The Games Men Play

Jordan was fuming, I could tell just from the way he held himself as he watched me with Wade. I didn’t really want to dance with Wade but I couldn’t stand to let Jordan think that he could tell me what to do now; I didn’t need anyone to tell me what to do. It didn’t matter if I was being stupid or not, it was my choice and looking up at Wade as he turned me towards him, I regretted that choice.

“I’m glad you said yes,” he told me as he placed my left hand on his shoulder and held my right hand in his hand.

“Don’t read too much into this,” I told him.

“Oh I know you only did it because Jordan said not too,” he smiled at me. “I don’t mind, it means I get to dance with you.”

This guy was too much for me, I didn’t understand him at all. I kept shooting him down and he just kept coming back for more, did he really not like himself or something? I had to know. “What are you doing?”

He frowned, “Dancing?”

“No,” I shook my head. “Why don’t you get the hint and leave me alone? Why do you keep coming back to bug me?”

“I’ve never met a woman like you before Anna, I find you intriguing.”

“I’m just a normal, average, everyday woman Wade, there’s nothing special about me. Don’t you think it’s time you stop whatever game it is you are playing and go find someone else to bug?”

“See? That’s the thing; I’m not playing any games. I do find you interesting and I would like a chance to get to know you better.”

I stared up at him, “You can’t be serious.” I chuckled, “Are you into rejection or something Wade? Is that why you keep coming back for more?”

“Give me one good reason why you won’t give me a chance to get to know you,” he demanded as he tried to hide his hurt expression.

“You aren’t my type,” I replied without missing a beat.

“Oh?” He raised a brow. “What, pray tell, is your type? And how am I not it?”

“Well, first off,” I lifted my hand up and flicked his hair. “I don’t like long hair on men, totally turns me off.”

“Funny you should mention that,” he grinned. “I have an appointment on Tuesday to cut it off.”

“Uh huh,” I didn’t believe him.

“What else?”

“I don’t like men who don’t get the hint that I’m not interested - I shouldn’t have to keep repeating myself a million times only to be continually harassed.” He nodded and told me to keep going. “You are too short for me,” - he stood up straighter - “That changes nothing,” I laughed.
“Maybe not, but you laughed, that’s important.” He waited for me to tell him it wasn’t and when I didn’t, he asked me what else made him not my type.

“You irritate me, you annoy me. I just want to kick you every single time I see you. You say the stupidest things and you don’t seem to care what effect it has on people. You don’t think and I get the feeling that you think I’m a joke.” I paused for a second and then told him I wasn’t a joke. “I don’t deserve to be treated like one either.”

“Ok,” he started but I wasn’t done.

“And if that wasn’t enough, maybe the fact that I don’t have any desire to be any where close to you, should be.”

“Is that so?” He seemed amused by something.

“Yes, that’s so.”

“Then, I don’t know what to say Anna,” he chuckled. “You don’t seem to mind being in my arms at the moment.”

“I’m not…” I trailed off as I realized that I was, technically, in his arms. Sometime while we were talking, he let go of my hand and linked his hands together behind my back; we were pretty damn close. “This means nothing,” I told him as I pushed away from him.

“Maybe not,” he shrugged as his hand caught mine before I could turn away. “But I think you should give me a chance, get to know me before you assume that you don’t like me.” He let my hand drop, flashed me a smile before turning away. “You never know,” he called over his shoulder. “You might find that I’m not the jerk you think I am.”

I didn’t care to think about giving him a chance at all; why should I when he didn’t give me one the first time we met? He judged me long before he knew me, why should I forget that? Why does he think that being hypocritical right now will change anything?

I had no answers to those questions and to be honest, I wasn’t sure I really cared. I don’t know if he left just after our dance or if he stuck around and just stayed out of my way. All I know is that I didn’t see him anymore that night.

Then again, I was a little preoccupied with having a good time with my friends, I would’ve have noticed him in passing anyway.

One thing I did notice though was that everywhere I turned; Mitch was in my line of vision. After what Josh said, about Mitch feeling me out, I was surprised that he kept his distance. I like to think he was smart enough to know that I wasn’t really in the mood to have someone hitting on me with the recent break up of my relationship but I was a little disappointed that he didn’t come over to say ‘hi’ or anything. No, he would just catch my eye and smile.

When the last guest was gone and the last empty bottle was collected, I was so damn tired; I didn’t think I would make it to my room before I passed out.

“Are we going to talk now?” Jordan asked with a yawn as he followed me into the family room.