Blowback by Stephanie Summers Page A

but mostly because the stench was overwhelming—waiting for her “friendly advice”. It would more than likely be anything but. I really didn’t want to have to tell her to fuck off, but I was ready to if necessary.
    “You seem like a nice girl, and I don’t want you to get hurt, so I’d advise you to stay away from Jet Flanagan. He’s an asshole who likes to make women think they’re special and then disappear when he’s done with them, like he’s never met them before in his life. Don’t go down that path, honey. You seem too good for his hit it and quit it game.”
    Too late. I’d already traveled that path with him.   “Thanks for the advice, but Jet is just an old friend. I’m quite familiar with his ways.” Too familiar.
    “I’m sorry, what was your name?”
    “Evie,” I said between clenched teeth.
    “That’s weird. I’ve known him for a long time, and he’s never mentioned you before. I’m Jerney,” she said. “Nice to meet you. Hope you have a good night… without Jet. I’m sure you can do better.” Smirking, she got up and walked away, taking that gag-worthy smell with her.
    What the fuck was I doing? He’d obviously been with that piece of work by the way she was staking her claim. Was she an ex? Was she the ex? The one he’d apparently been so in love with that he had to dump me and immediately get engaged to her?
    He finally returned a few minutes later with no drink in hand.
    “I’m really sorry. I’ve gotta split.”
    “Yeah, sure,” I said and stood. I pushed my way past him and began to walk away.
    “Evie, wait,” he said, touching my shoulder. “Can I see you later?”
    “Later? It’s already late.”
    “I just have to do something really quick, and then I can come to your hotel in about an hour.”
    “I don’t even know if I’ll be there in an hour. I doubt Sophie and Alex are leaving anytime soon. They’re my ride since you’re bailing on me.”
    “You’ll be there. Let me get you a taxi or something before I go. I don’t want to end the evening this way, and I don’t think you do either.”
    “That’s not necessary. I’ll either be there or I won’t,” I snapped and walked away. I didn’t like that you’ll-be-there bullshit, like he had some say over what I did or didn’t do. Nope. Wasn’t doing that again. I had enough of that during my short attempt at marriage to last a lifetime. I certainly wasn’t going to take it from someone who’d just walked back into my life only hours before.
    The room began to shrink as the walls felt like they were closing in on me. The concoction of sexual frustration, disappointment, and air so hot I could barely breathe got to me and I had to get out of there, if only temporarily. My throat felt as if it were closing up from lack of oxygen. I had to find Sophie and Alex. After searching for a few minutes, I finally found them after I pushed my way through the crowd to the bathroom line.
    “I need some air,” I said. “I’m gonna go outside for a few minutes.”
    “We’ll just come with you,” Alex said. “This line isn’t moving anyway.”
    We headed outside to find the line had dwindled some. Whether or not those people just gave up or actually made it inside, I didn’t know, but judging by the influx of people in the club, I’d say some of them did.
    “I thought there’d be some hotter guys here,” Sophie said. “I’m a little disappointed. I mean, I thought it was great until I got a good look at the options, and then, not so much. The place is full of fuckboys tonight. Wouldn’t be so bad if they weren’t so sleazy.”
    “I’m pretty much ready to go,” I said as I tried to decide just how much to tell them about what transpired with Jet… and Jerney. I was eager to get back to my room, but I wasn’t sure if I’d actually open the door when he showed up. I more than likely wouldn’t know until the moment arrived.
    “Where’s lover boy?” Sophie asked.
    “He had something he had