Chapters 31 and 32 are brand new, they were posted together on the July 19th. If you came here first, go back and read chapter 31, otherwise you will be missing part of what happened at the club with Donovan.
"Hey Cece. Is Nick here?" Jess wearily called out to her friend as she made her way towards the bar.
"No, I haven't seen him since this afternoon. Why, what's wrong? Did something happen?" Cece asked.
"Nick and I got into it at the club and he left all pissed off."
"Ah.. Hun. What happened?"
"He was pissed off, because Donovan blew his cover and then I was hanging all over him on the dance floor."
"See... didn't I warn you? Guys don't like being played with, Jess. You gotta keep it straight with them, especially Nick... he's fragile that one." Cece scolded as she picked up 2 shot glasses and poured herself and Jess a tequila shot.
"I know that Cece! But I was so angry, especially after seeing him with Reagan this afternoon." Jess snarled throwing back the shot and wincing.
Cece smirked as she took her shot and nodded to Jess, "Hey, where is Donovan anyways?"
"Ah.. I left him at the club." Jess spoke as she eyed the corner booth. "There wasn't much going on up there, if you know what I mean."
"He is gorgeous though." Cece affirmed.
"That he is! There is no denying that, but he's just not my type. I like them a little weird and grumpy... you know a real mountain man who takes charge in the boudoir and can fix things around the house."
"Oh, like Nick?" Cece knowingly laughed as she turned her head to Javier who was motioning for her to wrap it up.
"Yes, okay... like Nick! Are you happy?" Jess voiced loudly feeling a little aggravated.
"Calm down Jess! Nick isn't one to harbor ill feelings. You will get your man back, but no more games. ok?"
"Yeah alright, I get it. I really fucked up this time, but I promise... no more games."
"Alright listen, it's getting kind of busy around here. Do you want me to make you a drink? Javier is giving me the look."
"Nah... go serve your customers'. I'm just going to go wait for you to finish your shift over there." Jess stated pointing to the corner booth.
"Okay babe. Let me know if you want anything." Cece replied turning her attention to a growing number of customers who began crowding their way around the bar.
About 20 minutes had gone by, when Cece came over to Jess' table and set down a fruity cocktail in front of her. "Complements of that guy over there." she smiled pointing to a tall figure behind her.
Jess looked up and turned her head in the direction where a broad shouldered guy with light brown hair stood. "Oh, no, no, no... Cece, I can't! He's going to think I am interested if I accept that." Jess implored.
"Oh, come on Jess, a little flirting and conversation isn't going to hurt. It might actually do you some good!" Cece insisted as she saw the guy walking over towards the table.
"Here he comes. Good luck!" Cece winked before turning her attention back towards the bar.
"Cece, what happened to no more games?" Jess whined.
"Hey there pretty lady, I'm Ray. Do you mind if I join you?" the tall light haired man asked as he leaned over Jess' shoulder. He smelled of liquor and stale cigarettes.
Jess turned to look up at him and noticed that he had hazel eyes and a 5 o'clock shadow grazing his jawline. "Umm... I'm actually waiting for someone." Jess squeaked.
"Really, the waitress said you were here alone." Ray uttered as he slid into the booth next to her.
Right away Jess noted that he wasn't really her type. He appeared to be in his mid to late 20's and he had a really big head with a square jaw. He had the semblance of a jock who had forgotten to shave that morning, rather than the mountain man type she was normally attracted to; who just so happened to be the imperfect, ruggedly handsome, turtle faced man, who sported a cute smile and slept across the hall from her.
"Really, thank you for the drink, but I'm not interested." Jess groaned as she pushed herself away from the table. She couldn't believe Cece would tell this guy that she was alone, especially after she explicitly told her that she was done playing games and wanted to fix things with Nick for good.
"Hey, get back here! The least you could do is have a drink with me." Ray called out as Jess scurried her way over towards the washrooms. She figured if she could hide out for awhile, the guy would hopefully give up and leave or just hit on another girl.
Finally after about 10 minutes of hiding out in the bathroom, Jess decided to call a cab and head home for the night. She really didn't want to stick around knowing that this creep could still be hanging around the bar.
As Jess made her way towards the exit, she quickly scanned the room and was relieved to see that Ray was no longer there, but she still didn't feel like staying. "Hey Cece, I called a cab. I'll see you at home later. Ok?" she shouted as she waved goodbye.
"Yeah, alright babe! Text me when you get in." Cece hollered back over the crowd surrounding the bar.
As she pushed her way out the heavy front doors of the Griffin, she felt the cool evening air hit her lungs and a chill crawl up her spine. She immediately regretted not taking the time to grab her cardigan before she had left the loft, but she had been in such a hurry trying to avoid Nick, that she decided to forgo it.
So here she was alone, shivering in the parking lot, waiting for a cab. Jess was getting a little impatient and noticed from her last call that 15 minutes had passed since she had phoned the taxi company. She began to feel anxious and decided that she should probably head back inside to call for another cab, but as she turned to go back in, she heard someone come up behind her.
"There you are. I was waiting for you to come back and have a drink with me, but here you are sneaking off!" Ray growled as he stumbled towards Jess and took hold of her left shoulder.
"Listen buddy, back off will ya! I... I told you... I... I'm not interested." Jess stammered as she used her purse to try and shove the big ogre away from herself.
"Hey! Don't fucking touch me Bitch!" the man snarled throwing her up against the side of the building. Jess felt her head hit the wall hard, as Ray's knee pressed in between her legs, causing them to spread far apart.
"Please don't do this!" Jess cried out. She was doing everything in her power to fight him off, but her efforts became futile as her heels began to give way.
Ray grabbed both her wrists and threw them up above her head. "You dumb slut! I told you that I wanted to have a drink with you."
"Please, let's just go back inside. We... we can sit down and have a drink together." Jess pleaded. Her eyes were wide with fear and she could see the fury in his.
Her pleas went ignored though; he continued to hold her arms up above her head, taking both of her wrists within one of his hands, while he slid the other up under her dress. He was pushing his knee so hard into her pelvis that she thought it was going to break.
As he reached the hem of her panties, Jess saw a large hand grab Ray by the shoulder. "Get your Fucking hands off my girlfriend, prick!"
"Mind your business, pal!" Ray spat over his shoulder as he leaned in to kiss Jess.
Jess watched in horror as Nick tossed Ray to the ground and began hammering into him. He was hitting him so hard that Jess thought he was going to kill him.
"Nick! Oh My God! Nick stop, you're going to kill him. Please stop!" There was no getting through to him though, Nick just kept pounding on Ray's face.
"Nicholas!" Jess shouted as she grabbed him by the shoulders and tried to tear him away from the now almost lifeless body. But Nick was only seeing red, he was so full of rage that she honestly thought nothing was going to stop him until the guy was dead.
Jess felt like she was in a daze, all she could do was stand there and watch as Nick pummeled the guy into the ground. And she hadn't really heard the commotion going on around her, until she felt someone shaking her.
"Jess! Hey Jess, are you alright?" Cece shrieked as she pulled Jess away from Nick and Ray. That's when Jess noticed Schmidt running from his parked car over towards her and Cece, and that some other people from inside the bar had gathered around the parking lot.
"Nick! Nicholas! Come on man!" Schmidt roared as he tugged at Nick's shirt and dragged him away from Ray.
"You hear me you motherfucker!" Nick shouted as he stood up and pushed himself away from Schmidt. "If you ever come around here again, I'll fuckin' kill ya!" Nick warned as he ran back towards Ray and kicked him in the gut.
"Come on Nick, he's not worth it." Schmidt yelled as he grabbed Nick by the arm and tried to usher him towards the waiting cab in the parking lot.
"I'm not leaving without Jess." Nick croaked as he reeled himself away from Schmidt's grasp.
"Go Jess! Schmidt and I will take care of this. You need to be with Nick right now." Cece insisted as she motioned for Nick to come take her.
All Jess could do was nod. She was in such a state of shock, that she wasn't sure if she could even walk.
Cece handed Jess over to Nick as he placed his jacket over her shoulders and protectively wrapped an arm around her. He then slowly guided her over towards the waiting cab, forcing her to get in first as he followed closely behind her and got in through the same door.
Once they were both in their seats, Nick pulled Jess into his chest and began laying a halo of soft kisses on her face and head.
Nothing else mattered anymore; not the fight at the club or that Jess lied about who Donovan was, or what had happened between Reagan and them. Not even the insecurities that they were both harbouring about their relationship mattered any more. Everything that had kept them apart was insignificant now; she was his and he was hers, and that was all there was to it! For now he just needed to get her home where he could be sure that she would be safe under his watchful eye.