Testing Recipes for Disaster (Emberwood #2)

Chapter 34- Jeremy

M y hand was around the guy’s throat before the last word was out. His eyes widened in fear, and I leaned in close.

“Do not ever find her name in your fucking mouth again, or they will have to wire your jaw shut when I’m done.”

I shoved him hard, causing him to trip into one of the high tops around the dance floor, sputtering. I whirled around to find Lauren gone, and panic broke out across my skin.

“You good, J?” Caleb called above the din from the bar. I nodded and motioned that I’d leave, assuring him there wouldn’t be more of an issue.

Lauren’s bag wasn’t at our table, and I swore. I jogged to the exit, pulling out my phone to call her, when I caught the eye of someone staring at me. My next breath caught in my throat when I realized it was the owner of the bakery. The one I’d assured days ago that my previous assault charge was due to a youthful indiscretion, and I was now a productive member of society. The one who now saw me manhandle a guy in a bar.

She raised her brows at me in disbelief, and I shook my head to try to convey that I was sorry, but she was turning away and back to the other woman at her table.

Fuck. FUCK.

I didn’t have the brain space to think about how I’d ruined the only job opportunity I had because I still needed to find Laur.

I continued outside, now ready to call her, but I saw her tell-tale red hair on a bench down the sidewalk.

I approached slowly, hoping she hadn’t walked out because of my reaction. I hadn’t been in a fight in a long time, but I didn’t see a way for that guy to walk away without putting my hands on him.

Maybe that’s a you problem , I thought warily.

“Lauren,” I said softly, kneeling in front of her. “I can take you home. I’m sorry if my reaction freaked you out...”

She met my eyes, and her tears made my gut twist. Gently, I placed my hands on top of her thighs and made small circles with my fingertips.

“I left as soon as you stepped in front of me. Why, did you kill him?” she sniffed, rubbing her arms.

I huffed out a laugh and reached up to wipe away the tear clinging to her jaw.

“He’s alive, but I’ll assume he left through the side exit. Kind of a pussy, Laur. Not sure what you saw in him.” She let out a tight laugh. “Too soon?”

“Maybe only a little.”

“Here.” I slid my jacket off and put it around her shoulders. She looked like she might refuse it, but she was undeniably cold in that dress. “Can I drive you home?”

She shook her head, fresh tears welling up in her eyes as she looked away from my gaze.

“I can’t talk to you right now. I texted Christian to come get me.”

She tapped her phone screen on the bench next to her. I didn’t know why she didn’t want to talk to me, but I wasn’t going to cross any boundaries after what that asshole had said to her. I couldn’t imagine she was feeling great, and I wanted to fix it. Hell, I wasn’t feeling great either, and I wished someone was there to fix that, too. But I pushed the job I just kissed goodbye to the back of my mind.

“I’m not going to make you get in the car, Laur. But I do hope you change your mind. You didn’t do anything wrong. That was all on him. I’ll go sit on the other side of the bench, and if you reconsider, or if you want to talk, you tell me.”

I did exactly that and angled my body to make sure I’d know if she looked at me.

She only said she couldn’t talk to you.

I pulled my phone back out to tap out a message to Sam and then to Laur.

It took me a minute to think about how to approach our current situation. I didn’t know exactly what was happening in her head, but I got the feeling she was embarrassed, and I had to figure out how to make her see the situation for what it was, which was a guy being a dick because he couldn’t have her. It was very simple. For me, anyway.

JEREMY: For the record, I’m not worried that you’re going to fuck me over.

JEREMY: Well, that’s not entirely true.

She dragged her eyes from her phone over to meet mine. “Is this supposed to make me feel better?”

“I thought you weren’t talking to me?”

“I’m not, I’m exclaiming at you. You’re not allowed to talk back.” I nodded and went back to my phone.

JEREMY: I think you can absolutely wreck me if you want to. I guess, when I say I’m not worried about it, I mean that I can’t imagine a scenario where it isn’t worth it.

She sucked in a breath, but she didn’t look at me. This time, she texted back.

LAUR: How can you say that? Charlie was a dick, but was he wrong? I don’t know. Which makes it worse. It sucks to have your insecurities validated. Worse with an audience.

JEREMY: I am well versed in believing the worst about yourself, but Lauren, you know that guy was pissed because he had you and lost you. And you do know that I’m not new here, right?

LAUR: What do you mean?

JEREMY: We might not have been close, but I’ve at least been around for the last few guys you dated, and I watched guys fall over themselves for you in high school. I know your M.O., Laur, and I’m telling you, you’re worth the risk. I also think I’ve proven that I’m difficult to avoid indefinitely. You tried and failed. I’m far too charming. More than anything, my history is the one that’s a concern, not yours. I shouldn’t have put hands on him. I should have walked away.

The whole texting instead of talking thing was a benefit right then because my throat tightened when I thought about Delaney looking at me inside. Like I was kidding myself in thinking I’d grown up at all.

“I wish you weren’t trying to make me feel better. I am trying to come back to reality after living in a delusional little fantasy all day that my life is finally getting on track. This conversation is making that difficult.”

Air caught in my chest at her words. I hated that one asshole’s comment brought her here from how happy she was earlier.

“Am I allowed to talk now?”

“Fine.”

She’d angled her body towards me, and I felt like, in terms of body language, that was a good sign.

“You weren’t being delusional or living in a fantasy. You’re doing well , Laur. You kick ass at your job, your house is amazing, your boyfriend is kind of obsessed with you. His reputation leaves a little to be desired, but he’s all in with you.”

Her eyes fluttered closed. I couldn’t tell where her head was or how to proceed.

“Your reputation is fine, Jer. It’s mine that is apparently a problem. I just... I need some space to get my head straight.”

“Understood.”

I didn’t like that answer, but at least it made sense. I could use some space, too, to figure out where to go after fumbling this chance that had been right there . I got feeling like it was a pipe dream to outrun your former self. But that needed to wait until she was taken care of.

“Now, can I take you home? I swear I’ll be quiet if you want, but I’m freezing my balls off, and it doesn’t appear that Christian has texted you back.”

She sighed in resignation, stood, and walked past me toward the parking lot, leaving me to follow behind her.

Her phone buzzed as I unlocked the car, and she slid into the passenger seat. She relaxed noticeably in reading her text, and I was going to assume that my message to Sam had been received earlier.

“Sam’s headed to my place.”

“Good.”

“Thanks, Jer,” she added quietly, turning up the heat on her side.

“Anytime.”

It was quiet for the remainder of the drive, and she shrugged out of my jacket when I pulled into her complex.

“Can I walk you—”

“No.”

Hurt must have shown on my face because her expression softened.

“Not because of anything to do with you. If you walk me up, you will kiss me until I forget my own name, and I will have to start all over in dealing with this when my brain starts working again.”

I sighed. “Okay. I’ll watch from here like a stalker to make sure you get inside, and I’ll count on Sam to make sure you’re good. Can I call you tomorrow?”

“Yeah. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Night, Laur.”