Free Replace Me by Jennifer Foor Page A

sat down next to me and wiped another set of tears off of my cheeks. “Do you want my opinion?”
    I sniffled. “Not really.”
    “Fair enough.”
    He handed me a bottle of beer and pointed to a coaster. I took a sip and sat it down. “Thanks for saving me.”
    “Which time?”
    “Don’t be a dick, Joey. I can’t take anymore sarcasm tonight.”
    Joey picked up his phone, looked at the time, and sat it back down. “Listen, I have somewhere I need to be. I think everyone’s gone, but you’re welcome to stay here. I won’t be back until later.”
    I don’t know what made me ask, but the words blurted out of my mouth. “Are you coming home alone?”
    A smiled formed in the crease of his lips. “Why do you want to know?”
    I shrugged. “I…I don’t want to mess up your opportunity to get laid.”
    He laughed at me. “You could always wait for me in my bed, but that’s up to you, of course.”
    When he got up, started walking in the bedroom, and pulled off his shirt, I couldn’t help but stare at him. Joey had a tattoo of a dragon on his back. It looked sexy as hell and for just a second, I wasn’t thinking about my broken heart. He turned and looked at me. I pretended to be offended that he was shirtless. “No thanks. I’ll probably just go back upstairs, once I know Sky and Ford are in bed.”
    He tapped on the door. “My door is always open if you change your mind.”
    When he walked into the bathroom and shut the door, I covered my face and let the real tears pour out. His mind games were not what I needed. I wanted the empty feeling in the pit of my stomach to go away.
    A few minutes later, he came out wearing only a towel. Our eyes met and he smiled before going into his bedroom and shutting the door behind him. I wasn’t used to Joey being so nice. In all of the times that we’d been around each other, he’d only tried to get me in his bed. This new side of him scared me, because I found myself becoming curious. Curiosity meant that I was interested and I couldn’t want someone like Joey. He had nothing to offer me but the same fate I was under at the moment.
    I was so sick of meaningless relationships and longed to have something real, except I always fell for the wrong guys.
    He came out smelling fantastic and looking even better than earlier. I tried to hide the attraction that I felt toward him, albeit I’m certain he could see me blushing. “So, I’ll be back later. Like I said before, you’re welcome to stay. I’ve got ways to take your mind off of him, you know.”
    I shook my head. “I’ll be gone when you get back. Don’t worry, I will lock up.”
    “Suit yourself, Lace.” He leaned over and kissed me on the top of the head. “I bet you’re awesome to wake up next to.”
    “Too bad you won’t ever find out,” I said as he walked out the door.
    I waited until I heard him pull out to get up and head back to Sky’s. The one thing I hadn’t considered was that they’d already be in bed, with the doors locked. Because of the fight, I’d left without grabbing any of my things, including my keys. I couldn’t get into their house to get my phone or anything else. I knocked twice on the door, but knew they couldn’t hear me from their room, especially if they had the television on. Knowing that I was stuck, I went out to the back porch and sat in the dark.
    I have no idea how long I’d been outside, or when exactly that I’d fallen asleep, but I felt someone picking me up. I recognized the smell of his cologne and knew it was Joey. From crying, I was too tired to fight him. I was cold and had to use the bathroom. He led me inside of the house, but carried me to his bedroom. When he sat me down, I sat up quickly. “I’m not sleeping in here with you.”
    Joey kicked off his shoes and closed his closet door. “I’ll sleep on the couch.” He grabbed a pillow and walked out of the room.
    “What about the spare bedroom?”
    “The mattress sucks. I prefer the