Free Lust and Lies (The Jamie Reynolds Chronicles #1) by Casandra Charles

mad hot in this club.”
    “Okay, it is hot as hell in here,” I said as we began to walk outside.
    “Yo, J,” Terry shouted over the crowd. “Let’s go through the back. Too many people out front still trying to get in.”
    I should have known better. It was about two in the morning, raining outside, and the club closed in an hour, and there wouldn’t be anyone outside. That night was pretty much a blur. The last thing I remembered was walking outside with Terry and he asked me for a kiss. I, of course, laughed it off and continued to walk; that was it. Four hours later, I woke up in the backseat of Angela’s car at Angela’s house with Terry standing over me with an umbrella. It was crazy, the door was open, and he was just standing there as if he never left my side.
    “Jamie, Jamie,” Terry said as I began to regain consciousness. “Yo, man, you had me scared. I never seen you drunk before.”
    I tried to sit up, but my head was killing me, and I began to ask him 101 questions. “Terry, what time is it? Where am I? Is everything okay?”
    “No, Jamie, you good. I was so scared, you scared me to death.”
    “Why, what happened?”
    “You must have had too much to drink. You passed out a few hours ago.”
    Reason number two why I didn’t drink; it wasn’t like I couldn’t hold my liquor, but I had these blackout spells and never remembered a large block of time if I drank too much.
    The relationship between Terry and me was about to change at that very moment, and all I could say was, “Damn, how drunk was I? Did anyone see me drunk?” thinking of myself and my almost spotless reputation.
    “Jamie, I have to talk to you,” Terry said, brushing off my last question.
    “What’s up? This must be serious; you never call me Jamie. Oh god, what did I do in those four hours I was passed out? How did I get to Angela’s apartment?” I was still asking questions.
    “Don’t worry about it; I took you home. I drove my car and followed Angela to her apartment, making sure you guys got home okay.”
    “Thanks, man.”
    “You know I wouldn’t let anything happen to you. I love you.”
    “Aw, I love you too.”
    “No, Jamie, I’m serious and don’t know why I’m telling you this now, but I really love you. More than you know. I can’t stop thinking about you, and after the accident, you were there for me, and for three months you were by my side in the hospital.”
    “Terry, I wasn’t the only one by your side; your wife, Monica, was there as well.”
    “Man, I know that. I love Mo and she’s the mother of my children.”
    “Yeah, she’s also your wife and she’s a friend. Think about what you’re saying. Please don’t do this.”
    “You talk as if I’m trying to hurt you; I’m not trying to hurt you. I love you, man, don’t you understand I love you.”
    “No, you don’t.”
    “You can’t tell me how I’m supposed to feel.”
    “Now what? What do you want me to do or say? You know I love you like a brother, for god’s sake, I’m like your children’s godmother.”
    “Jamie, what am I supposed to do? Just keep my feelings toward you inside?”
    “Yeah, Terry, I wish you did, I really wish you did,” I said as my voice got softer and softer. “Terry, you are my life and I would do anything for you, you know that.” I began to speak as the tears finally came rushing out of my eyes.
    “I would do anything for you too, JR.”
    “Terry, please leave and go home. Go home to your wife, my friend Monica.”
    “JR, please don’t do this.”
    “Do what?” At this point I was crying mainly out of anger and frustration. “Terry, I sat there and listen to Monica cry over you when she caught you cheating on her. You know how long and hard it was for her to even trust me and I wasn’t the one you cheated with. She trusts me and I would never do that to her, to myself. You know how things went down with me and Robert, and I will never go down this path again. Listen to what you’re