muses_sex_etc - "you're not sorry" - taylor swift [prompt 30.3

[scaredtobreak]

Looking so innocent,
I might believe you if I didn't know
Could've loved you all my life
If you hadn't left me waiting in the cold
And you got your share of secrets
And I'm tired of being last to know
And now you're asking me to listen
Cause it's worked each time before

But you don't have to call anymore
I won't pick up the phone
This is the last straw
Don't wanna hurt anymore
And you can tell me that you're sorry
But I don't believe you baby
Like I did - before
You're not sorry, no no, oh

It was one of those situations that just screamed ‘bad idea’ in loud screeching tones. Harper could practically hear the warning bells ringing in her head, telling her to get lost and to get back home before he arrived. Even as she thought it, she felt glued to her seat as she sipped at her drink. The alcohol wasn’t quite as strong as she liked and she considered calling the bartender over to make it a double, possibly a triple, but she needed a somewhat clear head. Not a perfectly clear head but maybe just a bit of one.

“Harper.”

She had felt him seconds before his fingers slipped over her back, touching her with a familiarity that she hadn’t felt in nearly four years. Turning her head, she focused on Jack Wheeler as he took the stool beside her, an easy smile resting on his mouth as he looked her over.

“Hey.” She replied in a flat tone, suddenly wishing she had a stronger drink after all.

“I didn’t think you would show up.” He seemed pleased that she had.

“I seriously considered staying home.” She admitted, watching him as he motioned at the bartender and she quickly downed her drink before pushing her glass towards the young man. “A double this time, please.” She ignored the way that Jack arched a brow at her because she certainly didn’t need someone else harping on her for drinking.

“I’m glad that you didn’t.” He seemed like he had decided to forgo any sort of lecture. Again he touched her, his fingers brushing against the inside of her arm as he leaned in. “I’ve missed you.”

It was exactly the words she had been longing to hear at one time. She had waited for months for him to call her, to say those words and to beg her to meet with him but the call never came. Not till she was sitting in her loft, staring into a nearly empty bottle of vodka, considering what she could do to get rid of the voices in her head and the clawing sensation in the center of her chest. She had wanted to tell him that his call was coming a few years too late but she had found herself agreeing to meet with him instead.

“What do you want, Jack?” She demanded, ignoring his sentimental statement. She didn’t care that her words were a bit harsh as she turned a little to face him. “Why call me out of the blue?”

“It wasn’t really out of the blue, Harper.” He gave a low chuckle as he dropped his hand to his knee, pausing to thank the bartender for their drinks. After suggesting a tab, he turned his attention back to her. “After all, we ran into each other at the pet shop, didn’t we?”

“It’s not like we had a real long conversation.” She scoffed.

“No, we didn’t.” He replied regretfully before narrowing his eyes at her. “You raced out of there pretty quickly with your friend.”

“Husband.” She said the word spitefully, watching the shock flicker across his features before he quickly pulled himself under control. Was it just her or did she imagine a hint of jealousy as well?

“You’re married, then?” He asked, keeping his tone neutral.

“Yes, I am” She curled her fingers around her drink, needing another sip to steady herself.

“I didn’t know.”

“Yeah, I forgot to send out a memo.” Harper shrugged, glancing over at him again. She caught the glint of a band on his finger and she arched a brow at him. “Seems like you are too, so it’s a bit strange you’re calling me. Does your wife know where you are?”

“No, of course not.” He said it so easily, with a laugh, and she wanted to smack him for it. “Does your husband know where you are?”

That question only made her want to smack him a little harder because, no, Lowell didn’t know where she was. She had left a note merely staying that she was going out and that was it. “Of course, he does.”

“Liar.” Jack chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he picked up his drink to take a sip.

“Fuck you.” She muttered, glaring at the bar counter instead of at him.

“Perhaps later.” He smirked at her, watching the look she shot him before he leaned in. “I’m serious, Harper.” His voice had gone low and intimate, just like the tone he had used on her so many times before. “I’ve missed you. I’ve missed being with you like we used to be.”

“You mean fucking?” She needed to be crude because somehow that was safer.

He didn’t seem at all bothered by her crass behaviour as he nodded. “That’s part of it, yes, but I meant just being with you in general.”

“So that’s what you called for? You want to start seeing each other again?” She just stared, trying to wrap her mind around the fact that he was there and actually asking to pick things up where they had left off. “What would your wife think?”

“She wouldn’t care, just as long as we’re discreet.” Jack shrugged one shoulder before looking at her curiously. “What would your husband think?”

And what could Harper really say? When she had married Lowell, they had agreed on keeping the relationship open. At least, she was pretty sure that’s what they had agreed on but she couldn’t remember. She also couldn’t remember the last time she had been with someone who wasn’t Lowell. Fuck, when had that happen?

“I don’t think he’d like it.” She finally answered, clenching her jaw.

“Then he wouldn’t have to know.” Jack decided after a moment, setting down his drink to reach into the inside pocket of his jacket. “Do you remember the apartment I had?” He looked at her, giving a relieved smile when she nodded her head numbly. “Good. I still have it and I still have your key.” He produced the said key, placing it on the counter before sliding it over to her.

“You’re fucking serious, aren’t you?” She murmured, staring at the key.

“I am.” Finally he braved another touch but this time he slid his hand along her jaw, his fingers brushing over her cheekbone as he leaned in just enough to make it harder to breathe for her. “If you want to see me as much as I want to see you, show up at midnight.” He whispered before pressing a light kiss to her forehead while sliding from his chair.

She didn’t move nor did she say anything as he walked away, leaving her there with two half-full drinks and a key that should have been the answer to all the things she had wanted before. But, as she curled her fingers around the key, she only felt cold and slightly disgusting. It disturbed her how quickly he thought he could pick her back up after tossing her aside.

She didn’t seem to notice as her fingers tightened around the key to the point that the sharp edges nearly broke through her skin, leaving a deep imprint in her palm as she considered just what to do with his little gift and his offer. If she didn’t go to his place, then she was proving something that she wasn’t sure she wanted to admit. If she did go, then she would be proving what she had been trying to prove all along; that she wasn’t worth caring about in the end.

After draining down both of their drinks, Harper finally stood up from her stool but she hesitated as she stared at the key in her hand with the realization that she still didn’t know what to do or what point she wanted to prove.

wc: 1303

Comments

[oftheflesh.livejournal.com]

"Your drink, it was whiskey right?" A voice called out from behind Harper at the bar. Alex wasn't sure what was going on, but he could see that his young mystery woman he'd met a few weeks early was clearly struggling. He'd enjoyed the company of her when they'd met, and whatever was happening at the moment he wanted to try to help her where he could.

[scaredtobreak.livejournal.com]

Harper looked over sharply at the question, wondering briefly if it had been aimed at her and she could see it had been once she saw who was doing the asking. Almost immediately she's self conscious, a feeling that she wasn't used to considering who she was but Jack had a way of fucking things up whenever he was around her.

Clearing her throat, she nodded as she forced a smile at the man she had met weeks earlier. "Yes, it was."

[oftheflesh.livejournal.com]

Glancing to the barteneder Alex ordered two shots of Jamesons Whiskey and a Guiness for himself before turning back to her with a warm smile. Jerking his thumb toward the corner of the bar he offered warmly, "I have a booth, over in the corner. It's prime real estate, relatively quiet, and private. I'd love if you'd join me for a bit."

[scaredtobreak.livejournal.com]

She glanced towards the corner of the bar where he was sitting and she considered the idea of joining him. If she did, she wouldn't be tempted to go somewhere she probably shouldn't. "Sure." She decided, tucking the key into her pocket as she smiled faintly. "That would be nice."

[oftheflesh.livejournal.com]

He nodded slightly after she agreed to join him. "Good, I came here thinking I just wanted to have a couple of drinks by myself. The only thing about drinking by myself is... It's fucking lonely." Chuckling at himself he collected their drinks passing her a whiskey shooter and raising his own. "To good company?"