Chapter Eight

The weeks and months following her break-up with Luke, Beca often wondered what she would do if she were to meet that fucking cheating dipshit she once called her fiancé.

When she discovered his naked cheating ass thrusting into her slut of a PA, Beca threw everything she could lay her hands on at them. Her Grammys, the laptop, an expensive mic, half a dozens of heavy ring binders. The row had been noisy and public with the whole recording studio skidding down to witness the horror. Aubrey and Stacie had to restrain Beca to stop her from doing harm to Luke and that smug-looking PA, still sitting half naked on Beca's desk.

Unfortunately, someone called the police. The pap was tipped and there were very regrettable photos of Beca being led away, pale and crying. The next few weeks the gossip rags were full with photos of Beca, loverat Luke and the girl Luke had cheated on Beca with. They also got hold of blurry photos of the fight. There was a particularly vivid montage of Beca threatening Luke with a heavy duty stapler as he cowered behind a yucca plant, stark naked and limp dicked. Aubrey promptly fired the unscrupulous staff who sold those photos. It was a horrendous few weeks.

Beca had not seen Luke since.

She didn't want to.

The diamond engagement ring was flung into the nearest river, Luke's clothes including his precious football jerseys had been lovingly shredded to strips and then burned. She had buried herself in work and more work to ease over her heartache. But sometimes when she was lying awake at night, Beca wondered what she would do if she were to lay her eyes on her ex-fiancé. And here he was, standing in front of her now smiling and casual, like the last six months did not happened.

"Luke." Beca intoned frostily, gazing up at him.

"Hey, Bec," Luke murmured, the corner of his mouth lifted into a half smile. One that used to make her heart flutter whenever she saw it. "How you've been?"

Beca didn't deign his question with a response. She turned back to her drink, already dismissing him. She would be cool and distant. She will not give him the satisfaction of getting under her skin. He did not matter to her anymore. He can stand there or get lost; she didn't care which way.

"You look gorgeous, babe," he said and when she didn't answer, Luke sighed heavily. "Bec, I know you'll probably still mad at me but can we, at least, be civil? I understand we didn't part very well -"

Really?

Probably still mad at him?

They didn't part very well?

How about he just crushed her world and her self worth in one single blow? Betrayed and cheated on her and left her crying painful tears for months? That good enough? How about she thought she would spend the rest of her life with him only to discover he couldn't keep his dick in his pants and wave it to every girl who would touch that diseased cock for a cup of coffee and a glazed doughnut?

Beca breathed out slowly, getting a grip on her sudden impulse to brain that idiot with the heavy tumbler she was holding.

"I know I must have really hurt you. I can explained everything. It will make sense, I promised," Luke continued, totally unaware how close he was to spending a night at A&E. "I really didn't mean for things to go so out of hand -"

Beca snorted.

"Of course you didn't -" she mused almost absentmindedly hefting the tumbler in her hand.

"Hey baby, sorry I took so long."

Beca turned slightly and Jesse was there by her side. He swiftly wrapped an arm round her shoulder, pulling her closer and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"Chloe insisted I should speak to her parents and then introduced me to Tom. You're right. He's awesome," Jesse spoke up, not missing a beat. He surreptitiously reached for the tumbler Beca was clenching in her hand. "I'm sorry I made you wait. We've all got talking about football and Bobby said -"

"Booby?" Beca said in surprise. "You spoke to Chloe's dad? And he let you call him Bobby?"

"Yep."

"But he's really scary -" Beca added. She released her hold on the heavy glass at Jesse's insistent tug.

"Oh, he's a puppy dog," Jesse exclaimed, placing the glass on the counter. He waved over the bartender easily and asked for two Bud Lites. "And Chloe's mum, Claire is a sweetheart. They would love it if we could join them at Cape Cod -"

"They invited you to their holiday home in Cape Cod?" Beca squeaked. "But you've only spoken to them for like, five minutes."

"They didn't invite me -" Jesse said, squeezing Beca's shoulder and smiling sappily down at her. "They invited us. Claire was saying you used to go all the time when you were younger. She really wants you to come."

Beca mulled this over as Jesse handed her a bottle of beer. Yeah, she did used to go to Cape Cod all the time. The place held really good childhood memories.

"Hi, we've haven't met," Jesse spoke up, seeming to notice Luke for the first time. He offered his hand out for a handshake. "I'm Jesse."

"Hello," Luke said, shaking Jesse's hand a little unsurely. "I'm Luke."

"Good to meet you, bro," Jesse said charmingly. "Aren't you the best man? You must be. Tom mentioned your name just now when we were talking about the stag do. Count me in."

"For the stag do? " Luke said, still bamboozled by the newcomer . "Oh. Ok. No problem."

Luke's eyes were darting between Beca and Jesse, trying to work out who was Jesse to her. He glanced at Beca, waiting for her to say something else but Beca was either deep in thought or ignoring him. Jesse seized that moment to link his hand with Beca's

"Chloe needs to talk to you," he said to Beca. He apologetically turned to Luke. "So sorry. If you could excuse us, I think there's some sort of roast pig emergency with Cousin Janice and Chloe needs her best friend. We'll catch you later?"

Without waiting for an answer, he swept Beca away, leaving Luke standing by the bar. It was not until Jesse had led her to the dining room and went nowhere near Chloe did Beca finally spoke up.

"I see what you did there," she muttered darkly to him.

"Hmm? What did I do?" Jesse replied, nonchalantly sipping his beer.

"You thought you need to rescue me," Beca said accusingly. "Newsflash, buddy. I can handle that dipshit. I don't need saving."

"Who said I was saving you? I was saving him," Jesse replied calmly. "You were going to smash his head in with that glass you were holding. Much as I and the rest of this wedding party will enjoy that drama, I don't want my girlfriend to spend the night in jail. Especially since it will be the first night I get to share a bed with her."

He winked.

Beca stared open-mouthed at the grin on Jesse's face. He was incorrigible.

"We are not sharing a bed!" she finally sputtered out. A few heads turned, looking curiously their way and Beca quickly lowered her tone. "Buddy, you get the sofa. I get the bed,"

"Ok, I"m good with the sofa," Jesse shrugged. "Stacie said you kick a lot in your sleep anyway."

"I do not -" Beca started, only to have Jesse chuckling at her and giving her a one armed hug.

"You are so easy to wind up, you know," he said.

Beca huffed in exasperation. "Was it that obvious?

"What? How easy it is to wind you up?"

"No. Just now with Luke," she clarified, frowning. "Was it that obvious how much I want to kill him?"

"Do you?" Jesse asked. "Really want to kill him, I mean. It has been...what? Six months? That's a long time. Are you still really that angry with him?"

"Well, why don't you try being cheated on?" Beca answered back bitterly. "Or find your fiancé fucking someone else on your desk? Try wasting five years of your life with scum like that. Then maybe you'll know how fucking stupid and angry I feel."

She necked the rest of her beer down after her quiet outburst. Maybe the taste can wash away some of that bile she was tasting at the back of her throat. God, she promised to herself she would not let Luke got under her skin. Now look what happened. She was al riled up, angry and bitter. And Beca was sure this smart arse next to her would probably have some cutting remark about the whole thing.

"You're right. I'm really sorry," Jesse spoke up.

Beca turned to find him looking rather contrite and apologetic.

"I wouldn't know how that feel," he confessed, his voice much subdued than before "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine," Bec insisted. But his gaze was unwavering and Beca found herself stuttering. "I..I don't know. Maybe."

She felt his warm hand slipped into hers.

"You know, I don't usually advocate revenge or violence - " Jesse said, squeezing her hand gently . "- but in this case, I think Luke had it coming. He needs to see what he's missing out. And I am going to show it to him."

"Show him what?" Beca grumbled. "Your six-pack and my ability to mess everything up?"

"So you did noticed my six-pack," Jesse smirked. He chuckled fondly at Beca's scowl. "You're the opposite of a mess, Lane. I don't know what Luke was thinking but believe me, by the end of this week, he will feel so stupid he ever let you go."

Later on, during dinner

"Bec."

Hmm? What? Who was it?

"Beca, wake up."

Beca started up in surprise, eyes snapping open. The whole room seemed to swim around her and for a few moments, Beca felt a little disorientated. She was halfway eating her dessert just now. What happened ? Did she blacked out? Jesse's warm hand was on her shoulder, anchoring her back to the present.

"Relax. You just dozed off," Jesse's voice whispered into her ear. "No one noticed."

She felt Jesse gently stroking the length of her neck and Beca felt a little easier, her momentary panic slipping away.

"Lean back against me," he suggested. "That way you'll fall asleep on my shoulder and not facedown into the apple crumble."

That sounded like a great idea. Jesse shifted closer and Beca nearly sighed out in content as she leaned back into his warmth. They had all sat down for dinner after the drinks reception. It was supposed to be an informal affair but the parents of the bride and groom stood up and made their speeches. And then the aunt and uncles. Coupled with the alcohol, the dim lighting and jetlag, Beca could not keep her eyes open.

"What did I missed?" Beca asked.

"Uncle Edward made a speech about uniting two great countries through marriage. He nearly broke out singing Rule Britannia," Jesse whispered back. "Aunt Dot was talking about how the Pilkington-Smythe line will flourish with such good hips she saw on Chloe. They are expecting half a dozen babies -"

"That is inappropriate -" Beca laughed softly. "- and this wedding is getting more and more weird."

"I agree. But I'm having fun actually."

"Cos you're a weirdo," Beca murmured. It was so comfortable leaning against him. Her eyes were droopping again. "You called me Beca just now -"

"Hmm? Of course," Jesse replied. "That's your name."

"Yeah. But you always call me Lane," Beca insisted drowsily. "I like it when you called me Beca. It's nice."

Beca didn't expect an an answer back. She was just happy being cocooned against his warmth. He was only holding her close to his side with one arm but it felt nice.

"How many speeches left do you think?" Jesse asked.

"I don't know," Beca answered back lazily, eyes still closed. "Why?"

"I think you're tired and very jetlagged. You should go to bed."

"Dude, bed sounds great at the moment," she slurred. "But we can't sneak off without people noticing."

"Oh people are noticing alright," Jesse whispered into her ear, his other arm wrapping around her. "People are noticing how we are leaning and whispering and touching and hugging. Especially a certain blond someone with a name starts with L for loser."

"Really?'

"No, don't look.," Jesse shushed when Beca tried to sit up and look around. He landed a light kiss against her temple and added. "He's been staring at you the whole night. Looking quite sick, I might add. So how 'bout it? Shall we make him even more jealous?"

Beca turned her head. They were so close her nose was brushing against Jesse's cheek. She sank back against his shoulder and her hand crawled up round his neck. Jesse found himself kissing Beca Mitchell on her mouth, her fingers tangling in his curls. It was a hot kiss. Her mouth opened immediately under his, the tip of her tongue darting in. He instinctively wrapped her nearer, moulding his hands against her ribcage. His hands would have travelled further up if she didn't suddenly break the kiss.

"How 'bout that?" Beca whispered. "Do you think that worked?"

His head was still ringing and it took Jesse a few moments to get his composure back.

"Yeah," he answered, a little surprise how thick his voice sounded. "I think that will work."

"Good," Beca replied. She sat up and picked up her clutch from the table. "Come on, dude. Let's go back to our room. That sofa's waiting for you."

"They're sneaking off."

Aubrey noted the audible glee in Stacie's voice and glanced over to where Beca and Jesse were sitting. Jesse was now standing up, drawing Beca's chair back as she got up. Both of them were smiling, quietly taking their leave and Jesse's hand was on her back as they practically ran out of the room.

"Did you see how handsy they were? All that cuddling and kissing?" Stacie said, almost combusting in excitement. "And now they are leaving? Yes! Our girl is getting laid tonight!"

"Don't bet on it," Aubrey countered. "She's stubborn as fuck and he's putting on a good show. I don't think they are falling into bed having sex just yet."

"What? What? Who's having sex?"

Both women heard a chair being dragged close to where they are sitting and Fat Amy plopped herself down. The fat blonde reached up to her tall beehive, extracted a breadstick and begin to munch noisily on the treat.

"Are you guys taking bets whether Beca is going to have sex tonight?" Amy asked in between munches. "Put me down for a twenty."

"No, Amy, no." Aubrey answered, slightly aghast. "We don't bet on our friends like that!"

"You don't but I do," Stacie replied, reaching out to shake on the deal. "Twenty, did you say? Wait. Sorry. We'll be betting on the same outcome, Ames. I really, really want Beca to have sex tonight. That hunter is so out of action -"

"She's not getting any?" Fat Amy questioned in surprise. "Have you seen the hunky, creamy cheesecake she had draped all over her? She's not tapping that?"

Aubrey was throwing dagger looks at Stacie for almost giving the game away.

"Ahem...I heard they were taking it slow," Aubrey swiftly interjected. "You know, with the whole Luke thing, Beca is having some trust issues and Jesse is fine with that. It's only been two months."

"Two months? TWO months?" Amy said. "How could flatbutt resist him for two months? I dive into that cheesecake first chance I've got. Did you see how well his trousers fit?" Amy made vague circling motions with her hands. "I swear -" she continued. "- when Beca introduced him around, he was so freaking charming, TWO women came on the spot. Where in the world did Beca get a man like that?"

"Out of a catalogue," Stacie said with a straight face.

Aubrey swiftly kicked her under the table.

"Ladies, I am SO okay with flatbutt having a new man. She deserves someone good after that asshole, Luke," Amy said, flicking crumbs off her boobs. "Have you spoken to him yet? I've heard he didn't bring a plus one. Things with Slut PA lasted all of two weeks."

"Chloe won't invite that hussy!" Stacie said. "Cheap slut thought she could get famous on being the other woman. Tried to get some mileage out of all that gross publicity. Didn't work."

"Karma's a bitch," Amy agreed. She leaned a little closer, smirking. "But my sources told me something else too. Since the whole engagement imploded, Luke's at a loose end. Not very many of his business contacts are returning his calls."

"It's because they are mainly Beca's business contacts," Aubrey said. "Serves that jerk right."

"I think our dear Luke is beginning to find out how good he had it with Beca. Hot girlfriend, good career, great lifestyle," Amy said. "Now he's without a girlfriend and not exactly raking it in. We all know Luke doesn't do 'poor' very well so -"

Both Aubrey and Stacie were looking at each other, a little puzzled at what Fat Amy was insinuating. It was Stacie who spoke up first.

"Oh my god, Amy . Do you think Luke is trying to get back with Beca?"

The sofa was not that bad.

He had slept in worse places before and a nice plush sofa in a luxurious suite with soft pillows and a thick duvet was definitely not that bad. They and returned to the room and Beca immediately headed for the bedroom, clearly tired and wanting to sleep. He had let her have the bathroom and waited until she was done before cleaning up for the night. By the time he came out, Beca was already in bed and when he tiptoed out to the lounge, he found the pillows and duvet waiting for him. Jesse was just dozing off to sleep when he heard his name being called.

"Jess."

Thinking he was probably hearing things, he mumbled and turned over, pulling the duvet higher up. He felt a hand shaking him and the voice was a little more insistent this time.

"Jesse, wake up""

Jesse shot up straight. He also nearly brained Beca who was hovering over him.

"Ouch. Dude!" Beca complained rubbing her head when Jesse had inadvertently hit her.

"Beca?" Jesse mumbled, rubbing his eyes. "You're up? What's wrong?"

"I can't sleep," Beca said.

"You can't sleep?" Jesse echoed. He yawned a little before focusing his eyes on Beca. She was standing over him, with a robe wrapped round her and Jesse made a little space on the sofa so she could sit down. She stayed on her feet.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"I don't know," Beca huffed.

"Do you want me to make you some hot chocolate?" Jesse offered, fully awake now. "Maybe that might help?"

"No-" she replied, twisting the tie on her robe. It took her a few more nervous twists before she continued. "I was just thinking it's a huge bed back there. I mean, like really huge. So - you don't have to sleep on this old sofa -"

"I'm actually ok here -" Jesse started but he stopped when he noticed how worried and she looked and Jesse changed his mind. "You know what? That would be really nice. Thank you."

Beca nodded briefly before walking back to the bedroom. Jesse took a moment to wonder what was happening before picking up the pillows and with the duvet trailing behind him, he followed her into the bedroom.

That bed was big. That was certainly true.

Jesse stood at the doorway watching Beca. She was on her knees on the bed, building a massive wall of pillows dividing the bed into two. Jesse had to stifle a smile. Seriously, how many pillows did housekeeping provide in this place? And can Beca looked any cuter concentrating hard on that pillow fort? She hopped off the bed and stood at the side once she finished.

"Wow, pretty impressive fort building skills there," he commented, going to his side and tossing his pillow down. "Who are you trying to keep out?"

"Well. Just in case I kick you or something," Beca muttered, lowering her gaze, a little embarrassed. She slipped underneath the duvet on her side, fluffed up her pillow and tried to settle in. Jesse did the same and before he reached out to switch off the light on the nightstand, he looked over his shoulder.

"Night, Beca."

Her answer was a soft harrumph.

Jesse settled back into the bed. Oh yeah. Much nicer than the sofa. He should fall asleep in no time. Like any moment now. Any moment. In fact, he should have fallen asleep like five minutes ago. Except Beca was lying, restless, next to him.

"I can hear you thinking," Jesse spoke up in the dark. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Beca fell silent for a minute and then he heard a long sigh. She turned on her side to face him, impatiently brushing her hair back.

"How did you do that?" Beca asked.

"Do what?"

"Know what I'm thinking."

"I don't," Jesse replied, turning on his side to face her. He could just make out the outline of her face in semi darkness. "But I know something's on your mind. You were ready to fall asleep straight into the dessert just now and now you're wide awake. It has to be something pretty big."

Beca was chewing her bottom lip.

"It's Luke," she confessed. "I didn't know seeing him again will affect me so much."

Jesse thought about what she said.

"You were with him for five years," he replied sagely. "There's a lot of history between you. At one point, you even thought you're going to spend the rest of your life with him. Of course, seeing him will affect you."

"Yeah. We've been through a lot," Beca said softly. "I spent some of my early years here in London, just doing gigs, getting my name out there, you know. Luke helped me a great deal and I always felt that I owed him for that. We got together and tried doing the long distance thing but it was hard. So he moved. He came over to the U.S. to be with me."

"Are you feeling a little guilty?" Jesse said.

"I don't know. Maybe. It's just -" Beca broke off, sounding frustrated. "I really don't know. Today was the first time I've seen him in months. I haven't seen him since that night I found him -"

Beca fell silent and Jesse didn't say anything. He knew Beca probably needed a moment.

"So. I haven't seen him since," Beca continued. "I thought I have work it all out of my system. All the crying and burning of clothes etcera. Looks like I haven't."

"You burn his clothes?" Jesse asked, fascinated. "Remind me not to piss you off."

Beca's lips curved into a half smile. She really didn't know how he does it. Somehow Jesse always managed to cheer her up. Even if it was only a little.

"To be honest, I didn't quite recognise him," Jesse continued. "He looked really different with clothes on. All the photos I saw of him; he was naked hiding behind a plant."

"You must mean those pics in the magazines," she grimaced. "Not my finest moment."

"I thought you looked pretty scary. Were you really wielding a stapler?" Jesse asked, fascinated.

"A heavy duty one."

"I hope you threatened to hit him with it?"

"Umm..no," Beca replied. "I think my exact words were I'm going to staple your cock to your pubes you dirty, cheating prick. He was very frightened. Aubrey and Stacie had to stop me."

Jesse snorted in his pillow and on hearing that snort, Beca started giggling. They both started giggling in the dark

"I hope you saw a therapist after that," Jesse remarked once the giggles subsided.

"No, I just bury myself in work and more work," Beca replied. "I didn't want to think too much about it because it hurts. At least my music won't hurt me."

"It's good that you are taking your mind off something like that with work," Jesse said. "But it looks likeyou are not coming to terms about your relationship with Luke either."

Beca looked a little thoughtful.

"I'm beginning to see what Aubrey and Stacie were driving at." she said. I'm not getting any closure."

"Maybe you should have a talk with Luke," Jesse suggested. "Calm and civil. No trying to use bar equipment or office supplies as a weapon. Just an adult conversation about your past and then move on from that."

"I didn't give him a chance to explain," Beca said. "He said he could explain it all and it will make sense."

"He can explain why he cheated on you?" Jesse answered. "Yeah. Ok. That would be interesting."

"You don't get it. What about if it was me?" Beca fretted. "Maybe I drove him away? I knew it was hard for him to tow along. He could have had his own thing here in the UK yet he ditched all that to be with me. And I was so busy all the time -"

"Bec-" Jesse spoke up. "Stop blaming yourself. Even if any of that is true and I, for one, don't think so, Luke should have manned up and talked to you about it. Cheating is never ok."

Beca rolled to her back, staring at the ceiling.

"No. Of course it isn't," she sighed, throwing up her arm to rest on her forehead. "But do you think it's possible to move on? From the cheating, I mean. Is it possible to salvage the relationship?"

Jesse didn't answer and a moment later, Beca felt him shifting and he was on his elbow, his face looming over hers. She couldn't quite make out the expression on his face.

"Are you saying -" Jesse whispered. "- you may still have some feelings for Luke?"