“It’s kind of heartbreaking to watch him suffer … Unrequited love.” Richard breaks in, stifling a grimace
as Daniel slaps his back with a noisy ‘thwap’.
“Fuck you. Both of you.” An annoyed tone and no smile.
“You know when you know … Right?” Vincent throws a wink at Daniel too and three of the four men
burst out laughing, Daniel rolls his eyes and gives them the finger.
“Tried so damn hard to let him down gently, he’s just too sensitive.” Jake ruffles Daniels hair playfully,
chuckling at him.
“I’ve caught him sobbing into his Hagen Das a few times when you stood him up, Jakey.” Richard
shoves Daniel in the ribs playfully and they all laugh at their friend.
“He stole my Endless Love CD when you missed his birthday bash last year. Perfect crying anthems on
there.” Leila quips in, throwing a huge grin at Jake, yet avoiding Hunter completely.
“I swear to god, you guys better stop with this shit. Even if I was that way inclined, I wouldn’t jump
Carrero’s bones. I know where he’s been, I have standards.” All of the men turn to Jake with eyebrow
wiggles, and he only sneers at them.
“Umm, I think I’ve way higher standards than any of you three.” He defends himself with a frown and a
haughty tone.
“Questionable.” Leila throws him a disbelieving look. “But you’ve improved a lot.” She then smiles at
me, concealing nothing. A big hearty, playful type of smile.
“Leave her out of this.” Jake warns, squeezing me a little too tightly. I haven’t been able to help
laughing along with all of them, but things just shifted tone and Jake feels suddenly tense. Mr.
Protector. unleashed.
“You know when you know, right?” Vincent smirks Jake’s way and I try and ignore the way all three
men seem to look at Jake for a split, perfectly timed moment, all three with raised eyebrows and
smirking expressions. Eerily unified.
“Daniel certainly seems to think so.” Jake makes kissing noises, releases me to haul his friend into a
head lock and plaster his cheek with wet, noisy assaults.
“Fuck off, you creep.” Daniel fights as everyone snorts in laughter. Everyone except Marissa. Her
straight faced, bitchy self has been observing with nothing but boredom this whole time, but she seems
to change tactic as soon as the men settle down and Jake comes back and puts his arm back around
me. Back to his previous position.
Marissa pouts at Jake sexily, and I bristle.
Back off, Señorita, get a grip and take a hint!
“Admit it, you’ve been planning the Hunter-Carrero wedding since you were just a little girl. It’s kind of
sweet really.” Jake prods Daniel with his beer bottle and receives two fingers on one hand and one on
the other as a response.
“You’re riding dangerously close to a Hunter free existence. Then we’ll see which dude is crying into his
Hagen Das. We all know that Mr. Smooth Carrero. has the biggest man crush on me.” Daniel picks up
a beer, mock throws his hair back like a woman and flutters his eyelashes.
“In your dreams, pretty boy. I’m hoping for a threesome with the twins.” Jake winks at Vincent and
Richard who throw on matching “Eww” faces. Everyone laughs, even Marissa this time and then she
goes and ruins the atmosphere by biting on her lip suggestively and making direct eye contact with
Jake. She’s practically screaming, “Take me.” I hate her!
I turn my head into his chest softly, unsure why I feel like I should be sending her messages. Jake just
seems to adjust his hold, so I can move in and lay my head against his neck comfortably. His arm
moving further around to accommodate me, he switches his beer bottle to his left hand, so it hangs in
front of me. His other takes my empty cocktail glass from me and puts it down. He doesn’t falter, just
continues talking to his men folk as though my snuggling closer is the most natural thing in the world for
us. I listen to the steady, strong thud of his heart under his shirt, enjoying the solid muscle under my
cheek. None of the group seems to even acknowledge the way we are cuddled up together or the way
he slides towards me to allow me to get even closer to his torso.
Now they’re talking about some trip last summer I’ve not got any interest in as soon as I realize that
Marissa had been there too and not with a beau in tow to occupy her. Again, a look on her face aimed
at Jake, and I assume its meaning is to rekindle a sexual memory.
Had she been his hook up on that trip? God please, tell me no.
I shake the thought away, nausea rising with a sharp pain in my heart. Gulping down my instant fury.
The waitress comes with a tray, laying down another round of drinks on the canopied table. Jake hands
me a fresh cocktail with his free hand, his mouth lingering close to my temple longer than necessary as
though he’s watching me, or simply feeling my hair against his face. Maybe I’m imagining it, but I like it.
The gentle intimacy.
The cocktail tastes amazing; I’ve no idea what he ordered for me this time, but it has a tropical coconut
flavor and I could drink it like juice. He has a knack for buying me drinks that I really like, always
varying them so I don’t get sick of them. He knows me a little too well.
He lets go of me as he bends down to look at a picture on Hunter’s cell, that he’s holding out, some
past memory they’re all discussing, and I feel strangely lost. His sudden departure from my body and
the realization that I was only happily listening into this group the way I was because of him. He always
grounds me, makes me comfortable, wherever we are, and I forget that I am out of place.
I tense as I clock Marissa gaze up at him with doe-eyed innocence and a suggestive part of the lips.
She’s seriously ruining my calm. He pauses and locks her eye, before he turns his head to me with a
quick smile and straightens back up, returning his arm around my shoulders. This time, though, he
pulls me in tightly and kisses me on the side of my face quickly and firmly. I experience an instant rush
of warmth and satisfaction at his touch and equally at Marissa’s frosty scowl. I guess he’s sending her
a message, telling her to back off and I’m reaping the rewards. I can’t say I mind. Glad to be back in his
arms, back to safe and warm.
“You’re very quiet … Want to go back to the boat?” he asks softly, for my ears only. His eyes on mine,
the restaurant around us fading away.
“Yes, please, I’m so tired, it’s been a long day.” I smile faintly, but I know it should be, “I’m actually really
drunk, and I’m probably going to fall over or pass out.” Truth is, I just want to get far away from Marissa
and her silent messages across the table. She’s like a thorn I can’t pull out and I am so over her.
“Oooh, party on the boat.” Leila chants and jumps up, impressively bouncing her boobs while all male
eyes immediately follow, and it causes me to dig Jake in the ribs. A mock “hey!” to get him to behave.
He gives me an apologetic shrug and grin.
Casanova Carrero, what will I do with you?
Men and the inability to watch a decent cleavage, pass them by, even if it’s someone they are not
screwing.
***
As much as I wanted to go to bed, or lay down, the full sway of my drunkenness hits me, fueling my
desire to join the party. The lights on the deck glow beautifully in the dark and the thrum of music from
speakers give it a romantic vibe. Leila has a tray of cocktails and they look too good. It’s then I find out
she spent one summer here as a barmaid and has a wealth of knowledge on tasty drinks. Despite a
super-rich family, it seems Leila is pretty self-sufficient at times. She loves nothing more than sharing
anecdotes of her past experiences and she has a humorous way of reliving the past.
“I should stop, I think I’ve had enough.” I try to reject Leila’s push of another, now that I’m barely upright
anymore, and should probably sit down. I’ve overdone it way more than I intended and now it’s dark
and the boat is moving all around me as though we are on a stormy sea.
“Hush now, we’re on vacation … Party, party, party!” She grins and tries once more with a sassy choice
of a glass my way.
“End up comatose, or throwing up in my own shoes, you mean?” I sigh and sway, grabbing the rail for
support.
“Your loss, sweet cheeks.” She turns, shrugging to swing her impressive booty across toward Richard,
with drinks in hand. A giggle as she saunters off.
Jake is sprawled over one of the loungers and he’s been hitting the booze, lazily watching us dance
and chatter, occasionally joining in the conversation. His manner is slightly more relaxed than normal, if
that is even possible, and despite seeming mostly okay, I can tell he’s in the top limits of his
drunkenness.
I wonder who’ll be putting whom to bed tonight, and it makes me snigger; he’s so inviting on the double
lounger and I have the urge to curl up beside him and sleep right there.
“Come, Bambino!” Jake’s eyes meet mine with a beckoning finger wiggle before he pats the lounger
beside him suggestively. I aim to slide demurely to the bed next to him but end up sprawled over the
top instead after connecting with a chair leg. Falling in the most ungraceful manner.
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