CHAPT21

Pulling up in front of Jeff's newly built home I was very impressed. It was a light colored brick structure that was simply beautiful. Walking up to the door I rang the bell and waited. I heard him quieting his new dog and could feel him looking through the peep hole seconds before he threw the door open.

"What's the matter? Is Matt okay?"

"Matt is just fine, I didn't mean to alarm you! I just wanted to bring you something to eat and see how you were doing."

Jeff noticed the plate in my hand then and smiled. "I'm sorry. Matt usually never lets anyone drive the Cadillac without him in it. Come on in."

"Your home is beautiful Jeff. I am so sorry for what you went through though, I really am. I can't imagine how hard it had to of been for you."

He had led me into the kitchen and I sat his plate down on the counter. "It should still be hot, so you shouldn't need to warm it." I watched as he took a fork out and took a bite.

"This is amazing! You are so multitalented, you know it? I have a feeling you are going to spoil me and my brother."

I laughed as I said, "Matt said basically that same thing. I don't mind though, that means you will have to keep me around."

Laughing with me Jeff led me into the living room and sat on sofa allowing me to sit in the oversized chair. Lizzie, his new dog immediately jumped into my lap and began sniffing.

"If you want her down, just tell her. She listens well, and normally I would tell her to get down, but I saw you with Lucas and figure you enjoy dogs."

Smiling as I cuddled Lizzie and scratched her belly, I said, "I do love dogs. I always wanted one when I was a kid but we couldn't because dad was allergic. Now I want a Great Dane and a Boston terrier. Tell me how that will work out." I laughed and Lizzie jumped up to lick my face.

Jeff and I fell into easy conversation and barely noticed when Matt let himself in the front door. He walked in and kissed me on the forehead and took a seat on the couch beside his brother, not interrupting the conversation. He seemed to love how comfortable I looked in his life and was content to just observe.

Then there was another knock on the door and Jeff rose to go answer it. "Who in the hell could that be? No one would knock!" At the peep hole he looked out and saw Beth standing there. "You are fucking kidding me!" He threw the door open and repeated himself. "You are fucking kidding me right? You're showing up on my doorstep at ten thirty at night for what damn reason Beth?"

In the living room I looked at Matt and whispered, "Should we go?"

Matt shook his head and told me, "Hell no, he needs us right now more than he knows. Come on we will go in the kitchen though." Even in the kitchen they could still clearly hear the conversation between the former couple.

"Jeff, just let me in so we can talk about this. Please, do not throw ten years away like it was nothing."

Jeff was silent before he said, "So now I am the one who threw it away? As I recall you were screwing another man in my damn bed, but I'm the one throwing this sham of a relationship away! When you chose to get under another man you made the last ten years nothing."

"It was a mistake Jeff, can't you see that? I screwed up, and I am so damn sorry. I miss you and I want to work this out."

Laughing Jeff said, "Really, you miss and want to make this work? Why is that Beth? Does he not make enough money to support you and your lifestyle? Or maybe you just want your cake and eat it to huh? Does he know you're here Beth? Wait I bet he sent you so that you can say all these things and get into my money again so that you, no wait; I can support both of you! It's not going to happen."

She was crying now and I almost felt bad for her; almost, but not really.

"He did not send me here Jeff and he makes plenty of money. Hell he makes just about what you make, only not on such a professional level. You love me Jeff and you know it. You also know that no one else will put up with you being gone constantly and all your stupid fans with their idiotic crushes. You need me in your life more than you know."

I turned to Matt and said, "Jalen would deal with anything for that man. Hell Jalen is one of his stupid fans with the idiotic crush. I'd love to go out there and just kick her ass right off that porch!"

"Slow down, Jalen has a thing for Jeff?"

"Yeah, was it not obvious? She always has, and she always will. Excuse me, please," I said as I stood up and walked out of the kitchen. Matt was immediately behind me.

As I rounded the corner I saw that Beth's eyes had dried and I saw just how heartless the woman was. Me and Matt were just in time to hear Beth say how she should take Lizzie since Jeff was never home to care for her. Jeff's shoulders were starting to slump and he was looking awfully defeated, which infuriated me. Who the hell did Beth think she was to make him feel that way?

"Jeff is everything okay," I asked.

"Oh, so this is why you don't want to work it out huh? You found a new toy already? Wow Jeff, that's fast even for you."

"Hi there, I don't believe we met. I'm Cassidy, Matt's girlfriend. You must be that cold heartless bitch who broke Jeff's heart until he realized you weren't worth the time." I extended her hand for Beth to shake, and Beth just stared in open mouth shock at me.

Matt smiled and bit back any comment he would have made. I could handle my own, and Beth was learning the hard way not to mess with my friends.

Turning to Jeff I said, "I'm sorry Jeff, I wasn't out of line was I?"

Jeff smiled at me and shook his head. It meant a lot to have someone stand up for him.

Beth said, "Well I think you are way out of line. Who do you think you are anyway? Calling yourself Matt's girlfriend as though that's a prize. How long till you run around on him too? I guess maybe the Hardy's aren't men enough to hold onto a woman, huh?"

With my back to Matt I didn't see the pain that Beth's comment had brought to his eyes. I slowly counted to ten and when that didn't work I said, "I think your right, Matt isn't a prize to be won. Neither is Jeff for that matter. They are people who deserve to be loved and cared for and treated with respect. The only winner in this is me, because he cares about me enough to call me his. Now as far as them not being man enough, I think you have it all wrong. While I can't speak for Jeff I can guarantee you that Matt takes care of what he needs too. Maybe it's been the girls in their life that just weren't women enough to handle them. Now I think you are wearing a welcome that was never there to begin with. As for your little comment about his stupid fans with their idiot crushes, you might want to keep in mind that those very same fans helped pay for your fake teeth and your fake boobs."

I took it upon myself to shut the front door in her face. It was that or bury my fist in the tramps face. "Jeff, I do apologize for that. It was not my place and I should have stayed out of it. I would have too but she disrespected people that I care about. You for one, and others with that comment about the fans, and then she had to bring Matt into it like she did. I couldn't hold my tongue."

Jeff and Matt looked at each other and back at me, and then started laughing. Jeff wrapped me in a tight hug and said, "You were just fine, and thank you for caring enough to stand up for me. I have to admit that it sometimes seems easier to just go back to her instead of moving on and having to weed through the ones who want the celebrity to get to the one who might want me."

"You know what Jeff, when you are ready to meet that one who truly wants you for who you are, let me know. I know who it is." I said smiling at Matt.

Matt reached out to me and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "Jeff, man are you going to be alright tonight? You know you are welcome to come to the house and crash if you want. It's not like I don't have the room."

Shaking his head Jeff smiled a real and genuine smile. "You know, I think I am actually good. I have people that care about me and I know I have people who have my back. Go and do what you do, since you obviously do it well."

Jeff and Matt burst out laughing and I blushed. In my anger I hadn't thought before I spoke, but rather just let it all out. Matt hugged me against him and said, "Well alright then, we are going to head back home. If you need anything just call us."

I hugged Jeff once again and said, "If that bitch comes call me and I will personally escort her off the property. I don't like her, and she doesn't deserve you Jeff. You need someone who loves you. Sleep tight, I love you."

In the car Matt said, "I didn't know you had that kind of spunk in you. It was kind of sexy."

"You just think that it was sexy because I said you were amazing in bed. Seriously though, she hit a nerve talking about people I care about. Jalen, Jeff, the fans, and then you, I can't stand by and let someone talk about my friends. You just don't do that!"

"That is why you are such a great person," Matt said taking my hand. "You truly care about people. That's one reason you are going to be a huge success in this business too. The fans do provide the majority of the company's funds and in turn help to pay us. Beth never got that. She was always so jealous of fans. I used to feel bad for them when she was on the road with Jeff."

"Well I think Jeff is over her now too. Maybe not over her yet but he is definitely on his way. When he is ready I think Jalen would be great for him and not just because she is my friend."

Getting out of the car and walking into his house Matt said, "I know what you mean. I noticed how well they got along this past week. Jeff was drawn to her, and he was into her too. I think that those two would be great together, almost as great as you and me."

He spun me around and kissed me. "Are you sleepy?"

Laughing I said, "No, but I am ready for bed."