CHAPTER 22—AMELIA POV

The heavy rainfall made the usually quick drive to Jasmine's house take about 30 minutes because of the increased traffic. I was driving to hers after my meeting with Xavier.

I finally arrive, opening my umbrella and rushing to Jasmine's house from across the street where I parked.

I knock on the oak door, and Jasmine, who is in a deep purple top and black jeans, opens the door and greets me with a hug.

Unopened takeout containers and bottles of water and soda were spread on the coffee table, and an impatient Jodie sat in front of it.

"Sorry I was late—stuck in a meeting with Xavier King," I said as I walked to the kitchen to wash my hands.

"Yeah, you were." Jasmine smirks as I sit down on the couch next to her. I shoot her a glare.

She shrugs apologetic. "The sexual tension between you guys is undeniable. I would give it another go," she suggested.

"It's more complicated than that," I said airily. Her comment takes my mind back to last night, where I wanted Xavier and not the other way around.

"He still loves you, Mel,” she said seriously, placing a hand over mine, and Jodie nodded in agreement.

"I don't care. I don't love him," I said.

Of course, Xavier didn't still love me. He never did. He made me fall in love with him, manipulated my emotions and used me to fulfil his plans.

He's incapable of love, but he sure knows how to fake it.

If he did still love me, everything would've been so much easier. Even now, he's clawing his way into my life, just to satisfy his ego.

"Can we eat now?" Jodie whined like a little child, which made me laugh. I realized I missed the whole conversation between Jasmine and her, lost in my own thoughts.

"Not until you tell me what happened with you and Leroy last night," I teased.

A blood red blush explodes onto her cheeks as she sips on her drink in order to avoid speaking.

"Yeah, go on." Jasmine nudges her.

"Fine," she began. "Well, we both had a lot to drink, and since both of you had disappeared—" She points and accusatory finger at me and Jasmine.

"Sorry," we both mumbled sheepishly in unison.

"Anyways," she continued, "It was late, and we got into the same Buber and let's just say thank god I had a condom in my purse."

My jaw drops whereas Jasmine has the biggest smirk on her face "Was he big?" she asked.

"Stop!" Jodie playfully slapped her on the shoulder.

"That means no," she said, and we both erupted into laughter while Jodie huffed.

We spend most of the night binge watching trashy reality TV and teasing Jodie whenever we could.

"All this talk about me," Jodie began, "but I saw you leave with someone as well, Amelia."

As much as I tried to avoid the subject, they both kept on urging me to tell them what happened, so I finally gave in and told them everything from the stranger in the club, my argument and make out with Xavier, and even the drama the next morning.

"I don't care. I don't love him," Jasmine repeated what I had said earlier, mocking me. I just rolled my eyes.

"I think you should bang him," Jodie said. "Get it out of your system."

"He's not in my system," I retorted.

"Not yet." Jasmine laughed.

Our conversation is disturbed when there's a faint knock on the door. Jasmine gets up to open the door and it's Dylan, with the baby in a stroller fast asleep.

"Daddy's home!" Her face lit up at the sight of her baby.

"Daddy?" I said, amused. She winked in return.

"Ok, gals. Party's over." She basically kicks us out of her place.

"Wow, some host," Jodie muttered sarcastically.

"Want to come to my place? We can play pool in the games room?" I suggested.

"Beats going back to my apartment." She shrugged.

We both got into my car, and I drove back to my house. When we arrived, I got the table set up for a game of pool while Jodie made some drinks in the bar area.

"Here." She passed me an orange liquid in a tall glass.

"Did you put any alcohol in this?" I sputtered as what she gave me was pretty much juice.

"Nope. We don't need alcohol after last night," she saod, all of a sudden so health-conscious.

After a few rounds of pool, I've won pretty much every game and Jodie pouts in defeat. She is extremely competitive for someone so terrible at the game.

As I'm about to set up another game, Jodie's phone rings. She slightly blushes when she reads the caller ID and answers.

"Hello." Her voice was all of a sudden low and sweet. I can faintly hear Leroy's voice on the line.

After about a minute of conversation, Jodie's eyes scan the room, finding her purse.

"I gotta go," she said hurriedly, giving me a quick hug.

"Late date?" I asked.

"Something like that," she said as she walked out the room.

The games room was in the basement of the house, meaning that I couldn't see if Leroy was picking up Jodie or if she was getting a cab, but I didn't want to go with her and make it awkward.

I decide to follow Jodie upstairs, a few feet away from her, just to make sure she's safe. I see her getting into a car with Leroy and smile in relief.

Deciding I want to play a few rounds by myself, I set up the game anyway. As I'm about to play, my phone buzzed against my pocket.

"Hello," I answered without looking at who it was.

"Amelia, where the fuck are you!" Xavier's angry voice boomed through the phone.

"I'm on the moon," I replied sarcastically. "It's midnight. I'm at my house," I deadpanned.

"I'm coming there." It wasn't a question.

"What—I think the fuck not! You can't just walk into my house whenever you fucking like, Xavier!" I yelled to match his anger.

His voice was low and sinister. "Try me,” he said before hanging up.