The Strings Attached

Chapter 39 - Jace

"James proposed, what was it, about three months ago."

"Your ring is so beautiful," Loni says.

"Thank goodness I found myself a man with such good taste." Kim leans over, planting a kiss on his cheek, but before she can pull away, he grabs her chin and pulls their lips together.

Loni glances up at me but her smile fades. She mouths "you okay?" But I can't even muster up a nod. I'm not looking at her. I'm watching the two of them, kissing, acting all loving. And I can feel Loni's eyes burn a hole into my neck.

I hate that she has to see me this way. I'm embarrassed by my own behavior, but I can't help it. I can't stop the rage from building up inside me.

A phone ringing is what pulls me out of my daze.

"Excuse me," dad says, wiping the corners of his mouth with his cloth napkin before getting up from the table.

The phone rings and rings and he doesn't answer it until he is out of sight. An act that's all too familiar to me. Waiting to answer the phone until he is out of earshot. He's still the same son of a bitch he's always been.

And his poor fiancé. Sitting at the dinner table, admiring her ring, without a clue in the world about her future husband's adulterous acts.

"I'll be right back," I mumble into Loni's ear.

Heavy feet propel me through the living room. Where the fuck is he? I'm like an animal right now, stalking its prey. There's a white door just past the living room. From outside it, I can hear his voice. Hushed. Secretive.

I don't hesitate.

I fling the door open.

He flashes a glance at me. In a hushed tone, he says, "We will meet up tomorrow. I have to go." He hangs up.

Fucking hell, this is bringing up too many memories I tried so hard to suppress.

"Jace, what's up?"

"You fucking bastard." I slam the door closed behind me and confusion washes over his face. "What the fuck is wrong with you? What the fuck—" I can't control the words flying out of my mouth.

My mother would roll over in her grave if she could see this right now. If she could see my father doing this shit all over again.

He backs up until the big wooden desk in the middle of the room prevents him from taking another step.

"Have you learned fucking nothing?" I snarl stepping closer. "How could you do this to that poor woman out there? Your fiancé?" My blood runs hot under my skin and my jaw aches. I can feel the vein on the side of my neck throb with rage.

He licks his chapped lips. Unable to find the words to defend himself.

"You will never change. You can't even go one night without calling one of your whores. You are so pathetic it's disgusting. Does Kim know what you're doing? Hm? Does she know that you are, and will always be, a cheating no-good son of a bitch?"

A hand grabs my throat and my body slams against the filled bookcase behind me.

"Don't you dare!" He says through gritted teeth. He shoves my head back against the bookcase but loosens his grip when a few books tumble down. "Don't you dare talk to me like that." His brown eyes are glossy and his expression is filled with hurt. "You don't know me at all. You don't."

"I do know you."

"No," His hand tightens, constricting my breathing for a moment before he releases me completely. But he still boxes me in.