first? Where I’d known Jackson practically my entire life, this
guy is a total stranger who seems very capable of surprising me then walking
out of my life forever.
He pulls away and
leans his forehead against mine. “Come home with me.” My heart thunders in my
chest as his tongue darts out and licks my lips before my drunken brain even
has time to process his request. “I promise you’ll love the way I fuck you.”
I sigh heavily. If
his kissing skills are any indication of what sleeping with him will be like, I
have no doubt I’ll love it. This is exactly what I need.
Just as I’m ready
to agree, I’m jerked away, and the stranger furrows his brow, watching as I’m
tugged through the crowd. Once I’m out of the hot guy’s line of sight, I turn
to Max, who has taken it upon himself to pull me away from a guy I was about
ready to leave with.
I jerk my arm
away. “What the hell are you doing?”
Max stops in his
tracks, and I stagger and fall into his six-foot frame. “I’m saving your ass.”
I throw my hands
on my hips. “My ass didn’t need saving, it needs to get laid.”
Max laughs and
shakes his head. “Yeah, you probably do need that. You’ve been extra bitchy
lately.”
“Hey.” I smack his
arm.
He wraps his arms
around my shoulders and leads me up the steps to reach the bar overlooking the
dance floor. Once we’re up there he turns us around so we can watch the people
dancing. “When you give up your cookie again, don’t give it to a guy like
that.”
My eyes search the
crowd until they land on the beautiful stranger I was just dancing with who now
has that magical tongue in some blonde bimbo’s mouth. I roll my eyes and wish
my short legs were long enough to reach up and kick my own ass. “I’m such an
idiot. Thanks, Max.”
Max squeezes my
shoulder. “Of course, what are friends for? You’re too good for a guy like
that. Don’t ever date another tattooed, biker jerk like Jackson. They don’t understand how special
you are.”
I sigh and lean my
head on Max’s shoulder. “Why can’t you be straight? You’re the perfect man for
me.”
He chuckles beside
me. “My life would be a whole lot easier if I was. Come on. Let’s get your
drunk-ass home before I have to peel you off another huge mistake with a
penis.”
We turn and leave the club. Once outside, and away
from the sexy man who had me ready to chuck everything I stand for in order to
have one sinful night, I feel relieved. I have no idea how this guy had so much
power over me, but at least I never have to see him again. Too much time alone
with a man like him would have me breaking every personal rule I’ve ever set
for myself. Thank God that’ll never happen. 
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