The blow up had been bigger than ever when Rose found him in the delicate position of slumber next to the unknown female. It wasn't like he'd had feelings for the bitch. Rose should have known that. The entire interaction had been fueled by alcohol....and maybe a little coke....and a smidge of wanting to off the red-headed bimbo. But he hadn't quite gotten to the last bit yet when Rose came bursting in to their room and found the duo entangled in Ethan's silk sheets, half naked and exposed.
None of that had bothered him however. He could finagle his way around the indiscretion his dick had compelled him to commit. Same as the last time. And the time before that. And the time before that. Well, usually anyway. This time Rose stuck to her guns and they were officially, one hundred percent, stick a fork in them, DONE. Never, ever fucking getting back together. She hadn't responded to his texts, calls, impromptu appearances at her apartment, work, or otherwise. She cut him off cold turkey and hadn't looked back. He was honestly a little surprised he was still alive and breathing all things considered, but if that was how she wanted to play this, then fine. If for nothing other than spite, he would let her have the win for once. She'd come around eventually.
Except when she didn't and Ethan, well, he wouldn't exactly call it stalking, but he checked up on her socials a time or two. But it was more out of a protective need he had to satisfy. Not desire to get back together. Not at all. (Lies. All of it.) They had been together quite long after all and what kind of boyfriend would he be if he didn't, at the very least, vet her new plaything - temporary as he may have believed them to be. Especially this Jackson.
He huffed to himself as he lurked on the guy's Facebook. "I'm getting a god damn cavity with how fucking sweet you are to each other," he moaned as he scrolled, his stomach turning at the sight of a picture of the happy couple after his band's gig. The sour taste in his mouth left immediately when he saw a recent check-in that they had planned a night out. At one of his and Rose's favorite hunting spots.
"Wonder who suggested that cozy spot?" he asked his empty room as she closed out the app and pulled up his contacts. A few clicks later and his usual group of friends, along with a certain nameless red-head, were headed for a night on the town - starting at none other than BJ's bar.
He hung his arm around Chelsea's shoulders as the group headed inside, his eyes scanning the crowd for his girl when he saw her flaunting her new companion. "Fucking bitch," he muttered to himself, the glare he was giving could have killed had she noticed.
"Nothing," he lied, breaking away his attention from Rose and bringing it back to his date. "Why don't we get some drinks and start having some fun?" he asked rhetorically as he pulled her in for a kiss and he led her over to the group's table, deeply hopeful Rose caught sight of the public display of affection - and even more excited over how angry it would make her.