Adrift: Book Two of The Crashing Tides Duet

by Ruby Rowe

  “Oh, fuck.”

  “Sailor, I obviously didn’t know your character at all, but Elliott, how could you do this to Jake? I’m stunned.”

  “It’s not what it looks like.”

  “How stupid do you think I am? People don’t kiss like that unless it’s exactly what I suspect.”

  “Jeanine, Jake knows. It’s–it’s complicated,” Sailor replies. Jake’s mom shakes her head, the disgust transforming her face into my father’s. The disappointment … I remember it vividly.

  “She’s telling the truth. Jake and I are both in relationships with Sailor.” Sucking in the frigid air, I cough.

  “I’m not naïve to my son’s philandering ways, but he’d never agree to something like this, especially when he’s finally in love.”

  “Jeanine, I’m so sorry you had to find out this way,” Sailor says anxiously.

  “I’m Mrs. Callister to both of you now, and if you think your story is going to prevent me from telling Jake, you’re sorely mistaken.”

  She stomps away, and Sailor stands frozen in her spot, staring at the ground. I pull on her arm to move us indoors, but she doesn’t budge.

  “Baby, we need to go. We can talk inside.” I watch as the tears flood her eyes, the emotions building like a tidal wave, and fucking hell. Sailor begins to wail as we stand next to the curb of the bustling airport.

  New Yorkers are used to seeing and ignoring it all, the bizarre and uncomfortable, but Sailor’s cries are so loud that heads are turning. Pulling her to me, I wrap my coat around her body and feel her heartache vibrating against my chest. How can I fix this?

  “You’re shivering. We have to go inside.” Placing the carry-on bag over my shoulder, I pick up our suitcase, grip Sailor’s hand and pull her to the doors. Worried she won’t go on this trip with me, I never release her. She only stares at the floor as I go through the motions of checking us in to our flight.

  We make it to the security line, and holding her face, I duck to ensure she looks me in the eye. “The minute we sit down at the gate, we’ll call Jake and let him know what happened. He’ll handle it, and it’ll be OK.”

  She clenches her eyes shut and shakes her head.

  “No, his parents will never see you and me the same. I was so stupid to think this could work. I’ve ruined your relationship with them, and you barely have any family as it is. I feel so guilty.”

  Clutching her to my chest, I stroke her cool hair and ponder what she said. Maybe Sailor isn’t strong enough for this. I thought since she stood her ground with her parents about living her own authentic life that she could stand up to the rest of the world if they didn’t approve of the lifestyle we chose.

  What I didn’t consider was how she would react if this caused problems between Jake and his family. She doesn’t care what my mother thinks, and for good reason, but she’ll never allow Jake to be on the outs with his family all because of her. Never. Fuck, what does that mean for the three of us and our future?

  Jake

  I’m drying off after my shower when I hear the doorbell ring. Grabbing a pair of athletic shorts, I jerk them on and hurry to answer the door.

  “One second!” Looking in the peephole, I see my mother. What is she doing here? She should be getting ready to go to my grandparents’ house. I open the door, and the look on her face nauseates me. Shit, did someone die?

  “Mom, what’s wrong?”

  “We need to talk.” She pushes her way past me, so I shut the door and follow her into the living room. Turning around, she points at me. “I can’t believe I have to have this conversation with you, but I do, and I want you to be completely honest with me.”

  “All right, but why aren’t you getting ready for our dinner?”

  “Your father wasn’t feeling well this morning, so I took Aunt Betty to the airport.”

  “Oh,” I say solemnly, knowing in an instant why she’s here.

  “I saw Elliott and Sailor there together.”

  “Have a seat,” I say, pointing to the couch. She sits, and I run a hand over my damp hair before I sit down in the chair closest to the door, feeling like I might need to make a run for it, even though that’s absurd. “I already knew they were going to the airport together.”

  “Dammit, Jake. You weren’t supposed to know because I don’t want to believe that what they told me is true.” My mom rests her elbows on her long black skirt and rubs her forehead.

  “Yes, we’re both seeing Sailor.”

  Lifting her head, she shoots me a look of astonishment.

  “How could you? I’ve seen how in love you are with her, and I truly believed she loved you back.”

  “She does.”

  My mother shakes her head. “No. Not possible.”

  “It’s true, and you need to let me explain. Sailor and I developed feelings for each other fast, but then Elliott came home from work one day while Sailor was over, and I discovered they’d known each other for years.

  “They hadn’t come face to face in over a decade, though, so they were shocked to see one another. I found out Sailor had been in love with him since she was a teenager, and those feelings quickly resurfaced.

  “Once I found out, I was sure she’d choose him over me, since they had a history, and when I say they had history, I’m talking about serious shit.

  “Anyway, Elliott and I both dated Sailor while she tried to figure out who she wanted, but she loved us both and could never choose, so she dumped us. Elliott and I decided then that we’d rather share her than not have her at all. Actually, it was my idea.”

  “You know I’m open-minded, Jake, but this is too odd.”

  “I understand it’s not conventional, and it’s especially not like your relationship with Dad, but it works for us. I know you mean well. You’re my mom and will only ever want what’s best for me, so I’m telling you right now that being with Sailor is what’s best for me.”

  Still astonished over how I fell hard and fast for Sailor, I shake my head. “I love her so damn much, Mom, and Elliott has as much right to love her, too. You don’t know what they’ve been through together. I’m actually lucky she made room for me.”

  “No, see, that’s what I’m talking about.” Mom stands and wags her finger at me. “Somehow, she and Elliott have convinced you that you’re not enough for her, and I can’t accept that.”

  “Well, we’re a package deal.”

  Huffing a breath, she walks over and kisses my cheek.

  “I have to go, but you need to think long and hard about what I said. No matter what choices you make in life, I’ll love you until I take my last breath, but know that it will break my heart if you allow yourself to be treated this way. Your father won’t understand it, either, and you better believe he’ll be having this same talk with you.”

  She stomps out of the house, and I let out a growl, feeling the need to punch something. Her reaction was worse than I expected, which means my father’s probably will be, too.

  Hearing my cell ring, I jog to my bedroom to answer it.

  “Jake…” Sailor says, but that’s the only word she exhales before sobbing into the phone.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Elliott

  “Christ,” I mumble before I take the phone from Sailor as we wait in the terminal for our flight.

  “Jake, it’s Elliott.”

  “I heard you saw my mother. She just left the condo.”

  “Damn, she didn’t waste any time telling you.”

  “She’s super pissed, like fiercely against the three of us being together. I didn’t think she’d be thrilled about it, but I wasn’t expecting this reaction.”

  “She’ll get over it after she sees that this works for us.”

  “Is it working?” he asks.

  Holding the phone away from my ear, I say, “I’ll be right back” to Sailor and stride away to talk privately with Jake. “What the hell, man?”

  “Maybe this was a bad idea,” he replies.

  “Dammi
t, this was your idea.”

  “And I don’t need a constant reminder.”

  “Sailor’s an absolute mess today. I’m telling you right now that this will blow up in our faces if she thinks it’s hurting us.”

  “I know, but it’s becoming harder than I expected. It’s … getting real.”

  “It’s the holidays. We’re seeing our families more, and we’re sentimental and shit, but we’ll fall back into a routine soon. It’ll only be you, Sailor and me.”

  “You know that’s bullshit. I see my family all the time, and I seriously don’t think they’re going to have anything to do with either of you again.”

  “Your mom found out less than an hour ago. You have to give her time to adjust to the idea. God, you’re like Sailor, making this a bigger deal than it needs to be.”

  “I’m sorry if I’m having a little more trouble sharing than you. I grew up with a different set of values.”

  “Yeah, a set you didn’t care if you followed until Sailor came along. Don’t act like you’re a saint with old-fashioned views.”

  “I’m not, but I can’t help that I wasn’t ecstatic to see her leave with you this morning after I’d had the best two days of my life with her.”

  I rub my eyes. “Jake, I’m sorry. I wish we each had our own Sailor, but that’s not possible.”

  “I need time to think.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I need to think about whether I can do this forever.”

  “It would crush Sailor to hear you say that, so I’m not breathing a word of it to her. We’re not supposed to care what other people think about this arrangement, so what bullshit did Jeanine feed you, anyway?”

  “I have to go.”

  “What do I tell Sailor? She’s devastated and is going to ask a million questions.”

  “I don’t know, Elliott. It’s an answer I wish I had.”

  He hangs up on me, and I squeeze my phone, wishing I could shatter it into a hundred pieces. I start coughing up a storm, from my throat being dry, and it has to be from all this damn talking.

  I hate having to discuss feelings this much, and it seems like that’s all we do anymore. It’s always one bullshit problem after another with Jake and this triad relationship I never dreamed I’d be a part of.

  It’s all going to blow up. I feel it down to my core, so it’s more important than ever that I reaffirm to Sailor how much I love her. If Jake’s stupid and walks away, I’m not losing her, too.

  Sailor

  While waiting for Elliott to get off the phone with Jake, I pick at the strap on my new Birkin bag until I’ve pulled a thread loose. Shit, Mom would be furious if she knew.

  My parents gave it to me last night for Christmas, and all I could think about was how much fun I had seeing all the gifts exchanged at Jake’s parents’ home yesterday.

  The presents cost next to nothing because everyone there knew the gifts weren’t what mattered most. It was the love given with them that counted.

  I drop my head and weep again, thinking about how I’ll never experience another holiday with Jake’s family. Will he even want me after he finds out how disgusted his mother is?

  Elliott grips my shoulder as he sits next to me.

  “Sailor, please stop crying. It’s gutting me like you wouldn’t believe.” Raising my head, I suck in a breath. He doesn’t deserve this.

  Even though he was still feeling bad physically, Elliott woke up early to ensure we were packed and ready to go. His face was radiant like the lighthouse I’ve been looking for all my life, yet I’ve stayed anchored to Jake all morning.

  Brushing my tears away, I squeeze his hand.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s OK. Jake’s mom went right over to see him. He explained, so I’m sure with time, she’ll come around.”

  “With time… That means she didn’t understand.”

  “Jeanine’s open-minded, but since Jake hadn’t told her, it’s understandable why she’d freak out. I mean, she saw us kissing.”

  “True. I’ll talk to her, too. I’ll make her see how much I love Jake. I mean, she’s already witnessed how good I am to him, so I only have to convince her it wasn’t pretend.”

  Bringing my head to him, Elliott kisses it.

  “There’s my girl. Have some hope.”

  “I do.” I take a deep breath to calm my nerves and put what happened behind us. I also resist the urge to text Jake. I’ll do it later, when I get a minute alone.

  Right now, Elliott deserves my full attention. I really am looking forward to our trip.

  ***

  “You need to stop distracting me each time there’s a sign on the side of the road,” I say.

  “OK, I won’t distract you anymore,” Elliott replies with a chuckle.

  “Why is that funny?”

  “Because we’re here … in Laguna Beach.”

  I look all around and grin.

  “I’ve never been here. This is exciting!”

  Elliott pulls up something on his phone and punches a code into a keypad at a gated community. The black gates open, and after making a couple of left turns, he parks our rented charcoal convertible Ferrari in a driveway.

  “This is where we’re staying,” he says. I step out of the car and shield my eyes to survey the beautiful home.

  “That means we’ll have an ocean view from the backside of this place.”

  “Exactly,” he says as he retrieves our bags. The California sun beams down on us, so I pull on the neck of my sweater.

  “I wonder how warm it is here.”

  “The Ferrari read sixty-eight degrees.”

  “Oh, this will be heavenly.”

  Smiling, he holds his hand out, so I walk around the front of the vehicle and lace our fingers together as we approach the door.

  There’s a keypad by it, as well, and he punches in another code. Once inside the house, I’m immediately drawn to the ocean I see in front of me.

  “I can’t believe there are four sets of French doors. I’m opening all of them. It’s too beautiful outside not to.”

  “Sounds good. I have to go take a leak.”

  While I wait for Elliott, I walk out onto the balcony and absorb the breathtaking view. I breathe in the saltwater, and it reminds me of Hawaii and the Hamptons. I’ve really missed the beach.

  Elliott approaches from behind and wraps me up in his arms. Leaning my head back against his chest, I sigh.

  “My Sailor Girl,” he murmurs in my ear.

  “Mmm … I love to hear those words. This is exactly what we needed.”

  “I agree. The only time I plan on exerting myself is while I’m inside you.” Desire rumbles from his chest as he kisses my ear. Moving my hair aside, he grazes his lips down my neck, and his warm touch combined with the cool breeze send a shiver down my spine.

  “It’s still going to be too cold to swim.”

  “Not in the heated pool.”

  I look around. “Where is the pool?”

  “On the lower level. There’s a hot tub, too.”

  I lean over the balcony to peer below us, and sure enough, there’s a pool, along with a patio, hot tub, stone fireplace and lounge furniture.

  “This place puts our homes in the Hamptons to shame.”

  “Only the best for you.”

  Twisting around in his embrace, I loop my arms around his neck and give him a lengthy kiss.

  “I’m so happy to be here in your arms.” Feeling overwhelming contentment, I rest my forehead on his chest and breathe in his scent. It reminds me of our summers growing up, when he wasn’t mine to hug.

  I secretly loved when he’d pick me up off my towel at the beach to toss me into the ocean. It was the only time I got to feel him touching my skin to that degree, and I’d soak up every second of feeling his strong hands on me and his firm body against mine. I’d breathe in his scent of sand and sunscreen … salt and ocean.

  “What are you thinking about?” he asks.
/>   “How much I loved you at a time when I wasn’t supposed to.”

  He squeezes me. “I loved you, too, Sailor Girl … when I wasn’t supposed to.”

  I giggle. “I was thinking about when you used to pick me up and throw me in the ocean. It was exciting.”

  “It was, huh?”

  I yelp when he picks me up and tosses me over his shoulder.

  “Elliott!”

  “I think you need to be tossed in the pool then.”

  “No, you wouldn’t dare. I’m still in my clothes!”

  “Then I’ll undress you–once you’re in the water, of course.”

  Giggling, I bounce on his shoulder as he walks through the house and down a flight of steps. I could try to escape now that he stopped to open the patio doors, but I don’t since I’m secretly looking forward to being naked with him in the pool.

  Once the cool breeze hits my skin, I change my tune.

  “Wait–maybe we should make sure the water’s warm first or change into our swimsuits.”

  “Too late.” And just like that, I’m airborne and hitting the water, creating a massive splash. I come up wide-eyed and dripping wet, feeling weighted down from my heavy winter clothes.

  “Dammit, Elliott! You didn’t even take off my boots.”

  His eyes round, and he laughs. “Oh, my bad. I didn’t think about your shoes.” He coughs from his laughter, and I feel bad he’s not over his bronchitis. Wait, I’m not sorry. He just ruined my favorite pair of boots.

  “You’re in trouble,” I say.

  “Bring it on, baby; bring it on.” He pulls off his navy sweater. “Damn, it is a little chilly with the breeze.”

  “You think?”

  Winking, he continues to strip, so I decide to do the same. It’s much harder for me, thanks to every article of my clothing being soaked, so I wade to a shallower part of the pool to keep my balance.

  He dives in before I can see him naked, and dammit again. I missed it. About the time I get my second boot off, he reaches me and grabs hold of my sweater.

  After pulling it over my head, he meets my gaze with headiness in his grey eyes that appear bluer against the deeper indigo color of the pool.