Ben’s had a faraway look in his eyes when he shrugged. “I was too busy to notice…the dude was gone and I don’t remember seeing him around after that. Jonny was around.”
“Did you ever see that guy before? It's real important, Ben!” Jake didn't blink as he watched him.
“Yeah, that's what I was trying to remember ’cause he looked familiar. I think he might’ve been that dude who started shit with the redhead you were with a while back.”
Jake smashed his fist onto the counter top. “Fuckin knew it!” Realizing people were streaming in, he struggled to control himself and lowered his voice. “Was he the one I fucked up?”
“Yeah, yeah, that's the one! I was hanging out in the back right there when it went down. Everyone was talking about it for days!” He paused to scrutinize him briefly, then frowned. “You don't think he had anything to do with it, do ya? He could never take on Ray, man.”
Jake's head was spinning. It all made sense now. “Maybe, I don't know.” He closed his eyes, forcing his thoughts back to the details in the police report. “Whoever did it snuck up on him with a pipe or something like that and smashed his skull in. Some fucking coward.”
Customers were converging on the bar, laughter and loud voices filling the air. It was time to get started.
Ben looked surprised as he turned away.
“Thanks, man, you've been a big help.” Jake gave him a reassuring pat on his shoulder. Ben smiled, ready to go to his station at the other end of the bar, when Jake hugged him to get closer to his ear. “Hey, don't mention this to anyone, especially Jonny, okay?”
The urge to talk to Kristen was suffocating Jake. It took a few minutes and intense effort to lose himself in the music and the increasing flurry of activity. Looking around woefully, he took a long, deep, painful breath.
SUNDAY
The nightmares were starting again. This time it was with Ray, his head bathed in blood. Kristen was running away. There were horrible screams. The rest was blurry.
Jake jumped up, his body soaked in sweat. It was raining. As the sound of his loud panting decreased, he could hear the raindrops pattering against the window pane. The room was dark, but it was 2:00 p.m.
Staggering to take a look outside, a wave of dizziness caught him off guard. The memory of too many beers flooded in. Stretching to crack his back, he stumbled off to the bathroom. A rustling noise by the hallway closet caught his attention. The light streamed in—Tia was crouched on the floor, busy doing something, her long, dark hair concealing her face. Getting closer, he could see Kristen's stuff strewn around her. He didn't say a word, but she felt his presence above her.
“Jake!” She dropped a blouse, leaping to her feet. With her eyes wide and a sweet smile spread across her face, she reached for him.
“What the hell are you doing, Tia?”
Inching back nervously, she fluttered her lashes.
“I asked you a question!” his voice boomed, the anger rising in his face.
“Nothing! Oh my God, why do you still make such a big deal about her?” Seeing the rage building in him, her eyes widened, then softened quickly. Her hand fell to his arm, attempting a caress.
Jerking his arm out of reach, he stiffened. “It's none of your goddamn business.” On the verge of losing his temper, he refrained himself from shoving her away, releasing his pent-up frustration on the pile of clothes instead. A sudden rough kick sent some of them sailing back into the closet, the rest landing by his feet. Momentarily satisfied, he stepped back to inspect the mess.
“I'm sorry, Jake, I didn't mean anything.”
He detected a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Turning to look at her, he fought the urge to grab her arms and shake her. “I'm taking a shower. Lock the door when you leave.”
“What? Come on, Jake, I thought we'd spend the day together!” She followed him. The bathroom door slammed in her face. He locked it.
“Fuck you then!” she yelled, punching the door before she stomped back to the bed.
He wasn't happy—she was still sitting there when he came out of the bathroom with a towel tied around his waist.
“Tia, why are you still here?”
She crept closer, like a panther seeking its prey. “You didn't really mean it, did you?”
Jake looked at her, trying not to let her beauty hypnotize him.
She’s bad news I definitely don't need.
Averting her eyes, he stood firm, an unimpressed look on his face. “Yeah, I did mean it, Tia. I don't appreciate you invading my privacy.”
She grinned. “Really? You didn't mind when I invaded it last night.”
“Thanks for that.” He raised his eyebrows, grinning for a moment before becoming serious and cold again. “Get dressed and go home, Tia.”
“If that's what you really want.” She slid behind him, her warm, soft skin mingling with his, her arms around his waist.
He thought about it quickly, wanting to feel something, even if it was uncontrollable anger, but there was only numbness. “Okay, I'll do you a favor and screw you one more time first.”
Maybe it was the wrong decision, but it was the only one he was capable of making. Without stressing further, he took a deep breath and pushed her back on the bed.
KRISTEN/LOGAN
The late afternoon sun felt good on Kristen’s bare skin. It felt even better to finally sit down after hours of shopping. He'd bought her tons of maternity clothes that she probably would never wear, and a bunch of baby stuff. Even though he was exerting a major effort to appease her, she was uneasy. Somewhere in her subconscious she sensed it was all an act.
She was on her second raspberry iced tea, Logan on his third beer. He reached over, putting his hand gently on her knee, his eyes soft and glassy. She could tell he was already wasted and frowned.
The cafe patio overlooking the beach began filling up with jubilant beachgoers and tourists. A crowd of rowdy college kids paraded past them, the girls with mile-long tanned legs in cut-off short shorts. Logan was busy drooling as they strutted past their table.
A text alert on her phone startled her. Sneaking a peek at Logan, she discreetly took it out of her bag. Her eyes flashed in surprise. When she recovered, she looked back at Logan, confirming he was oblivious. “I'm going to the bathroom.” He gave her a feeble nod, his eyes still following the girls.
It was a text with an attachment from Jake. She couldn't believe her hands still shook every time she saw his name. Opening it, her eyes almost bugged out of her head at the sight of Tia's smiling face, Jake right next to her. They were cuddling in his bed, their bare chests exposed, the rest of their bodies hidden under the sheets.
“I can't believe him!” Grabbing the countertop to keep from falling, she quickly swiped away the tears flooding her face. A couple of women burst through the door, seeking the mirror. Wobbling into a stall, Kristen sank down to the floor, stifling her sobs with her fists.
Why would he rub this in my face?
Her finger hovered over the delete button, then froze. She stared at his face, he was obviously stoned, but still so hot. Was he happy? She couldn't tell, his hazy eyes looked vacant, almost dead. At that moment she felt a burning hate for Tia, which was terrifying. Blinking, she dropped the phone in her bag and went to the sink to splash her face with cold water. Someday Jake would be sorry for this, but she wasn't sure how.