Jayde had Max's arm draped over her slender shoulder. He was too drunk to walk on his own so she had to assist him. He was blabbering nonsense at this point in time as the sake hit him pretty hard. She couldn't help but smile. As she continued carrying him, it seemed the alcohol had begun to make it's way further in her system as well.
"I'm feeling pretty good. Are you feeling good, Miss Jayde? You're so beautiful. I want to kiss you. Can I kiss you? Would you let me? It's a dog!" Max got distracted by someone walking their dog through the park they had to take back to her place.
Jayde giggled at his outburst. "Yes, it is a dog. So floofy! Don't lean on me too much. I'm on the verge of falling down," she squealed as they swayed together. Max grabbed her hand and pulled her to the bench a few feet in front of them.
"Let's just sit here. I need to admire your face again. I think I forgot what you look like already," Max's breath was warm against her shoulder. Jayde's heart raced as her mind drifted to the potential bedroom activities they could jump into as soon as she got him to her apartment.
Max leaned in, caressing her blushed cheek and stroking it with his thumb. "You really are so beautiful." Jayde felt, her already warm cheek, get warmer with his praises.
She looked away and realized the lady that was walking the dog was now standing in front of them. Jayde looked down and realized the dog was wagging its tail and staring at Max.
Jayde looked at the woman and said, "Such a beautiful dog." But the lady wasn't listening. Her eyes were glued to Max. When Jayde peeked at him, he was staring at the woman like he'd seen a ghost.
"Jess," he voice was low. He sounded angry. "What are you doing here," he barked. Jayde watched as his once bright eyes grew darker by the second. The hand that had been on her knee was now squeezing it so tightly it started to hurt.
"What do you mean me?! Did you follow me here?! Are you a fuckin' stalker?! Max, I told you to never contact me again! Who the hell is this slut?!" She woman glared at Jayde who seemed to be completely confused.
"No offense, I'm sure you're a lovely lady," the lady quickly added to Jayde. Jayde stood up and started walking away to leave them to whatever was happening between the two of them.
Max watched Jayde slowly stroll away and stood up to chase after her. Jess had grabbed his arm and pulled him back before he could go too far. "So she's more important than me? Who the hell is she, Max," Jess barked at him. She just wanted him to acknowledge her, but instead, he yanked his arm from her and stared daggers into her very soul.
"Don't ever touch me! You see I'm here with someone! She's the only one who matters right now! You dare disgrace my lady in front of me?! You're a good for nothing, lying, cheating bitch and I don't have time nor the energy to deal with the likes of you. Never approach me again, Jessica! I mean it," he growled under his breath and Jess mentally backed away from him.
"Who is she to you? You've never spoke to me this way before," Jess' voice trembled at the thought of him finally moving on and being happy with someone else.
"She's none of your concern. Neither am I. Now excuse me while we enjoy the rest of our evening." Max turned and rushed to Jayde's side, tucking her under his arm once again.
Jayde looked up and met his gaze. "You didn't have to defend me like that," she whispered to him. Max only kissed her forehead and pulled her closer to his side.
"Don't worry about it. No one is going to talk down to such a goddess in front of me. I'll always protect you." And Max knew, he meant everything he'd just said. He only intended to protect her. If not from him or herself, then from everyone around them.
They soon arrived at Jayde's place. She unlocked her door and held it open for him to enter. "Would you like a drink," she offered as they slipped out of their coats and shoes.
"Do you have any of that sake here? My buzz died down after running into her," he sat on the couch and rested his head in his hands. "I'm so sorry she dragged you into that. I'm sorry I dragged you into it. That wasn't my intention at all."
Jayde watched him for a while before grabbing the sake from the fridge and two cups from the cupboard. "I'm okay. Really. I assume you have a past with her? Can I ask what happened to leave you on such bad grounds?"
They slammed back a few cups before he answered. "Jess is my ex-fiance. She and I were together for 6 years and everything seemed great. But then I caught her in bed with her 'brother-figure'. I told her I'd forgive and forget if she promised to never see him again. She wouldn't do it. So I walked away. A few days passed and she came back saying she thought it through and she was willing to accept my terms. Not even a month later, she was caught at a hotel with him. When I confronted her, she denied everything and I wanted to believe her. Until later that night. I checked her phone without her permission 'cause I felt she was hiding something from me... She was acting different. Moody towards me, but nice to everyone else. She was leaving for work and coming back at weird hours. I couldn't take the secrecy anymore. Needless to say, I still didn't end things. I forced her to sit down and talk to me. She kept denying everything even though I saw the proof in her text messages. Not long after, she ended things with me."
Max was looking at the floor while he told the story to Jayde. When he finished, he lifted his head long enough to throw back another cup. Since they were in the comfort of her home, she didn't hesitate to let him drink to his hearts content.
Jayde didn't know what to say, so she just grabbed his hand and pulled him to rest his head on her lap. She stroked his hair and listened to the silence of such a heart-breaking night. She could only imagine the pain seeing Jess brought back to him.
Her only goal tonight:
Make Max forget.