The Strings Attached

Chapter 41 - Jace

"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.