Broken (Breaking the Rules) (22 page)

“I have faith in you, Andi. You’ve come leaps and bounds. You are stronger than this depression. Keep telling yourself that and you’ll be okay. See you next week. And I expect a full report on your exciting new job.”

My sandwich sat untouched as Pepper fired off a text to someone. I couldn’t eat. The thought of eating made me want to throw up. Jackson had been making out with his very naked wife in his office. It made me feel dirty and used, like I was the whore on the side. Those two had not looked like people who were in the middle of a nasty divorce.

I tore bits of my sandwich off and put them on the other side of the plate as I quietly thought about how sick I was. Sick of games. Sick of cheating. Sick of men. I was really going to make Dr. Sweeney work hard for his money tomorrow.

“I know what you’re doing. You’re playing with your food so it looks like you ate it. Andi, I’ve dealt with this before with you. If you don’t eat your damn sandwich, I will shove it down your throat. We
are not
going through that again.”

My eyes flew to hers. Her teary expression matched my own, but there was a determination in her eyes that made me pick up the sandwich and take a bite. The satisfied smile she gave me had me taking another bite.

After I had eaten most of the sandwich successfully without throwing it all up, she spoke again.

“I don’t know what was going on with Nadia and Jackson, but it looked really shitty. I’m so sorry you had to see it. And as much as I hate to say this, maybe you should hear what he has to say. Blocking out Bray after what happened didn’t help things out at all. At least even if Jackson tells you he’s getting back with Nadia, you’ll be able to move on. Promise me you’ll talk with him.”

I frown but nod because she’s right. The last five months had been pure hell after what had happened with Bray. I couldn’t allow myself to easily slip back into a depression.

We tossed our trash into the bin and headed outside so I could get back to work. The restaurant we had eaten at was close to my work, so the walk back was a quick one.

When we finally made it back to my desk, I noticed that Jackson’s door was open and the light was off. He’d obviously gone home for the day.

Pulling me in for a hug, Pepper whispered, “You’re going to be okay. I’m going to go in there and deal with dipshit Jordan. I’ll see you at the apartment later. We’re getting shitfaced tonight, Miss Andi.”

I laughed as she pulled away and her eyes twinkled with relief. She was watching for signs of a relapse but I was stronger this time.

Sitting back down at my desk, I returned a few phone calls and caught up on some paperwork. Jackson never called or emailed or even showed back up. He was probably fucking Nadia right this moment. The rest of the day was torture as I counted down to quitting time.

Pepper had already stormed out of Jordan’s office hours ago, and Bray stayed buried in paperwork. Olive texted me to tell me she’d be out late working on another photo shoot on the other side of the city.

When five finally rolled around, I gathered my things quickly so I could leave. Then Bray stopped in front of my desk.

“Come on. I’ll make sure you get home okay.”

I looked up at him, seeing concern written all over his face. “Bray, I can manage. I’m fine, really.”

“It wasn’t a question, Andi. Come on. Let’s go.”

Shaking my head at his bossiness, I stood and walked out with him. The ride in the cab back to my apartment was a quiet one. Pepper wouldn’t be home from work until closer to six, so I let Bray in. He took a seat on the couch, looking around to take in everything that made this apartment our home.

“Want a drink, Bray?” I offered. He nodded, so I slipped into the kitchen and poured us each a glass of our favorite red wine. After today, I needed a drink. Chugging half of my glass, I quickly refilled it before heading back into the living room. He had moved across the room to look at some of the photographs I had taken.

“Andi, did you take these? They’re amazing,” he admired, sounding astonished. I felt a little embarrassed because they were more or less my secret little hobby that I used to get over him in the first place.

“Thanks. Here’s your wine.”

“So you want to talk about what happened today with Jackson?” he came right out and asked.

I chugged half my glass again before I spoke. “Not really, but I guess you’re going to make me anyway, huh? Do you and Pepper have ‘let’s help Andi’ talks? For as much as you guys hate each other, it sure seems like you both are on the same team.”

I walked back into the kitchen, this time grabbing the bottle and bringing it back to the living room with me. I plopped down in the middle of the couch and refilled my glass. Bray made his way back over, sitting beside me.

“Have you talked to him?” Bray questioned, sipping his wine.

I shook my head and quickly drank more wine hoping it would start to take affect soon.

“No. He hasn’t tried to contact me, which means he doesn’t want to. Clearly he wants to be with Nadia.” I blinked back tears because it fucking hurt.

Bray patted my knee but left his hand there. I didn’t make any moves to pull it away. Instead, I drained the rest of my glass and chuckled darkly as the numbness trickled through my body.

He took his hand from my leg and grabbed my glass, refilling it for me. His hand slipped back to my leg, but this time he placed it higher on my thigh.

Feeling his touch comforted me on some level. It wasn’t that he turned me on—it just made me feel better.

“You know, Andi, you’re going to be okay. Look how far you’ve come after what happened this past spring. This is just a blip compared to that.”

It didn’t feel like a blip. Jackson was more than just a blip to me. And just because I wasn’t allowing the darkness to take over my soul again, didn’t mean that it was any easier to handle.

When I sighed shakily, a tear slipped out and splashed on my thigh. Bray slid his thumb higher up my thigh to wipe it away. The gentle yet intimate touch mixed with the alcohol sent confusing messages through my body.

I looked over at him and his own eyes burned with need. Not taking time to think about if this was a good idea or not, I flung my leg over him and straddled him in one swift move. I could feel his hard cock through the silk of my panties and the soft materials of his slacks.

Our lips crashed onto one another’s and I ground myself into him making him, making him moan from the contact. His hands jerked my skirt up my hips and slipped down into my panties, cupping my ass cheeks. We continued to kiss furiously. One of his hands moved around to the front and up under my camisole and jacket, finding my breast.

Gasping, I threw my head back out and shouted, “Jackson!”

Bray froze and pulled his lips away from my neck.

“Shit! I’m sorry Bray. Oh my gosh, I am so sorry.” I started crying because this was wrong.

“Shh, Andi, it’s okay. I don’t feel right about this. We were kissing but you weren’t there with me. You’re still thinking about him because that’s where you would rather be. I’ve lost you forever, but I’m okay with that. You need to talk to him. I just want you to be happy.”

He removed his hand from underneath my shirt and the other from under my panties and used them to pull my skirt down some, even though I could still feel my ass sticking out. I leaned forward against his chest, burying my face, and sobbed. His hands wrapped around me and held me while I cried.

When the door opened, we both jerked our heads towards it. Jackson stood there with a shocked look on his face that was quickly masked by indifference. “Fucking unreal,” he muttered as he walked right back out, slamming the door behind him.

I was sure to him it had looked way worse than it truly was. “Shit, Brayden, this is so bad!” I screeched, scrambling off of him. I yanked my skirt down and ran out the front door after him, shoeless.

When I made it downstairs, he was storming his way to his car. “Jackson, wait! It wasn’t what it looked like,” I cried out after him. He shook his head and dropped into the car, shutting the door. The car drove away, leaving me there to sob, barefoot on the street.

“This is so messed up,” I told her as she stroked my hair. Brayden had left once Pepper arrived. They appeared to be tag-teaming me today. I had just finished telling her all the crap that happened and was letting her soothe me with my head in her lap.