As we entered the long dark tunneled hallway, I heard Habits by Tove Lo thumping through the speakers and I choked back the bile I felt rising in my throat. I knew he would be there waiting for me, I knew he would be looking gorgeous like always, and I knew there was no way I would be able to resist him, not this time.
We turned a corner and followed Derrick past the private VIP tables. I should have known that Jamieson would have picked the most private table in the club. He wanted to talk and he wanted me secluded enough to accomplish that goal. He was sitting in the far corner of our private table. He stood as soon as he saw us approach. I met his gaze and it happened. I had hoped after all this time that the potency of our connection had lessened, but unfortunately I was wrong. If anything it was more, so much more.
The music around us faded away, all the people surrounding us disappeared and it was just us. His eyes scanned my body and I knew he was taking in my very tight lace dress. I could tell he appreciated it by the way the corners of his mouth tilted up slightly and I saw a flash of heat in his eyes. I continued to walk toward him slowly but deliberately as if he was pulling me closer to him. It had been a long time since I saw him last. I could see a touch of age around his eyes but he still looked as handsome as ever. Jamieson Wellington had always been the most handsome man in my eyes and tonight was no different. He had dressed in dark jeans and a dark blue and purple pinstriped button up shirt. I could tell the shirt was a luxury brand from the way the material shimmered ever so slightly in the dim club lights. His dirty blonde hair was perfectly styled showcasing his blue eyes that continued to bore holes into mine from across the table.
I knew Audrey and Olivia were behind me. I could hear them chatting with Derrick and greeting Julian. I was being rude ignoring everyone but I couldn’t break the connection with Jamieson, we were having our own silent discussion of sorts. I came to stand in front of him and I cast my eyes down toward the floor trying to shield myself from his intense scrutiny.
“Hello, Jenna. It’s been far too long, don’t you think?”
His cold sexy voice gave me chills. I forced myself to look up at him again. “Yes it has, Jamieson.”
He motioned for me to sit and I did.
“Drink?” he asked.
“Sure.”
He leaned forward to grab an already-made drink from the table and handed it to me. “I hope you still drink whiskey sours. I took the liberty of making sure you have an endless supply tonight.”
I took the glass and began sipping it. “Thank you.”
Jamieson leaned forward and grabbed what I assumed was his drink, a whiskey on the rocks no doubt. It is the only thing I had ever seen him drink.
“Well I guess congratulations are in order.” he stated with a dark tone to his voice. “When is the wedding?”
“A few months.” I replied between sips of my drink.
“Are you happy?”
His words hit me and I almost spit my drink all over my lap. Well I can see he is not going to beat around the bush.
“Yes we are.” I answered quickly hoping to end this line of questioning.
Jamieson leaned forward and set his drink down on the edge of the table. He then turned toward me and I saw his eyes were burning with anger. “Do not lie to me, Jenna.” Excuse me?
I allowed his anger to wash over me, soaking it up as fuel for my come back. I took a long sip of my drink for added courage. “Why are you here, Jamieson? I know this isn’t a friendly coincidence, things with you never are.”
“I think you know why I’m here.” He tells me with a hint of a smile playing across his lips.
“What are you talking about?” I was getting tired of his games already.
“So you have forgotten…interesting.” He clearly smiled at me now.
“You know that whatever you’re talking about doesn’t matter now, right? I’m engaged, as in I’m getting married.” I was frustrated.
Anger flashed in his face. “You may be engaged Jenna but you most certainly aren’t married—not yet.”
“Whatever.” I knew I could push harder and try to get him to confess why he was crashing my Bachelorette party but I also knew I wasn’t prepared to find out, so I left it alone.
I continued to sip my whiskey sour and stewed about Jamieson’s arrogant and angry behavior. I tried my best to ignore him and concentrate on the conversations around the table. Olivia was occupied, chatting to Julian about her recent trip to Milan. After graduating from Alabama State with a degree in advertising, she landed her dream job working for a fashion magazine. Olivia now had the horribly daunting job of traveling around the world to the biggest fashion shows selling advertising spots. She clearly hated it.
Derrick and Audrey were also bantering back and forth. Derrick was rousing Audrey about working for “the man.” Audrey had gone to law school with me at Vanderbilt. She was now working for the prosecuting attorney’s office in Huntsville. Audrey is brilliant at her job; she has a passion for the law and it clearly showed as I listened to her correct Derrick.
I couldn’t be prouder of my two best friends and all their accomplishments, but it made me sad thinking of my upcoming move. Cain had accepted a job at his family’s firm in Mobile, so after the wedding we were going to be moving. Cain comes from a long line of attorneys. In fact when his mother and father married their families’ firms merged creating a super firm of sorts. They had offices all over Alabama and his father was grooming him to take over the firm as he had accepted a judgeship in Montgomery.
I was drawn out of my thoughts when I felt a familiar hand on my wrist. I knew while I was ignoring him he was analyzing me. I could feel him staring at me. I was trying my best to be immune to his gaze, but his touch I never have been immune to.
I look up at his face through the darkness of the club but I could see he wasn’t looking at me but my hand, my left hand to be exact.
“Is this it?” he demanded, in a dark cold tone.
“Yes.” I choked out. I knew he disapproved of my simple engagement ring, but I thought it was beautiful. Cain had picked it out and surprised me at a fourth of July party. I wasn’t shocked when he proposed. With Cain there were no surprises; things were just easy with him, predictable I guess.
“I thought his family had money.” Holy freaking rude much.
I scoffed at his comment and snatched my hand away from his. “I think it’s beautiful.”
“It’s not right,” he continued.
That was the final straw. I quickly stood to escape to the bathroom, it was all too much. I couldn’t handle being close to him, him touching me, analyzing me and now clearly judging me.
I tried to make my way past Olivia but my dreaded song came on. Olivia and Audrey have been my friends since middle school and for as long as I could remember, Sir Mix-A-Lots I like Big Butts had been our anthem. Shitballs, there goes my exit plan.
Audrey and Olivia screamed in unison and stood up grabbing my arms dragging me to the dance floor.
We got to the middle of the dance floor and Olivia spun around facing me. “Okay spill it. What in the hell is he doing here?”
“I don’t know. I asked him but he wouldn’t tell me. He just said I knew why he was here, but I have no idea.”
“Well clearly he is here to see you.” Audrey stated the obvious.
“Okay, well I guess there is only one way to find out.” Livy turned to storm back toward the table but I stopped her.
“Liv just leave it. He won’t tell you and I’d rather just ignore it for now.” I pleaded.
“Fine, but if he pisses me off I’m going to drag it out of him.”
“Let’s just pretend he isn’t here, drink his booze and do what we came here to do… party!” Audrey exclaimed.
“Ladies follow me. I think we need shots.” Livy added.
Audrey and I followed behind Liv to the bar where she ordered our favorite shots, Washington red apples.