“What?” he asked.
“What the hell was that all about?”
“What? I don't know what you're talking about.”
I snorted. “Did you fuck her before?”
“Katie? No, of course not.”
“Well, you guys sure looked real close.”
“Oh, come on, Natalie, that's just the way she is. She's like that with everyone. She's one of those girls that has a lot of guy friends. We look at her as one of us.”
“Oh, she's just one of guys? That's how you see her?”
“Natalie, relax. Yes, Katie is hot, but that doesn't mean I'm interested in her.”
“Cut the bullshit, Jet.”
“Natalie, why are you so mad? Seriously, what is the big deal here with Katie?”
“I don't like it. The way you are with her. I thought you liked me. And it's like the two of you were in heat during training.”
“So what if we were?”
“I think it's inappropriate to do that with her when I'm standing right there.”
Jet laughed. “You have to be joking. Natalie, I thought we were just friends. That's what you keep telling me anyway. I can't count how many times you have walked out on me and made me feel like you continue to regret sleeping with me. So if you just want us just to be friends, then why should it matter who I flirt with?”
“I do just want to be friends.”
He looked at me and shook his head. He wasn't happy with my last statement.
“Look, we just slept together a week ago. I think it's inappropriate to be hooking up with other girls when you are sleeping with me. I'm not saying that we ever will again, so please don't get too excited, but when things are so up in the air, you shouldn't be all over other girls. It's not nice, and it’s very hurtful to me.”
He stared at me with shock on his face. Like I said, guys were really clueless sometimes.
“Look, Natalie, despite what you think, despite what you saw with Katie, I haven't slept with another girl since I met you. I certainly wouldn't be sleeping with someone else while I was sleeping with you. I'm not the bad guy that you think I am.”
I just glared at him, wanting to get out of the gym and be done with him for the day. I was immensely irritated by the fact that Katie had been around at all, never mind the way she behaved. But I was tired of having these same conversations over and over again with Jet.
“Natalie, please. I don't want you to be mad at me. In fact, I will do anything to make sure that you aren't mad at me. So please, let me know if there is anything that I can do.”
“Anything?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I want you to take me to my favorite place, then, but I'm not going to tell you where it is.”
He stared at me, unsure how to respond.
He nodded. “Done.”
Chapter Four
Jet
The next night, I was getting ready to go pick up Natalie to take her to her favorite place. I was a little conflicted about what was going on between us. On one hand, it seemed like she wanted more, but she also wasn't giving me more. She was taking me through a torturous relationship, if it could even be called that, and I never knew if it was going to get any better. She was just as likely to start something serious with me as she was to drop me completely. I thought there was always a good chance for us to be friends, but anything beyond that seemed uncertain.