I don't want nobody else lovin' you

Edit: I forgot to remind anyone who hasn't checked since Thursday that Friday I put up THREE new posts to make up for the posts we missed while I was sick. So if you haven't read those yet, please go back and make sure that you do so you're all caught up!!!


Dinner was surprisingly fun and relaxed. I know sometimes when you get a group of people together from different circles of friends, it can be awkward. People can stay in their own cliques and as the host who sort of knows everyone, you have to float from group to group. But, it wasn’t like that at all. We had a few people from work, a few of Matt’s other friends, Seth’s friends, Jarren and some of her friends, and then my boys. The conversation flowed easily, the group intermingled within each other, and various funny stories were passed around.

After dinner we said goodbye to Nick, and a few of the other guests who didn’t want to head out to the clubs. I was half surprised when Drew didn’t try to weasel out as well. I hadn’t paid much attention to him all night, and I didn’t know he had gotten over whatever he was pouting about earlier or not. Before we left the restaurant, Jarren and I are a few of the girls made our way to the bathroom to freshen up before we headed out.

“Ohh Ella. You get lucky every time. First Jason, who isn’t bad looking, then Drew, who REALLY isn’t bad looking, but now Seth? Wow. That’s all I have to say.” Jarren commented.

“You dated Drew?” Julie, one of Jarren’s friends asked.

“Yeah.” I answered, choosing not to say much else about it.

“Oh. How long ago?” She asked.

I tried not to get defensive or possessive. I knew she was probably asking because she wanted to make a move. It was hard to keep my claws in, but I knew that wasn’t fair. I was dating someone else, so why shouldn’t Drew? Besides, not to sound catty or anything, but I highly doubt he’d be interested.

“Couple months. We broke up the beginning of December.” I tried to keep my voice neutral as I applied some more mascara in the mirror.

“That’s surprising.” She answered.

“Julie!” Jarren hissed, shooting her friend a look. I’ll admit, I was a little offended myself.

“No. No. I didn’t mean it like that!” She said quickly. “Honestly. It’s just he and that Christi girl seems so close, I thought they were dating.”

“Oh… No. He just met her today…” I said, again trying to appear calm and normal. Really, my heart felt like it was being squeezed so tight, I was surprised I was still able to breathe.

I panicked a little bit more when I remembered what Seth had said earlier that night. That I reminded him of Christi. Did Drew feel the same way? Would he fall in love with her since he couldn’t have me? Did all this panic I was feeling mean that I should dump Seth and try to get back with Drew, before it was too late? My head was spinning, I didn’t know what to do. Again, it was a choice of who to love, and I just couldn’t make a decision, and I was so terrified that I wouldn’t be able to reach one, and one would be made for me. The wrong one. I was also scared that I would be able to reach one, and it would also be the wrong one.

“Ella, are you listening?” Jarren broke in.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” I said, smiling. “In another place…”

“I said, do you think Matt really likes me? I mean he hasn’t really spoken to me all night…”

“I think he likes you. He said he did. I just think it’s hard, it’s dinner, there’s a lot of people here, he’s kind of the center of attention so he’s trying to pay attention to everyone…”

“But I look OK, right?” She asked, smoothing a hand over her dress.

“You look great. Now let’s get back out there before they start to think we fell in!” I joked.

We headed out to our separate cars to head over to the club. I made a point to grab Matt and get him and Jarren to ride with us. They talked easily in the backseat, and I was relieved. Part of me was afraid Matt might snub Jarren, and I would end up looking like the bad guy who set her up to fail.

“So. Your friends get along with mine. That’s good, huh?” I asked Seth, unable to stop myself.

“Yeah. They seem to really like each other. They like you too.” He said, reaching over and holding my hand.

I wanted to ask about Christi… See if maybe he had noticed something between her and Drew, but I knew there was no way to bring it up without sounding really jealous.

We got to the club and honestly I wasn’t really in the mood anymore. But, I knew that if I acted upset, the reason would be obvious. Not only that, but I really did want Matt to have a good time. He could have gone home this weekend and spent his birthday with the friends he’s known his entire life and his family, but instead he chose to stay here and help out. I appreciate that, and I knew I owed him one. I started watching Christi and Drew, and sure enough, they stuck around each other all night. Christi was clearly flirting, and while I wasn’t sure if Drew was flirting back or not (I had honestly never really seen him flirt with another girl before.) He also didn’t look uncomfortable. In fact, he looked happy. I had to make myself stop watching, so to keep my mind off them, I started drinking and dancing.

Seth and I hit the dance floor, and just like I have never dated anybody as gorgeous as he was, I had never dated anyone who could dance like he could. I should have known, I obviously met him because he was teaching my kids a type of dance, but I guess I just didn’t think about it. Even though I wasn’t the best dancer, he took me in his arms and was able to guide me. But being that close to his body was difficult for me, and quite frankly I couldn’t keep my hands off of him. Between the alcohol and the way he was making me feel, it wasn’t hard to forget about Drew and Christi.

“You’re coming home with me tonight, aren’t you?” I whispered huskily in his ear as he pulled me close.

“Is that an invitation, or a demand?” He asked, running his hands up my sides and sending a chill through me.

“Mmm… Little of both?” I said, leaning in to kiss him.

Just then, I felt a buzzing vibration against my leg.

“Is that your phone, or are you just really excited to be spending the night tonight?” I asked.

“Mmm, little of both?” He repeated, smiling back. He pulled out his phone to turn it off, but when he saw the number across the screen, her frowned. “I’m really sorry sweetheart, I’ve got to check this. You don’t mind, do you?” He asked.

“No, go ahead.” I answered. He kissed my forehead and headed to the patio, where it would be much quieter.

I used this time to glance around, and was both a little relieved and a little scared to see that Christi and Drew were nowhere in sight. Where were they? I shook my head, deciding to not worry about it. Why did I care after all? I had Seth, and even after I told him the whole horrible drama filled story of Jason, Drew and I he still wanted to stick around. He was a good guy, one who I didn’t have such a complicated past with. Maybe that’s what I really needed, a fresh start with someone new.

I was happy to see Jarren and Matt on the dance floor, looking rather close, but again, felt a pang of jealous. Though again, I shook it off. It sounds conceited but I think I was just so used to guys fighting over me that now it was hard when they didn’t. That was juvenile and selfish though, I didn’t need everyone to want me.

Seth came back a few minutes later, looking distracted and worried.

“I’m so sorry, I have to go, there’s a bit of an emergency…”

“Is everything OK?” I asked.

“I’m not sure, I just need to go home and check… Can you make it home alright? You shouldn’t drive, you’ve been drinking… Can I give you money for a cab?”

“No, I’ll just find Drew or someone. I’m sure he hadn’t been drinking.”

“Alright. Well…”

I kissed him. “Go ahead and go, Seth. It’ll be OK. Call me and let me know how things are, and if I can do anything.”

“Thank you. I will. Can you see if Drew will give Christi a ride home too? She drove my car and I’ll need to take it.”

“Sure thing.” I said, smiling. Great, a car ride home with the two of them.

After Seth left, I went over to Jarren and Matt on the dance floor.

“Hey guys, I’m going to cut out. Seth had to leave on an emergency and so…”

“You OK to drive? You look a little…”

“Drunk.” Jarren finished for him.

“I’m just gonna find Drew and see if he can give me a lift home. Seth asked for him to take Christi home too, since she drove his car.”

“Oh… Well, I’ll help you find them. I saw them headed outside, I could use a little fresh air.” He turned to Jarren. “I’ll be right back, OK?” He asked.

“Sure thing.” She said, smiling back at him.

We went outside, the cool air and the quiet hitting us both at once. I shivered as my ears rang, looking around to see if I could spot them.

“Ella.” Matt said suddenly. “Why don’t I just call you a cab? You look tired, and that way you don’t have to spend all this time waiting…”

That’s when I turned and saw what he must have been trying to protect me from.
Drew and Christi, leaning against a wall, kissing.