Jamie Ch. 08

"You okay, bro?" Doug asked.

"Jason?" I heard Jamie's voice call out from down the hall. How she knew it was me, I had no idea. I heard her footsteps coming quickly and then she was kneeling at my side.

"This is him?" I heard another guy ask. That must have been Chase. He came into view when Doug stepped aside. He looked similar to Tom, just brown eyes and a little more muscular. "This guy who's drunk off his ass?"

"I'm not drunk," I mumbled.

"What was that?" Chase asked.

"I'm not drunk, asshole," I said clearer as I sat up. My head was still spinning a little, though.

"Asshole? You come into my home and talk to me like that?"

"I talk to people as they treat others, so, yeah."

I felt strength returning to me. Hearing Jamie tell another guy she loved him did a number on me, but if she wanted him instead of me, who was I to stand in the way? Why would I want to be with someone who couldn't make up her mind? I'd make up her mind for her if I had to.

"Jason, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I said coldly.

"What happened?" she asked.

"I'm not sure. He heard you two talking and then turned around and hit the floor. What did you say in there?"

Jamie's face went pale. "Jason, you misheard me."

"I heard you tell him you love him."

"Yes, but only as a friend. We've known each other a long time, Jason."

I shrugged. It could have been the truth. At this point, all I cared about was getting my strength back and getting on the road. Unfortunately, the next six hours would be pretty quiet and awkward between me and Jamie.

"Jason, I don't love Chase that way, at all. I love you!"

"Does he know that? He doesn't seem to."

"He's upset."

"Damn right I am! Fuckin' bitch leads me on for years and then this shithead comes around and suddenly I'm out of the picture? Fuck you both. Get the fuck-" his voice was interrupted by a giant fist landing in his face.

"No one talks to Jamie that way," Doug said standing over Chase who was now sprawled out on the hallway floor. I wished I could have been the one to do that, but I was glad it was done regardless. Tom and the other guy helped me up and once my head was done spinning, I stood over Chase too.

"Learn some respect, bro, and maybe you could have won her heart," I said and then turned towards Jamie.

"Jason, I'm sorry you heard what you did. I hope you can believe that I didn't mean it in the way it may have sounded."

I nodded. "I do. I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions. It wasn't easy to hear you tell another guy you love him."

She hugged me and I hugged her back. "Let's just leave this behind us," I whispered in her ear.

She nodded and then pulled back. Looking up in to my eyes with her big brown ones, I couldn't stay mad at her. It was impossible. She kissed me and the world disappeared for a moment. Until something hit the back of my head, that is. My forehead hit hers and our noses smashed into each other's cheek. I looked at Jamie and she looked hurt. Candy pulled Jamie away and I turned around. Doug had Chase in a choke hold, holding him back.

"I'm sorry, Jason. He slipped past me," Doug apologized.

"It's okay, Doug. You can let him go."

Doug dropped Chase and Chase stumbled slightly when his feet hit the floor. When Chase regained his balance, he was seething with anger. He looked ready to fight me, and I would do what I had to to protect Jamie.

"Chase, I don't want to fight you, but if you don't stop now, I won't have any choice."

"Ha! Like you could take me!"

I shrugged. "I guess we'll find out," I said and clenched my fists.

"Jason, don't!" Jamie said, hugging my arm.

"I won't, Jamie, unless he attacks."

"Chase, just let it go!" she pleaded with him.

"No, he stole you away from me," he said, sounding very irrational.

"Chase, we were never really together. I told you that and I apologized for letting you believe there was something more between us than there was. I'm sorry for leading you on. It was wrong of me!"

"Damn right it was!" he shouted.

"Jamie, stand behind me," I told her. I could see the anger boiling up in his eyes even more. He wasn't looking at me anymore; he was looking only at Jamie. I didn't trust that he wouldn't hurt her. "Chase, you need to calm down before you do something you regret."

"Fuck you, you fucking asshole!"

"Mature," I said and sighed. "Just calm down. No one needs to get hurt."

"It's too late for that, dick!"

"I'm sorry you're hurt. But, isn't it better to find out this way than through friends of friends, or through fucking Facebook? At least she had the guts and the heart to tell you face to face. She could have just ignored you and lived her life without a second thought about you. She obviously loved you enough to tell you the truth. And, what, because you lost out, you want to hurt us?"

His anger grew even more. Being straight with him and showing him reason was making him angrier.

"Look, we'll leave and you'll never hear from us again. You can move on and so can we."

This idea didn't seem to work for him. He was done talking. Chase rushed forward and so did my fist. I connected with his nose, feeling bone and cartilage break. He fell straight to the floor like he had when Doug had punched him. Somehow, though, I think I hit him harder. Doug must have had great control over himself.

I stood over Chase, who looked barely conscious, and looked down at him.

"Don't come near us, you got it? We're going to leave, and when you're able to, apologize to Tom and Candy for ruining their day." I turned away from them and faced Tom and Candy who looked at me wide-eyed. "I'm sorry this happened at your engagement party. I didn't think things would have gone this way. If I had, I would have waited until tomorrow to stop by."

Tom shook my hand. "It's okay. But, you probably should go."

I nodded. "I really am sorry."

Candy hugged me. "Thank you," she whispered in my ear. "He deserved it and needed it." She pulled back and smiled at me. "Keep an eye out for the wedding invitation, okay?"

I grinned. "We will, thanks."

Jamie said her goodbyes to her friends and we got back on the road. It was dark, it was quiet, but it was what I needed to sort everything out. Jamie didn't press me to talk, but she also sat on the other side of the cab. I hoped she wasn't afraid of me now. I'd beaten up two guys on our road trip and both times were out of character for me. But, she had to know that when it came to the people I loved, there wasn't anything I wouldn't do for them.