Chapter 6
Gregory’s heart sank when he heard the cry. He didn’t want to look up as Jessica came towards their table; he wanted to pretend that she wasn’t here.
But she was, and she was pissed.
Gregory felt Diane tense under his arm, and he wished she wouldn’t. There was nothing to be ashamed of, seeing as they weren’t doing anything wrong. Gregory was just having dinner with a woman who had captured his attention.
Of all the times for his ex to turn up, why did it have to be now?
Now Jessica was standing at his table, hands on her hips with a furious look on her face.
“Answer me, Gregory! What the hell do you think you’re doing? Messing around on me with this little slut!”
Diane immediately moved out from under Gregory’s arm. Gregory wanted to grab at her, but he didn’t want the tussle.
“Diane….”
“I think I’d better go,” Diane stood up, slinging her bag over her shoulder. She kept her gaze averted from Jessica, who was glaring at her. “I’ll pay my half of the bill, and send a check to you. Just….”
She glanced at Jessica before ducking her head and hurrying away. Gregory shot to his feet.
“Diane!”
Jessica snorted. She looked very smug.
“Looks like she knows her place.”
Gregory stared at her.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? How did you find out where I was?”
“I was with my girlfriends across the room, and I just happened to see you.” Jessica shrugged. “It was just a coincidence, that’s all.”
“Like I’m going to believe that,” Gregory scoffed. “Why the fuck would you come and sabotage a date?”
“That was a date? With that whore?”
Gregory growled, which made Jessica jump. He came out from the booth and stood before her, watching as Jessica’s confident look flickered a bit.
“Consider yourself lucky that I don’t hit women, Jess. And you will never talk about Diane like that ever again.”
“Why not? You and I are supposed to be working things out, aren’t we?”
“Since when? I told you that wasn’t happening. Why do you have to be so psychotic?”
“Psychotic? Me?” Jessica snorted. “I love you, and I want you back. How do you think I feel being around another woman?”
“That’s nothing to do with you. I’m allowed to date whoever I want, and I don’t want you back in my life.” Gregory reached into his pocket and got out his wallet. “Screw you, Jessica, for fucking this up. And if you come near me again, you’ll be hearing from my lawyer. I don’t take kindly to being harassed.”
“But Greg…”
Gregory ignored her, putting some bills on the table. He signaled his waitress as she walked past.
“Whatever is left over you can have. We’ll be back again.” He barely glanced at Jessica as he put on his jacket. “Preferably when people aren’t interrupting us having a good time.”
Jessica looked angry.
“I love you, Gregory. And you would throw me away like that?”
“You are the one who threw our relationship away. Nothing to do with me.” Gregory shook his head. “You’re shameless, Jessica. Utterly shameless.”
He walked away, storming out of the restaurant. He felt like everyone’s eyes were on them, and it was humiliating. Gregory tried to ignore this, heading out into the parking lot.
For a moment, he couldn’t see Diane. It looked as if she had vanished. Then he saw a movement at the far side, under the trees.
It was Diane, pacing around with her phone to her ear. Gregory couldn’t see her expression, but her body language wasn’t good.
He hurried over.
“Diane, wait a minute!”
“Wait for what?” Diane spun around on him. “When were you going to tell me there were more women you were dating?”
“I’m not dating her!”
“She looked very angry. She’s got to be your girlfriend, right? And I’m the other woman?” Diane shook her head. “I can’t believe that I didn’t see that happening to me.”
Gregory could see her pulling away now, and he began to panic. No, that was not happening now. He started to reach for her, but Diane jumped back.
“Don’t touch me! I’m trying to get a signal so I can call an uber. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get back before anyone realizes what’s happened.”
“Jessica is not my girlfriend, Diane,” Gregory protested. “Not anymore.”
“Not anymore? What is that supposed to mean?”
“We broke up months ago. True, I was with her for a few years, but then she cheated on me. I have no intention of getting back together with her.”
Diane didn’t look convinced. She was still looking at him like he was a monster. Gregory hated that she would now look at him that way.
“I ended it with her, but she won’t take the hint.”
“Then how did she know where to find us?” Diane demanded. “It looked rather convenient.”
“I’m afraid that’s all that it is. It was just pure chance.” Gregory swallowed. He was trying to fight back the panic of knowing Diane might walk away from him, if not run. “Trust me, Diane, I am not with anyone else. I’m single, and the only person I’m currently dating is you.”
“Me?” Diane echoed. “But it was just one date. You can’t say we were dating after a couple of hours.”
She did have a point. But Gregory saw it as more than that. However, if he said that now he was just going to scare the shit out of her, and Diane looked ready to bolt.
Her expression said she didn’t really believe him. And that hurt.
“Can you just take me home?” Diane whispered. “I want to go home.”
“I’ll take you.” Gregory fumbled in his pockets. “Whatever you want.”
Although if she said that she wanted to get away from him, Gregory might protest a lot over that. He could still feel the simmering anger towards Jessica as he led Diane back to his car. The bitch had screwed him up, and Gregory didn’t think he could forgive her for that.