Reject Me (Kin #5)(10)
Author: Jennifer Foor

“I hate that you know what I’m goin’ to say before I say it, Pey. Sometimes that whole twin thing ain’t what it’s cracked up to be.”

“I appreciate you lettin’ me crash here, but tomorrow I think I’m goin’ to go back to Shayne and Ashley’s house. I need to face the music and deal with whatever is next in my life.”

He rubbed my head, as if I were a dog. Immediately I pulled away from it. “It will all be okay. Once you meet the next guy, you’ll forget all about Jamey and his douche hair cut.”

I should have rolled my eyes at his comment, or said something witty to reply, but instead I just stared at my brother. “That’s it.”

“What’s it?” He asked.

“I know what I have to do to get him back.”

“Whatever you’re thinkin’ it’s probably a terrible idea.” His tone changed to being concerned.

“I’m just goin’ to go home tonight.” I leaned over and kissed him. “Tell your girlfriend I said hi.”

He followed me out to the hallway. “Seriously, Peyton, what are you up to?”

“I’m goin’ to prove to everyone that Jamey loves me. Watch and learn, brother.”

Determined that my plan would work, I set out on the long road home. My idea had to work, because my happiness depended on it.

Chapter 6

Jamey

She was driving me crazy, but I wasn’t going to let her know it. If Peyton thought her head games were going to make me beg, she had another thing coming.

After our latest bouts of texts I was fuming, but I was at work and couldn’t get away to do anything about it.

My first inclination was to drive to her brother’s house and stir up some shit, because I knew he was behind this decision of hers. Peyton wouldn’t walk away from me without a good reason. Since I knew I hadn’t f**ked up in anyway lately, she didn’t have a reason to get on my case and walk out like she had. If she wanted to start shit, I was prepared to give her a reason to regret it.

I spotted Ang and her cousin walking into the diner. She gave me a dirty look as they sat down, and I made sure the other server knew that I’d be taking care of them before I made my way over. “What’s up guys? You hungry or did you just come here to see me?” I geared the last part for only Ang. She shook her head and looked at the menu instead of answering the question. “I’ll have a order of cheese fries, with ranch on the side.” She handed me back the menu without looking up.

“You want something to drink?”

I saw those eyes looking right at me. “Why, so you can spit in it? I’d rather die of thirst.” That New Jersey accent still got to me.

“Fine. What are you havin’ buddy?”

“Give me the usual. I want the burger medium, and put gravy on the fries. You can bring out two cokes. If this bitch doesn’t want it, I’ll drink both.” She handed me his menu while she crossed her arms and huffed over his comment.

I walked to the back to make the drinks and put the orders in, but couldn’t help wonder if Ang would come around. If Peyton wanted to play the sad puppy and end things with me, it only meant that I was in the market for someone new to bide my time. Since I already knew she was a good time, Ang would be the perfect solution. Besides, she was only visiting, and wouldn’t expect anything but a good time while she was around.

I focused on her movements, watching her as I waited on several tables. When I took them their drinks, she refused again to look at me. I smiled just the same, knowing that her attempts were only going to make me try harder.

Once the food came out, I asked someone to fill in for me while I took a short break. I sat her fries down on the table and slid into the booth beside her. “So what’s new? You guys goin’ out anywhere tonight? You feel like ridin’ to the beach, Ang?”

That got her attention. She turned to face me and shook her head. “Some things never change, do they, Jamey?”

I popped one of her fries into my mouth. “Not really.”

“You’re pathetic. You’ve got a girlfriend at home, but you’re sitting here hitting on me.”

“We broke up.” I said it without feeling, not because I didn’t care, but because I was playing the part. Had it been my mother I may have given her a different reply. For the most part I was just trying to fill an empty spot in my bed, with one main purpose of showing Peyton that two could play her game.

“Really? I didn’t know you were officially calling yourself a couple.”

“Whatever. I get off in two hours. If you want to have some fun, meet me out back.”

I left the check on the table, shook hands with my buddy and walked away without giving her a single glance. She could only play hard to get for so long before she gave in like every other woman. I’d rocked her world the first time we were together, and I was willing to do it again if she let me. Getting Peyton out of my system wasn’t going to be easy, and I still wasn’t sure if I was ready to just let her go, but for now, Ang could satisfy my hunger.

Two hours later I clocked out and walked outside to an empty parking lot. I stood there laughing to myself about how two women were trying to teach me lessons at the same time. Since I’d technically been stood up, I climbed in my car and decided to go home. I thought that I’d be fine with stepping into my room and not seeing her there, but I’d be lying if I went with that. The room was quiet, and there was no sign left of Peyton at all. She’d taken all of her things, and left an empty spot on her side of the bed. I sat down and ran my hands through my hair. It finally hit me that she was serious about her threats. She wasn’t going to call me and beg me to want her. She was done with my bullshit, and I had the choice to change or be without her.

Of course, asking me to change wasn’t all that easy. I’d never been in such a predicament. The more I dwelled on the situation, the more pissed off I became. Feeling like I needed to be anywhere but in my house, I changed and headed out. There was no specific place I was headed, it was more to clear my mind.

Since bars were scarce in my neck of the woods, I ended up at the only establishment that sold cold beer, at least until midnight. The jukebox was playing some old ass country song as I walked in and I spotted a couple elderly folks playing slot machines against the far wall. A middle-aged couple was slow dancing to the piss-poor song, swaying their bodies back and forth in sync with one another.

I headed straight for the bar, having only one thing on my mind. That’s when I spotted her; the blonde sitting all alone at the end of the bar. I pulled a stool up next to her and called for a beer. She smiled when she noticed me, but turned around before I could speak.