“Okay.” I nodded, still feeling displeased, but not wanting to continue the discussion. I was livid. This is insane!
After breakfast, we decided to go for a swim in the pool. I changed into my bikini and headed out onto the deck. Jake was dressed in his swimming trunks, mixing a drink for us both behind the bar. I sat on the sectional, overlooking the pool as he did. The water so calm and sparkly.
“Psst.” He catcalled. I watched him at the corner of my eyes with a smirk on my face.
“What do you want?” I deadpanned.
“I want you to bring your sexy ass over here and take a drink with me.” He raised his brows playfully. I pouted my lips, my eyes narrowing on him.
“Fine.” I bolted out of my seat and modelled up to him. We sat on the stools in front of the bar and he handed me a martini glass with an electric blue liquid in it. “Cheers.” His brow arched and he smiled. I noticed his cute sharp incisor that protruded.
“That’s so stinking cute.” I blurted and he looked at me quizzically.
“What?”
“Your incisor. It’s just so cute. It enhances your smile.”
“Really. I don’t think I have the best teeth in the world.” He grimaced and took a sip of his drink.
“Are you kidding me? They perfectly imperfect.”
“You’re a weirdo, you know that right. Has anyone ever told you that?” His brow arched again.
“It sounds more of a compliment coming from you though.” I joked. I gulped down my drink and pulled Jake into me. As he leaned in for a kiss, I held onto his face and licked the length of it and he squirmed. “Argh, Reese.” He laughed and I hopped off the stool. I ran towards the pool, laughing hysterically and he took off behind me. “I’m so gonna get you back.”
I ran over the lawn, towards the edge of the pool and cannon balled straight into it. Jake came in behind me, creating a big splash. I was laughing uncontrollably, trying to evade him, dashing water into his face, but he was faster than I. He dipped underwater and grabbed me by the waist, pulling me towards him and resurfaced, his face inches from mine. “Gotcha.” He grinned and licked my face. “Argh!” I screamed, laughing loudly.
Later that night, Jake and I were fast asleep on the sofa in his living room. We both fell asleep while watching a movie and Jake awoke to see the TV glaring at us. He reached for the remote and switched it off. He then got up from under my hold and scooped me up, carrying me upstairs into the bedroom. He laid me on the bed and covered me with a blanket. As he was about to get into bed, his phone buzzed. A Jamaican area code came up on the Caller ID. He grabbed the phone from the bedside table and walked briskly towards the balcony and answered the call, anticipating the response. “Hello?”
“Jacob.” Kin’s voice answered, sounding very faint.
“Kin?” He replied frantically.
“Oh baby, I miss you.” She sniffed. “Are you okay?”
“Me? Kin, are you okay? I was making arrangements for you to come back but you went off the grid.” He replied in faux-concern.
“It’s mammy who tek me to another hospital that har friend recommend. She didn’t wan’ fi upset you. So she say. My ribs broken, and it difficult to walk. But I okay. I just want to come back home to you.” She explained breathlessly.
“I’d like nothing more, baby.” He responded and spun around at the sound of me coming towards him. He signalled me to be quiet. “It’s Kin.” He mouthed at me and I gasped. “Love you, too.” He responded with a clenched jaw and then hung up. He sighed and bent his head. He then screamed out in anger and punched the wall, making me jump in fright. I bent my head, tears pooling in my eyes. “Can’t fucking believe this bitch isn’t dead!” He growled.
“The devil isn’t easily killed, and now we’re back to square one, ‘cause when she returns you’re not gonna do a damn thing about it!” I said in the calmest coldest tone.
“Reese, that’s not true.”
“Yes it fucking is. ‘Cause one, you’re too fucking soft – and I love that about you but not right now, not towards that bitch – and two, her family. You’re afraid her family comes after you. This mother cunt is gonna break us, she has already begun and she isn’t even back yet!” I shouted, getting louder and louder
“Reese, her family would come after you, too. You know that, right? I could never live with myself if that ever happened. Ever. Fuck that. There is a better way to get this done without incriminating myself. I just need to put the proper things in place for it to happen.”
“And how long is this gonna take, huh? A couple weeks, months, a year?! You must be one of those dreamers. I’m not waiting that long Jake, I’m not! I have Heath expecting me to be his wife soon and I can’t hold out much longer.”
“Well then break up with him.” He said in a cold tone.
“Yeah, break up with him, right? So, I must be alone, with nowhere to live, lose my best friend in the process while I can’t even speak to you without the fear of being killed? Fuck that, and fuck you! I’m leaving!” I stormed back into the bedroom and started packing my things.
“Reese?” Jake sighed, sounding exhausted, trying to pull me away from my packing. I kept yanking my arm away from his hold.
“No, fuck this, Jake. This is too much. I’m done!”
“Reese, please?” Jake implored.
“No!” I screamed and he froze. “I’m not going back to being your number two. I’m done.” I stomped down the stairs and out the door with my bag in tow, leaving Jake bewildered and heartbroken at the door.
I jumped into my car and drove off, never looking back as tears spilled down my cheeks. Was I being too dramatic or was I well within my right to act the way I did? One thing’s for sure - I felt completely and utterly shitty. He kept trying to call my phone but I blocked his number.
This wasn’t fair. The odds were definitely against Jake and me ever being together and it was exhausting having to constantly battle these obstacles just to be in a relationship. Things were simpler with Heath, and I decided to let Jake Cavanaugh go – once and for all! After all, I was already engaged to Heath, maybe this was a sign to let Jake go. And I did, at least I tried.
I decided to change my entire mind set and begin to think about being with Heath and being happy. I was happy with him, it’s just… Jake Cavanaugh was in the picture and haunted that happiness. But I decided – no more! Time to let Jake Cavanaugh go – once and for all!
Heath finally returned home and I greeted him at the door, hugging him tightly. “I’m so sorry.” I whispered as I buried my head into the groove of his neck.
“For what?” He watched down at me quizzically.
“For being a shitty girlfriend.” I replied, my tears spilling uncontrollably.
“Reese, you’re not a shitty girlfriend.” He replied, placing his bag on the floor and properly embracing me. He smoothed the back of my hair and kissed my forehead. I looked up into his apprehensive green eyes. How did I forget how much I loved those eyes? A quiet happiness crept over me and the corners of my mouth quirked up.
“Sometimes I feel like I don’t deserve you.” I continued, trailing my fingers around the buttons of his cardigan.
“Stop talking like that, Pieces.” He then closed the front door behind him and led me to the loveseat. “What’s wrong?” He asked, clasping my hands. “You wanna talk about it?”
“No.” I shook my head. He paused, looking at my sad face pensively.
“Well, I can’t force it out of you. Just know I’m here as your best friend first and then as your awesome boyfriend.” He joked. I broke into a smile.
“You’re silly.” I hugged him.
After Heath settled and cleaned up for bed, we lay down, my head on his chest. I looked up into his eyes, and he looked down into mine. A corner of his mouth lifted, and I reached up to his lips, pressing mine gently against them, tentatively exploring them at first, and then with greater intensity as I held onto his face. I gently pulled him over me as I eased my b
ody flat onto the bed. Our fingers interlocking. He gently pulled away, looking into my eyes with the most loving stare. “Glad to have you back.” He whispered.
“Glad to be back.” I blushed and then stiffened, holding my breath and eyeballing my bulging eyes from side to side, the veins in my head feeling like they were about to pop.
“You okay?” His face contorted.
“You’re crushing me.” I squirmed.
“Oh, shit.” He burst out into laughter and lifted his weight off of me.
“It’s okay, I’ll survive.”
And with that, he raided my mouth again. Hovering over me as our mouths locked in oral unison. I held onto his face and began to accept him, and accept us.
I freed my mind of it all and pulled him in closer, allowing him to touch me, for the first time in weeks. Thinking back to the days when I was so madly in love with him, before Jake took my heart. Thinking back to how much I wanted him, but it never felt like my feelings would have been reciprocated. And now it had been and I began to feel grateful… and happy. Allowing myself to grow deeper with him, my lips, my body, and my mind, as I constantly tried to disregard the lingering thoughts of Jake in my mind. I felt like I was in a lucid dream, nothing felt real anymore. It all felt like I was watching myself in a movie or something. But that night, I permitted Heath back into me – more ways than one – and it seemed like the beginning of something new.
I woke up the next morning feeling like yesterday had never happened. In fact, I felt like the past couple months had never happened. It was surreal; Jake, Heath, Caroline, Kin – all of it, just crazy. How could life get this chaotic? But I woke up, nonetheless, wrapped only in a bedsheet in Heath’s arms. I looked up at his sleeping face, admiring the stubble on his chin and the way his dishevelled honey brown hair fell on his forehead. A sleeping beauty.
My smile then turned into a frown as I found myself feeling like the worst person in the world. He was sweet, and I was nothing but a selfish whore. I embarrassed him, and he didn’t even know it. Messing around with Jake behind his back while he was ready to make me his wife and introduce me to his family – in Australia. I began to think back at how stupid I had been. I should have made better decisions and thought more logically before getting myself in this mess.
On the Brightside, no one but Jake, Kai, Joey and I knew about the affair, so I was in the clear. But that didn’t exactly help my conscience either, it only made me feel slightly better about things. If Heath ever found out, he’d never forgive me. At least, I don’t think he would. It was time to turn over a new leaf. Yep, what a great idea. Except, Jake was our teacher, and it would make it almost impossible to forget about him and move forward. I just have to try.
I pressed my lips against Heath’s cheek and he stirred awake. He smiled at me upon opening his eyes. “Morning, Pieces.”
“Morning, Heath.” I smiled genuinely at him, looking straight into his brilliant eyes.
“You’re ready for school, love?” He asked and I nodded my head with a mischievous look.
“Always.”
Heath and I walked down the hallway, hand in hand, heading toward Jake’s class. We entered the classroom, Mr. Greyman and Jake were in a light conversation at his desk. Jake’s eyes trailed us as we made our way to our desks. The shine of my ring caught his eye and he grimaced.
When Mr. Greyman left, Jake got up. “Morning.” He answered solemnly. “Everyone, please pair yourself with a partner.”
Naturally Heath and I paired up together, however, Jake interrupted us. “Andrews, pair up with Mimi for a change. And Singh, you can pair up with Amoroso.” Heath and I looked at each other with raised brows. “Wow.” I mouthed, got up and made my way to Pierce Amoroso, one of the guys in the class.
Jake was rather bitter during class, and he wasn’t his usual bright self , but I refused to fall into that same old trap again. Kin was returning soon, and I wanted no part of it.
Heath and I went into Tang for lunch and ordered the Pasta Special. As we sat down to eat, I noticed Jake was over at his table. His cell phone pressed against his ear with a displeased facial expression. I assumed it was Kin on the other end. I ignored him all together, returned my attention to Heath and began to eat.
We talked and laughed at how Jake made us split up. Heath used a Trini slang that made me giggle, saying that Jake was ‘toting feelings’, meaning that he still wasn’t over me. And as that realisation sunk in, I began to feel uneasy, wanting to change the topic as I myself began to ‘tote feelings’. Just a few days ago I was with him, madly in love. I could never be over him so soon – I wasn’t. And making fun of him didn’t make me feel any better. And to know that he was having a hard time letting me go made it even worse for me to cope.
I told Heath that I didn’t want to talk about Jake anymore and he agreed.
Chapter 13
Jake stood in the arrival hall at LAX Airport, dressed in a trim maroon suit with his hands deep in the pockets of his pants, occasionally glimpsing at the time on his brown Cartier wristwatch. Sven sat on a chair a couple feet away with his legs crossed in the “figure-four” position reading a newspaper.
Jake looked nervous, tapping his perfectly polished hard-sole shoe on the freshly waxed floor. He looked slightly irritated – impatient even. His eyes darted to and fro, specifically widening at the sight of any short, dark skinned women, only to sigh in disappointment.
As his eyes narrowed into the sea of bustling travellers, a brunette woman with ivory skin and gleaming blue eyes caught his attention. “Lena?” He whispered to himself, but the woman was whisked away into the crowd and he lost sight of her. He stretched out his neck, looking helplessly for the familiar face that he just saw. His immediate surroundings completely mute as his eyes searched intently. “Ahem.” Someone cleared their throat, breaking him from his focus. He looked down to see Kin with a crutch under one arm and a sling on the other. He sized her, glancing briefly at stitches on her forehead. Her smile wide. “Jacob, is good to see you again.” She beamed with her strong Jamaican accent.
“Kin, you’re here!” He responded elatedly, and hugged her as gently as possible. Sven put his paper down and walked briskly toward them, taking her bags with him and leading the way back to the car.
Jake helped Kin into the car and in a short beat, they were on their way back to his house. “You growing your hair?” she asked taking notice of his much longer hair.
“Not really. I just don’t have much time to myself these days, I’ve been busy editing the film. The Sundance Film Festival is in six months and I need to have it ready for submission soon.”
“I sure you’d do great.” She replied.
“Thanks.” Jake smiled and then turned his head, peering out the window.
When they arrived home, Kin went into the bathroom to have a shower while Jake helped unpack her things. She then came out dressed in her nightie and eased onto the bed. “I never ever ever want to get into another accident ever again. ‘Dis is de’ worse, I tell you. I feel like someone constantly boxing me in my ribs.”
“Ow.” Jake cringed at the thought. He laid on the bed next to her.
“And physical therapy was difficult. I say I loss my legs for good.”
“I’m sorry you’re dealing with that Kin, but it gets better with time. So, don’t worry.”
“You by my side, so I nuh worried at all.”
“Good.” He smiled and kissed her. She paused in thought as if relishing in the kiss. “Wow, can’t believe it’s been almost three months since I’ve seen you. Summer’s almost over.” He continued.
“Being treated for so long had me miserable. So glad I finally away from that.” She yawned. “I tired, mi see you in the morning.”
“Good night.” He smiled and she nodded, quickly dozing off.
When she looked more relax, his mouth set into a firm line and he got off the bed. He left the bedroom and headed to his office, locking the door behind him. He pulled out his phone, c
radling it between his ear and shoulder, and unbuttoned his jacket and cufflinks. “Joey, she’s back.” He whispered. “Yep, I’m on it.” He responded after a moment, then hung up, and placed the phone on his desk.
He pulled off his jacket, draping it over the office chair and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt before sitting down. He reclined his head as he exhaled deeply. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sprung up immediately as if he remembered something. He grabbed his phone, logged into Facebook and searched for “Reese Singh”.
When he saw my picture he clicked on the profile. My cover photo was of me and Heath smiling, looking into each other’s eyes at the beach back in Trinidad. Jake clenched his jaw as he began scrolling through my posts and other pictures. He looked at the relationship status that said “Engaged” and his eyes narrowed, becoming glassy as he clenched his jaw as. He then shook himself off and called Kai. “I need a drink!” He grimaced as Kai answered the phone.
Summer was almost over and I was about to enter my final year at Dillcaster. I was excited despite feeling ill lately. I kept getting horrible migraines, still feeling a bit heartbroken over Jake, and I no longer had an appetite. No matter how much I tried to eat, I just couldn’t stomach it. Sometimes my thoughts would just linger on him, wondering what he’s doing, where he’s at, if he’s with her. I usually saw him five out of seven days in the week and now that school was closed, I hadn’t seen him at all, and it was playing on my mind and emotions. Maybe that’s why I was so excited for school to re-open. I hope not!
Heath thought it was odd that I wasn’t eating, but I couldn’t tell him why. I just made the same old, same old excuse; I don’t feel well. He still tried to feed me nonetheless.
We spent our summer working on a couple of Ad campaigns for his dad. It wasn’t the most exciting summer, but we made the best of it, taking occasional date night trips out of town. Our initial plan to spend the summer in Australia was foiled because his dad needed him in San Francisco a lot. And while he was back and forth, I was left home alone a lot which afforded me the time to rehash the events of my life thus far, causing me to miss Jake in the process. I believed that it was because of this I was feeling so ill.
In The Spur of Heath (The Spur Series Book 1) Page 25