Players, Bumps and Cocktail Sausages by Natasha Preston Page B

texts.”
    “Because I don’t want to talk to you.”
    I felt like shit, and I looked like shit. Whenever I saw her or thought about her, I felt ten times worse. Why the hell would I want to take her calls? I wanted her to leave me alone so I could try and forget about how much I missed her and how much she ripped my heart open.
    “Mum. Kitchen!” Oakley said, ushering everyone out of the way. At least one of them respected my privacy...
    “Jasper, we have to talk about this. I can’t apologise enough, and I’m not going to give up on us. You’re angry, and I understand that. I’m angry with myself too. I can’t believe I was so stupid. We can work this out. Our marriage deserves a second chance.”
    What? I gritted my teeth, and willed myself not to cry like a baby. “You cheated before. This was the second chance.”
    “We were merely kids before.”
    “Such a fucking copout! Don’t pretend it was okay before because we were young. I managed to keep it in my pants. If you wanted to see other people you could’ve ended it with me.”
    “Oh my God, I’m sorry, Jasper! Are you really going to give up before we’ve even tried?”
    I held my hands up and clenched my fists. Turning around, I grabbed the closest thing to me – the plate of cocktail sausages – and launched them across the room.
    Abby gasped, and my eyes widened. They flew across the room, pelting to the floor, in the fireplace, up the wall and behind the radiator like a sausage rainfall.
    Grease stained the feature wallpaper on the chimney breast.
    “Jasper!” Abby said, her voice a squeaked whisper.
    “Get out. I can’t do this, Abby. I love you so much, and I want nothing more than to go back to how it was, but I’ve lost all respect for you. If you care about me at all, you’ll leave me alone.”
    She gulped audibly. “Don’t do this.”
    “I didn’t. We’re over, Abby,” I replied and walked into the kitchen.
    She didn’t follow, and I heard the front door close seconds later.
    My family were lined up along the counter, waiting.
    “How did it go, honey?” Mum asked, stepping forward to give me a hug.
    “Like you weren’t listening.”
    She squeezed me tight. “Are you okay?”
    “Sure. I don’t want to talk about it though. Can we please forget she came by?”
    Mum pulled back. “Absolutely. Whatever you need, and whenever you want to talk…”
    I nodded. I wouldn’t go to her. She’d had enough shit to deal with, and I didn’t want to lay any more problems on her shoulders.
    “I need a drink,” I said.
    Cole handed me a bottle of Jack Daniels.
    I heard two things a second apart, Mum shouting, “Jasper, what on earth happened in my living room!” and Everleigh screaming, “My cocktail sausages!”
    I winced.
    “What did you do?” Oakley asked.
    “I threw the platter of sausages.”
    She pursed her lips. “Because?”
    “I was pissed off.”
    “I’ll help Mum clean up. You relax and get a drink.”
    I did just that.
     

Chapter Twelve
     
     
    Sighing into my coffee, I looked down at Everleigh. At least she was one girl that would never screw me over. My eyes stung from the three hours sleep I’d had last night. Every time I closed my eyes I saw Max’s face staring back at me. Abby’s betrayal reminded me of his. I wished it was her face I saw.
    “Uncle Jasper, why are you sad?” she asked, looking up at me with her big baby blue eyes.
    “That’s what happens when uncles find out their wives are cheating hos.”
    “Auntie Abby’s a cheating hos?” My eyes flew open. Shit! “What’s a hos?”
    Damn it, I’m a fucking idiot!
    “Err, home. I said Abby’s at home.”
    She frowned and bit her lip, trying to understand. I don’t want you to understand!
    “It doesn’t matter. Why don’t you eat your sausages up and I’ll let you have ice cream.”
    “Okay,” she replied and popped a cocktail sausage in her mouth. “Uncle Jasper?”
    “Yeah?”
    “Can we go see Mummy?”
    “Yeah. Hurry