The next morning I wake up and Jake is sounded asleep next to me so I slowly get up and get dressed before heading upstairs to find John in the kitchen sitting at the counter eating.
"You had fun last night." He says and I glare at him as I grab an apple from the fridge and sit next to him.
"I have no idea what got into him last night. In the three years we've been together he has never drunk that much." I say, "It's usually me getting shit-faced." I add then bite into my apple.
"Be careful with that one Charlie. I don't know how to explain it but I saw something in him when he came in last night that I didn't like." John says and I nod.
"I will John I think us being in a new place and starting a new chapter has just got him frazzled he'll calm down soon I'm sure," I say as I hear heavy footsteps on the staircase then Jake tops the stairs from the basement wearing nothing but some workout shorts, showing off his flat stomach that is chiseled with muscles. He grins walking towards me and before I know it he's pulling me backward and kissing me deeply before sitting me back up and sitting beside me.
"Well good morning to you too," I say to him breathlessly.
"Good morning to you too beautiful." He says with a wink.
"Don't forget Charlie we leave for the gym at ten," John says as he gets up. He cleans up his plate before disappearing somewhere in the house.
"What got into you last night?" I ask looking at Jake and he grins.
"I didn't hear you complaining." He says and I shake my head.
"I'm not just worried about you," I say and he nods.
"I don't know really I just felt like having a beer while you were training and one turned into two and two turned into ten with three shots." He says and I chuckle, he never does that.
"Damn baby how did you get home?" I ask.
"A cab the bartender called for me. I need to go get the car today." He says and I nod, smart bartender.
"We can drop you off before going to the gym but you gotta promise me you won't come home like that again," I say and he nods.
"I promise next time I drink you'll be with me." He says with a grin.
"Why so you can get me drunk and take advantage of me?" I ask and he laughs before kissing me deeply.
"Maybe." He says before standing up and heading back downstairs. Damn him he doing me like that then leaving. I leave my apple on the counter and chase after him knowing he wasn't going to do me like that and get away with it.
After dropping Jake off to get our rental we go straight to the gym and start our workout. John was quiet the entire ride here and some of our work out, on our way home I looked at him.
"You good bro?" I ask him and he nods not saying a word. "Are you sure John something is off with you?" I say and he sighs as he drives.
"I don't like the way Jake is acting." He says eventually as he drives.
"John I told you I am a big girl I can handle him," I say and he nods.
" I know that Charlie it's not you handling yourself I am worried about, it's him hurting you mentally that I'm worried about." He says and I think about what he says.
"Like him cheating on me?" I ask and he nods slowly. "Why would you say that?" I ask him.
"Well, when you both went inside last night I swore I smelt a perfume on his jacket that was on the couch," John says.
"He was in a bar John with numerous different people," I say and John nods.
"I get that but normally you don't smell like a woman's perfume from a bar unless that woman is all over you." He says and I start to think about that as he pulls into the driveway and once again no sign of Jake.
"See what I mean where is it?" John asks and I look around.
"Damn him," I say as we stop in the driveway. "John can I borrow your car I'm going to look for him," I ask and John shakes his head.
"Your in no shape to drive I'll take you." He says and backs out of the driveway before I can protest heading straight to the bar we dropped him off at this morning. When we pull into the parking lot sure enough there is the rental car and it looks like it never moved.
"Damn I recognize this place," John says as we pull in. "This is an underground stripper joint that's been in numerous drug busts in the years," he says as he parks.
"Oh shit," I say and before he can say anything I jump out and head inside.
"Hey, there good lookin', looking for a job?" A creepy ass man says as I walk inside.
"Fuck off," I say then go inside and immediately see Jake at a back table with some slut all over him. I rush over and snatch her off of him.
"What the fuck!?" I hear him say then he looks up and his eyes widen when he sees me.
"I could ask you the same thing!" I say to him and he stands up and that's when I notice a line of cocaine in front of him, not again. "Really Jake I thought we were past this!" I say pissed he went back down this road.
"Well, I needed something to fill the gap you've been gone so damn much." He snaps.
"For two days? What are you going to do when I'm gone for months at a time for my job?" I ask and he glares at me.
"Fuck you." He says and before I know it he's slapping me across the face I regain my composure and look at him like he's lost his damn mind and the next thing I know John is pushing me out of the way and punching him, knocking him to the floor. I take my ring off my finger and throw it at him.
"You can pick up your shit off the porch of John's house were done!" I yell over the music before storming out as he holds his nose. John follows me out to the car and I am shaking at how pissed I am at him. I get into John's car and he gets in also and drives off.
"I can not believe this shit!" I say pissed off beyond belief.
"I knew something was off with him." I hear John say as he drives off. We pull up outside of his house and I rush in and straight downstairs. I grab all of his stuff and put it in his bag before going back upstairs. I go out front and throw his shit on the porch just as a car pulls into the driveway and I realize it's the rental. I quickly turn to go inside but I hear Jake calling after me.
"Charlie! Charlie wait!" I hear him say and I pause with my hand on the doorknob, the tears I have been fighting this whole time finally falling.
"WHAT!?" I snap turning to face as I wipe the tears from my cheeks.
"Damn I didn't think you would stop." He says and I roll my eyes.
"Goodbye, Jake," I say before turning to go inside and the next thing I know he's grabbing my arm, gently turning me to face him. Just his touch makes the tears fall even harder.
"No Charlie please stop." He says to me and I look down at the ground knowing if I looked at him I'd lose it.
"What Jake there is nothing you can say to me that can make me change my mind. We are done, I saw you in a bar doing drugs and letting some whore grind on you. How do you think that makes me feel?" I ask finally looking at him hoping to hold myself together.
"Like I'm the biggest prick in the whole damn world." He says and I scoff.
"That's the biggest understatement in the world right now," I say and he nods.
"I know that and for that I am sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I wasn't, the drugs, the beer, the woman I guess they were all just there. I know I have had a problem with those things in the past-" he says and I cut him off.
"A problem you call that a problem? That was the lowest I have ever seen you! I was there for you when nobody else was I was there when you put yourself throw the withdrawals and the need for those things you were so addicted to. That was me, Jake! Do you remember that? DO you remember me holding you as you shook and cried from the withdrawals? Do you remember promising me you would never go down that road again? Do you remember that? Do you Jake?" I ask and his head drops. He nods slowly not looking at me. I glare at him so mad he would choose this road again after the hell he went through damn neat four years ago. As I'm watching him I hear the front door open and johns booming voice.
"Leave Jake," He says his voice filled with anger.
"No John I've got this," I say and I hear him growl beyond pissed.
"He needs to leave Charlie, now!" John damn near yells. "This is my house and I would like for him to leave." He says and I nod.
"Give us ten minutes," I say and he sighs but nods before going back inside.
"I remember," Jake whispers, his voice barely audible.
"Then why? Why after all this time have you chosen to go back down this road?" I ask and he finally looks at me, tears streaming down his face.
"I don't know Charlie I guess I was scared." He says tears streaming down his face.
"Scared of what Jake?" I ask looking at him.
"Losing you," he says, and then it hits me, he's scared once I get into this new world I'll forget about him.
"Jake I told you when you proposed to me I wouldn't go anywhere I love you but this, this can't happen ever again. I don't even know what to right now but I know John doesn't want you here so go to a hotel and we will talk tomorrow." I say before I try and go inside be he holds my hand not letting me go inside.
"Come with me please." He says as I turn to face him, his eyes search mine as if he's begging me with his eyes.
"What part of 'we are breaking up' do you not understand?" I ask.
"Please just one night and if you want to break up after that I understand completely, please." He begs. I sigh and look at him.
"One night and if I want out I'm out got it?" I ask and he nods. "One more thing, did you cheat on me?" I ask and he quickly shakes his head no.
"It went no further than the lap dance I swear." He says and I nod.
"At least that, let me go inside and tell John and I will be back right back," I say before heading inside.
"Is he gone?" John asks.
"Not exactly, John I am going to go with him for the night," I say and John looks at me as if I have lost my mind.
"Have you lost your ever-loving mind?" He damn near yells at me. "Do you know what he just did to you?"
"Yes John I do but he's in a rough spot right now, I've seen him here before and I'm the one that saved him from it then," I say.
"And you think you'll be the one to save him now?" He snaps.
"Yes I think so, don't worry I will be at training tomorrow," I say.
"Charlie please don't do this," John says to me and I can tell he actually cares about me.
"John I feel like I have to. I love him John and one mistake because he's scared of losing me is more than enough to make me help him." I say and John nods but I can tell he's not happy about it.
"Stay here if you must do this then. I want to at least be able to properly kick his ass if he hits you again." He says and I have to laugh at him.
"Going all big brother are we?" I ask.
"You bet your ass I am." He says and I chuckle as I walk out to the front to get Jake. I open the door and there he is smoking a cigarette.
"Jake come inside we can stay here," I say and he looks at me.
"That's probably not the best idea after what happened." He says and I nod.
"I know but it was John's idea he wants to make sure you don't hit me again and honestly I don't blame him," I say to him and he nods picking up his things.
"Okay," He says before putting his cigarette out and following me inside. We walk in and John is watching him like a hawk. This is gonna be a long night.