The Setup

Part Thirty-Three: The Party

I don't have a good feeling about this.

L: I just need us to slow down. I want to be your girlfriend someday I just don't think with what's going on with the move and my mom and everything. I just don't want to mess this up.

I take a breath. This is so stupid.

J: what are you trying to say?

L: I don't want to mess this up. I just need some more time to get to know you and for you to truly see what my life is like before I mess it all up.

J: what?

She wasn't saying this before.

L: I've had sometime to truly think it over and I don't think we are going to last if I just throw you into my life. I want us to last and the only way is for us to take it slow.

J: did I do something? Say something? What changed?

L: I-

She looks conflicted.

L: I just don't want to ruin your life. You have good friends who are normal. You have a normal family and you aren't ruined by the media. I just don't want you to be.

J: I told you I can handle it.

L: I know you did. But I also I know you won't be. I just want you to see it a little bit closer. I just need to do this.

I mean I respect her enough to understand. But I want her to be my girlfriend. I don't want to lose her. But I'm angry. I don't understand how she doesn't understand that I can do this.

L: Jamie?

J: it lasted what like 4hours?

L: I'm not saying we won't ever be dating. I just want to make sure I don't mess something good up. You don't truly know what it's like. You've never seen me outside of this bubble. You never actually seen what the media will say or do.

I take a breath. I need to calm down.

J: so now what? We aren't dating. We just continue to be friends?

L: yes?

J: no commitment. No nothing? I just don't understand why we can't date and I learn all of this.

L: because I don't want to have to hid us. I don't want to be sneaking around and acting like I'm doing something wrong when I'm not. I don't want us to start off dating like that.

She seemed annoyed and I was annoyed.

J: ok if that's what you want. So be it.

She didn't want to be my girlfriend. That's fine.

Her phone rings and she looks down.

L: I have to go. My rides here.

J: ok.

We walk over to the door and I open the gate.

I walk out with her. A car pulls into the drive way. Tyler gets out of the car.

Tyler: Happy Birthday man!

J: thanks man.

There are four others in the car. Two girls and two guy. The two girls storm out of the car dying laughing.

The blonde girl: omg LUCYYYY

L: hey Laur you good?

The girls seemed drunk. Lucy wants towards them and hey crash into her. Lucy helps the girls up.

The brunette: omg Mitch took us to his new bar fucking wild.

L: I can see that.

Two guys walks out.

The first guy: hey Lucy sorry about them. YOU TWO GET IN THE CAR

The first guy walks up to me. He looks familiar. The other just leaning on the car and nodding at me.

The first guy: hey Jamie. How's it going?

I get a better look at him.

Holy shit it's Mitch. He owns like 4 of the top bars and 5 of the top clubs in Texas. His family own Gas Monkey Garage. He's always on the cover of Dallas Magazine being the most eligible bachelor. I've met him a few times at charity events and stuff.

J: hey Mitch not too bad.

Mitch: I hear it's your birthday! Sorry TS invited me but I was a little tied with with my sister, her friend and Tyler.

J: no worries man.

The second: you ready to go?

He was looking at Lucy.

L: yeah let's go.

He nods.

Mitch: see you later man.

L: bye.

J: bye.

She walks over to the other guy.

L: happy birthday loser.

She pokes him in the forehead. He grabs her hand before it touches him and he smiles.

They gets into the car.

Was she leaving me for him? Who was he? Was more successful and he was good looking. How does she even know him? I thought she didn't know people in Dallas.

Whatever she doesn't want to be my girlfriend. She's not my problem anymore.

I go back to the party. All I can think about is her getting into the car with that mystery guy. I see Tyler and he hands me a drink and I take it. I don't know how many drinks I drank but all I know is I might have messed up.