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CHAPTER 8

Jealous

It had been four days since Murphey woke up in Jem's bed and snuck out of his house, but they hadn't spoken in that time choosing to focus on their lives, rather than awkward conversations. Murphey kept herself busy continuing her photography and helping Mary grow their business, and Jem stuck to what he did best – getting high and committing robberies with his childhood friends and a newbie the florist had picked up for them.

"You should do more black and whites," Mary remarked shifting through Murphey's latest prints while the two of them hung out in the backroom.

"They're more difficult because the lighting has to be spot on."

"But they're beautiful. I'd love black and white for my wedding photos."

"Well you won't get married if you don't start dating."

Mary rolled her brown eyes, setting the photos out on the bench. "I'm sick of dating assholes, and that's the only type of man Charlestown produces."

"You're in denial M, you love the bad boys," the corners of her red painted lips curved as the front door bell went off, alerting them that someone had entered the shop. "I'll go,"

Murphey waltzed into the main shop with a wide smile that faded as she discovered her customer was Krista's stripper friend; Candy. It took every ounce of restraint for her to be nice. "Can I help you with something?"

"Krista said you take photos," Candy stated looking round the shop, frowning at the frames on the wall and smacked the gum she chewed on.

"So you're just here to confirm it?"

"Nah, my sister is marrying her deadbeat boyfriend and Krista said you'd give me a discount, 'cause we know each other."

"You don't know me and there'll be no discount."

"Huh? Why not?"

"I only give discounts to friends and family. I have no family and you're nowhere close to being my friend."

Candy's gaze narrowed and she folded her arms beneath her pushed up cleavage. "Y'know what? Fuck you! I've got what I want anyways,"

"And what's that exactly?" Murphey asked releasing a long breath to keep her anger in check while the whore tried to press her buttons.

"I'm in Jem's bed every night, and he fucks me better than he ever did you!"

"Yeah? That's nice."

"Thought you'd be jealous?" Candy remarked smugly.

"Can you even spell jealous?" Mary walked out of the backroom, carrying an armload of frames that she set on the counter before coming to my side.

"Who the fuck are you?"

"I'm the girl that will smash your trailer trash face if you don't leave my friend alone!" Mary stepped closer towards Candy, not afraid of a smack down especially when it came in the form of protecting her friends. "So take your disgusting piece of ass out of this shop before I throw it out!"

Murphey's eyebrows rose as Candy's mouth clamped shut and she turned on her heel, stalking out of the shop.

"What was that slut doing in here?"

"She wanted me to do her sister's wedding,"

Mary chuckled, "We don't do shotgun weddings."

"She said she's sleeping with Jem," Murphey added quietly, almost as an afterthought, even though in her mind all she could see was the two of them together.

"You don't believe her do you?" Murphey didn't answer and Mary wrapped an arm round her shoulders, gently shaking her. "Jem's a lot of things, but desperate isn't one of them,"

"I'm sure there were plenty of girls after me -"

"Maybe so, but you're the only one he ever loved." Mary stated firmly. "If it bothers you that much you know what you have to do," she pulled away, her heels tapping against the wooden floors as she walked over to the counter.

"And what's that M?"

"Tell him you're still madly in love with him."

Mary made it sound so simple, as if words would solve years of heartache. But Murphey wasn't buying it, and she certainly wasn't going to make the first move.


The next hour was quiet. Only two people came into the store, and they were only browsing. Mary had disappeared on her lunch break, only after Murphey practically pushed her out the door giving Murphey the chance to sort through some more photos in the back room until the bell went off again. She walked out front where she saw Jem standing there.

"Jem!" she said surprised to see him. "What are you doing here?"

"Hey Murph," he smiled.

She walked over noticed his blue eyes were bloodshot and slightly glazed over. "Are you high right now?"

"So what?" He snapped. "Don't fuckin' judge me!"

"I'm not judging you I was asking," she immediately jumped to defend herself. "Now why are you here?"

"I haven't talked to you in a couple days." He shrugged his shoulders.

Murphey found something to keep herself distracted instead of giving into the impulse to touch him. "We've obviously both been busy."

"Do you want to grab a drink with me tonight?"

"Don't you have something better to do, than hanging out with an ex who people think they can get discounts from because they're fucking you." She frowned even though her back was to him.

"What are you talking about?" Jem's tone shook as the calming effect of the drugs wore off, and the rage of accusation pumped through his veins. Everything sounded cryptic, but the bottom line was, she was blaming him for something and he didn't like it.

"Next time you see your sister tell her I'm not giving discounts to her whore friends! Especially if they're fucking you!"

"Who forgot to pull the stick out of your ass today?"

"Well it was out of my fuckin' ass until your slut girlfriend came and put it back up there!" Murphey frowned again turning back around to face him.

"I don't have a fuckin' girlfriend!" Jem frowned now defending himself.

"Candy seems to think she is."

"Candy's a fuckin' liar who's been trying to fuck me since I got out of Walpole but I ain't that desperate!"

"James, who you fuck has nothing to do with me but it doesn't give them the right to come into my shop and rub it in my face," she replied calmly.

Jem went to say something but an elderly couple came into the store.

"Now I suggest you leave." She told him then walked over to the couple.

Jem sighed. The only time Murphey called him James was when she was angry at him. He knew there was no point in trying to talk it out with her.

He left the shop and made his way to the bar he always found himself at. He saw the last person he wanted to see right now sitting at the bar with his sister. He walked up to them and pulled Candy back. "What the fuck did you say to Murph?"

"Jem, back the fuck off. She hasn't done anything wrong!" Krista said standing in front of Jem blocking him from Candy.

"You back the fuck off and tell your girl to stop running her mouth before someone else stops it for her." Jem threatened.

"You don't scare me Jem," Candy said from behind Krista.

"That's why you're fuckin' hiding behind my whore sister." Jem snarled. "You stay the fuck away from Murphey and if I find out you've been running your mouth to her, I'll make sure my sister isn't around to protect your stripper ass!"

Candy just smiled smugly at the Charlestown criminal. "You better be careful about what you say. You might just end back up at Walpole."

"Fuck you." He said before walking back out deciding he didn't want a drink anymore.