Текст книги "Out of the Shallows"

Автор книги: Samantha Young

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I gave him my ID and he slid it back to me. “What can I get you?”

I glanced down the bar at the woman I’d mistaken for my sister. “I’ll have a scotch on the rocks.”

He seemed bemused by my choice but didn’t question it. “Any brand in particular?”

“Surprise me,” I muttered.

He grinned and set about making my drink.

After a half hour of nursing it, the bartender approached. Sensing him hovering, I looked up.

He shrugged. “Sorry, I’ve got to ask.”

“Ask what?” I sipped at the last of my drink.

“Why a pretty twenty-one-year-old is drinking scotch in my bar while looking like the world just ended.”

I stared at this curious stranger, this person who had no ties to me, no previous dealings with me, and thus no understanding or expectations of me, either. And I found myself replying, “I miss my sister.”

His eyes softened and he leaned on the bar. “That’s rough.”

“Have you got family?”

“Two brothers in Colorado. They got wives and a whole bunch of kids. I don’t see them much.”

“Do you miss them?”

“Sure, I do.”

“You should really visit them while you can,” I offered sagely.

His grin was sad. “We had a falling-out a couple of years back. Things haven’t been the same since.”

Emotion clogged my throat. I took my time choking it down. “You’d think that would be all the more reason, but sometimes it’s like you get frozen, like you can’t move or make a decision either way. Is that how you feel?”

He nodded, eyes filled with understanding. “Yeah, that’s how I feel.”

“Do you think you’ll ever get past it?”

“I expect I might. One day.”

“What do you think will make you do it? Make you go see them?” I desperately wanted to know.

“I don’t know.” He stood up, contemplating me. “Maybe a sad, pretty girl telling me I should do it while I still can might do the trick.”

I finished my drink and offered him a wry, melancholic smile. “Maybe.”

14

Edinburgh April 2013

After Claudia had broken down over Dustin’s callous rejection, Jake called Beck to let him know what had occurred and he’d hurried back to the hotel.

Something happened, though. When Beck got there, he tried to hug Claudia but she didn’t embrace him in return and wriggled out of his hold like she didn’t want him to touch her. He attempted to talk to her, but she cut him off, barely acknowledging his presence while they booked tickets out of Barcelona.

The entire way to the airport, Claud gave Beck the coldest shoulder, even snapping at him when he tried to help with her luggage. She’d been adamant that I sit next to her on the plane.

Beck was stunned and clearly hurt.

I gave it twenty minutes before I plucked up the nerve to ask. “What was that all about?”

“What?” she asked flatly.

“Beck.”

Claudia shot me a sharp look. “I’m done, Charley. I’m done being made a fool of by men who pretend to care. Dustin doesn’t want me in his life, fine. Guess what? I don’t want Beck in mine. I’ve spent the last six months trying to convince myself that he didn’t break my heart. But he did. He hurts me all the time and doesn’t even care. He’s selfish and cruel and I hate him.”

I knew my friend, and I knew that what she’d said wasn’t her. I was convinced she was projecting what she felt about Dustin onto Beck. “You don’t mean that.”

The coldness in her eyes shocked me. “Yes. I do.”

“Claudia…” I reached for her hand. “What exactly did Dustin say?”

Pain etched itself into her features. “When I got to his apartment, I knew something wasn’t right. He was nervous and jumpy and wouldn’t meet my gaze. Then Pedra showed up.”

Renewed anger flooded me. “He said it in front of her?”

She nodded unhappily. “He told me we needed to talk and I sat down across from them and he told me that his life is his art and that he didn’t have time for distractions. He said he’d never had to be responsible for anyone other than himself and at almost fifty years old, he knew it was too late to change that. And then he said that he thought I was a lovely young woman, but he’d rather not keep in contact because he felt it would be too confusing for both of us.”

“He’s a dick,” I said.

Claudia looked at me with a renewal of unshed tears in her eyes. “Why was he so excited and cool to begin with, Charley? He made plans with me for the future and then he just… why did he do that? I wish he’d never emailed me back. It would’ve hurt less. It’s like… he got to know me and decided he wanted nothing to do with me.”

“No.” I grasped her hand tighter in mine. “No, that’s not why.” I leaned closer so I had all her focus. “Dustin Tweedie is a mercurial, selfish, self-absorbed artist, Claudia. You were something new to play with for a while, like a new muse… and it suddenly occurred to him that you weren’t just any muse. You were a person who would demand more from him… and unfortunately, I get the feeling he’s limited. He didn’t have anything more to give you. And that’s about him. Not you.”

The tears slipped silently down her cheeks as she nodded. “I love you,” she whispered.

I leaned my forehead against hers, fighting my own tears. “I love you too. You’re my family.”

After a while, Claudia settled her head on my shoulder and the emotional exhaustion of the day pulled her into unconsciousness.

I’d known as I sat there beside her that I would have to work hard over the coming weeks to remind her that she had family, a family she’d made. I didn’t want to lose Claudia to bitterness and rejection.

I wouldn’t let that happen.

When we landed, unfortunately, Claudia wasn’t lying when she said she was done with Beck. Her attitude toward him didn’t sway from ice queen, and a dejected Beck was silent all the way back to our apartments.

Once we got out of the cabs, Jake helped Claudia up the stairs with our luggage and Beck held me back a minute. He had a panicked look in his eyes that unsettled me. “I fucked up, waiting around too long. She’s pissed off at the men in her life and I happen to be one of them.” He pleaded with me with his eyes. “She’ll come around, though, right?” he asked softly.

“Right.” I nodded, hoping my reassurances meant something. “She just needs time.”

He looked up at the apartment. “Maybe she shouldn’t be alone tonight. You know, she’ll just dwell. Bring her to Milk. Everyone will be there.”

“I don’t know.”

“Try.”

“Okay,” I agreed and patted him on the shoulder, pretty sure Claudia and I weren’t going anywhere tonight.

* * *

I was only half right. Although Claudia stubbornly refused to remove herself from her bed, she practically screamed at me to go out. I finally cottoned on that she genuinely wanted to be left alone and I ventured out to Milk.

I felt bad leaving her behind, but I knew that if I were in her shoes, I’d probably want to be left alone too. Eventually as the days wore on, Claudia rejoined the world of the living. Jake and I spent a lot of time cajoling her into hanging out with us—even if it meant dodging the studying we were supposed to be doing for our upcoming exams and instead taking day trips to Glasgow or St. Andrews.

And then we convinced her to come hang out with everyone the night before the first of our exams.

“All right.” Denver turned to Rowena with a cocky smile. “What, or should I say whom, are you going to miss most?”

Music played softly in the background of the restaurant on Nicholson Street. We gathered around a large corner table, chatting and drinking after a great meal. Merriment mingled with melancholy. We seemed to have collectively agreed that this might be one of the last nights we all hung out together.

Rowena pretended to muse over the question.

“Oh, come on.” Matt winked at her. “We all know the answer, and it’s in my lap.”

“Whit?” Rowena raised an eyebrow at him. “Chlamydia?”

We laughed and Matt heaved an exasperated sigh, his eyes begging us not to mock him tonight.

“You walked into that one. You’ll find no sympathy here,” Claudia teased.

“Seriously, seriously,” Rowena drew our focus back to her, “I honestly think ah will miss Matt’s atrocious social skills.”

“Thank you!” he said, raising his pint like he’d just been validated.

She snorted and then looked at Jake and me sitting together. “Ah’ll miss the Jake-and-Charley saga. Better than any romance novel.” She lifted her glass to us. “Cheers for the angst, guys.”

I laughed, only somewhat embarrassed that our relationship ups and downs had played out for our friends over the year.

“And,” she smiled, a genuine, almost sad smile now, “ah will miss ma favorite band, The Stolen. Ah wish ye loads eh success, guys. Ye so deserve it.”

“Oh man,” Denver pulled her into his side, “she had to go get all mushy on me. I think I might cry.”

“Shut up.” She pushed at him playfully but stopped struggling when he tugged her close for a long hug.

I felt a little weepy and when I looked over at Claudia, she was wiping tears from the corner of her eyes. She saw me looking and grimaced. “What?” she huffed. “I’m a girl. Sue me.”

“Well, I would say no one would have a chance at suing you with your upcoming fancy law degree,” Lowe nudged her arm with his, smirking, “but it’s not final until you take the LSATs.”

Claudia rolled her eyes. “Don’t remind me. Just let me get through these exams first.” She grinned at me and I was relieved to see the smile was genuine.

This past year had changed my best friend perhaps even more than it had changed me. Although I watched her go through heartbreak, I also watched her come out the other side stronger than before. Claudia started college with me not knowing who she was or what she wanted out of life. I guess… she still wasn’t sure about that. She was still looking. But… she definitely knew what she didn’t want. She didn’t want to be second best and she didn’t know if she wanted to be a lawyer, but she was going to try her hand at it until she found her answer.

Beck was a different story.

While my relationship with Jake had only grown stronger over the last few weeks, my trust in him deepening now that I knew we were facing things together, Claudia and Beck’s friendship disintegrated. I knew from speaking to Jake that Beck tried to be patient and wait out Claudia’s mourning period over the loss of yet another parental figure, but as the days passed and her bitchiness toward him did not soften, Beck’s hurt turned into anger.

Since Claudia’s friendship with Lowe hadn’t changed, it was impossible for Beck and Claud to avoid one another. So now their interactions were antagonistic and a far cry from where they’d started out. Claudia had agreed to go on tour with The Stolen this summer as their manager, so I had no idea how that would work out for them. I had my fingers and toes crossed that somehow, a miracle would happen and they’d both pull their obstinate heads out of their asses.

As for Dustin, Claudia hadn’t heard from him since our departure from Barcelona. It was hard at first, but once I told my parents what happened, they rallied around Claudia. They Skyped Claudia just as much as they did me. The only one who didn’t was Andie. Claudia missed Andie almost as much as I did. But I wasn’t ready to let go of my anger.

My sister hadn’t spoken to me in months. She’d stopped supporting me. I didn’t know how we were going to get over the rift, or if we ever would with Jake in my life. I had no intention of letting go of Jake, and since Andie was the one with the problem with him, I couldn’t see how it would do me any good to take the first step toward mending that fence. It was up to Andie to take the first step. I just hoped I wouldn’t have a long wait on my hands. Or that Claudia would, either. Andie had given Claudia that older sister wisdom, support, and advice she’d always craved. Our argument wasn’t fair to Claud. But she never once complained. Plus, I think Mom, Dad, Jake, and I did a pretty good job helping her out.

The dark in the back of her eyes wasn’t completely gone, and the bitterness she felt still existed through her interactions with Beck, but I knew that Team Redford and Jake helped her mourn and try to move on.

We were obnoxiously persistent that way.

“All right, Rowena told us what she’s going to miss about us, but what are we going to miss about Scotland? Rowena and Maggie, obviously, but what or who else?” Claudia smiled around, her eyes jumping over Beck like he didn’t exist.

I resisted the urge to throw my napkin at her.

“I’m going to miss the accents,” Denver said.

“Ooh, good one.” Claudia nodded. “I’m going to miss Digestive biscuits.”

“Irn Bru,” Lowe named the Scottish soda drink that was surprisingly addictive.

“Milk.” Beck referred to the bar they played all the time.

“Scottish girls with purple hair.” Matt grinned at Rowena.

“Aw, that was kind of sweet.” Claudia looked as surprised as the rest of us.

He shrugged. “I can do sweet. I do know how to tone down all this raw animal magnetism.”

Claudia groaned. “Annnnnddd… he’s back.”

Laughing, Jake relaxed against his seat, his arm across the back of mine. “I’m going to miss,” he shot me a mischievous look, “Arthur’s Seat.”

Chuckling, I nodded. “Yeah, I’m going to miss that too.”

“Well,” Lowe scratched his chin, “I just learned more about Jake and Charley than I wanted to know.”

As everyone laughed, I leaned forward, looking at my friends, memorizing their faces. “I’m going to miss this. Right here.”

We were silent a moment, soaking it in, knowing that there would probably never come a time when we’d all be together again. Making great friends and saying goodbye—it was a bittersweet certainty of college.

My phone blasted in my purse and everyone groaned.

“Way to ruin the moment, Charley,” Lowe grinned, teasing.

I rolled my eyes at them as I pulled out my phone. “It’s my dad, I’ll be a sec.” I answered his call, laughter in my voice, “Hey, Dad, can I call you back, I’m—”

“Charley, something’s happened,” he interrupted, his words so grave, unease rolled up from my stomach.

I stuck my finger in my other ear to block out the noise around me. “What? What happened?”

“You need to come home, Charley. It’s Andie.”

The world narrowed, black shadows creeping in at the edges of my vision and my chest… my chest felt so tight. “Dad?”

“She’s been in an accident. She’s in a coma. You have to come home, Charley. You have to come home.”

“Oh Go—” The black swarmed my vision and I couldn’t breathe.

“Charley?”

“Oh my God, what’s happening?”

“Charley? Charley!”

“Jim, it’s Claudia. What’s going on?”

“Charley, are you okay?”

“Oh God… no… we’ll get her home.”

“Charley?”

“It’s going to be okay. We’re here.”

“Charley…”

15

Labayelle, November 2013

After almost nine hours on the road, we pulled into a motel in Laramie, Wyoming. Beck had driven this time, while Jake and I nursed hangovers in the backseat. The three of them had joined me in the bar last night but only Jake and I had alcohol. We got a little wasted at dinner and I could only put it down to strained nerves on both our parts.

Waking up early to get on the road was not fun but our pale faces and self-pity seemed to amuse Beck, and I was okay with anything that kept him in marginally good spirits.

For the most part Jake and I were quiet in the back of the car because we were feeling ill. Even when we stopped at Ogallala, Nebraska, for lunch, we were monosyllabic. Food seemed to help though and as Beck got us back on the road, Jake attempted conversation. He updated me on his little brother Luke who’d gone from total player to devoted boyfriend when he met his match in his first year of college. Apparently the she-player he was dating didn’t give up playing like he did, however, and they broke it off when they started sophomore year.

“He’s dating a library assistant now. Really quiet, shy. Luke’s a different person around her.”

“Good different?”

Jake grinned. “Yeah, definitely. I think my little brother might be growing up. How scary is that?”

“What’s scary is the part where we’re growing up,” I said dryly. “Do you feel it? Grown up, I mean? Because I don’t.”

He gave me a consoling smile. “No. I’ve been applying to different grad schools—molecular engineering. Every time I take a minute to process that that’s where I am right now, I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut.”

Suddenly concerned by the anxious tone underlying his words, I turned toward him. “You’re happy, though, right? It’s what you want to do with your life? This is the next step that you want?”

He thought a moment before answering. “Yeah. It’s what I want. It just sometimes feels like it’s come at me all too soon. Before I’m ready for it. But I guess we all feel that way. We just have to suck it up and get on with it.”

“You don’t sound so sure.”

Jake’s eyes reassured me. “I’m sure. There’s just a huge part of me that wishes I could go back a year or two—pause the inevitability of responsibility and adulthood. I’ve fucked up the big stuff before. I don’t want to do it again.”

It was my turn to be reassuring. “You won’t. You won’t because first time around, you weren’t even considering whether you’d fuck anything up. Your head wasn’t anywhere but in the moment you were in. Now you think about consequences, how everything we do affects our future. It’s called the learning curve, Jake.” I grabbed his hand and squeezed it without even thinking. “You won’t repeat the same mistakes. You’re not that guy.”

I felt his fingers slide through mine and just like that, the handholding went from friendly and comforting to something more. It was the whisper of skin sliding against skin. An innocent touch somehow turned sensual between us.

Jake rubbed his thumb lightly over mine and I felt that barely there touch between my legs.

Biting back a gasp, I wrenched my hand from his and rolled my head on the cushioned headrest to stare determinedly out at the passing scenery.

We’d passed into Wyoming, a state I’d never been in before. We were on the Lincoln highway and after passing through Cheyenne, there wasn’t much to see except plains, mountains, and trees. It was beautiful. Peaceful.

“Charley?”

Jake said my name so quietly and with such depth, I froze. I looked up front to see Claudia and Beck deep in conversation about which motel to stay in. She was busy looking it up on her iPhone.

Sure they weren’t paying attention, I looked at Jake feeling a rapid flutter in my chest. “Yeah?”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “For the way I acted last time I saw you. It was childish and unfair.”

I turned away again, unable to meet his eyes when I replied, “Apology accepted. You’re allowed to be angry with me.” I was angry with myself. With everyone and everything.

I felt resentful. Trapped.

I missed him.

“I just wish I knew the whole story.”

I glanced sharply up front, noting Claudia and Beck had grown quiet, alert. I shot Jake a look of admonishment out of the corner of my eye. Understanding I didn’t want to discuss this and definitely not here where we had no privacy, he turned away and watched the passing scenery too.

In the early evening we arrived in Laramie and decided to pull in for the night. We found a motel, took a nap, and then went for a walk. The main part of town was pretty and old-fashioned-looking with streetlights that looked like gas lamps. Some of the buildings dated back to the 1800s, all the storefronts were well kept, and the streets were clean in a way that reminded me of home.

“Bar and grill.” Claudia pointed to a place just across from the train tracks.

“Let’s do it.” Beck threw his arm around her shoulders and they started walking across the street to the bar.

Feeling Jake’s eyes on me, I turned to him. “What?”

He nodded at Claudia and Beck. “Do you think that’s a good idea right now?”

“I think we’re on a road trip to scatter Beck’s dad’s ashes and that it’s a small miracle I’ve heard him laugh and seen him smile as many times as I have. Claudia helps him. As much as I’m worried for them both, I won’t be the one to take away the balm that she is for him.”

Without waiting to hear Jake’s reply, I hurried across the street to catch up with our friends.

The place was pretty packed but we managed to get a table in the back. After we ate, I felt much better, my hangover finally dissipating.

Beck and Claudia took their turn to have beers while Jake and I stuck to soda. We’d been drinking for a couple of hours when Beck and Jake managed to grab one of the pool tables. Claudia and I played against them but we lost, and then I lost in a one-on-one against Beck. I hadn’t spent much time around a pool table and neither had Claudia, so we decided it would probably be more interesting to watch Jake and Beck go head to head.

During one of their games, I headed over to the bar to get more drinks. The bar was busy, so I waited while a group of ladies in tutus, jeans, and glittery pink cowboy hats—a bachelorette party?—ordered another round. After a few minutes I glanced back across the bar at my friends.

I felt unease shift through me at the sight of the young woman leaning against the pool table. Claudia was talking to Beck while this girl, who had come out of nowhere, flirted with Jake.

Jake didn’t seem to be flirting back but I knew him well enough to know that his eyes were definitely taking in everything about her. I could understand why.

She was gorgeous.

Tall with long, wavy dark hair, a golden tan, and pretty, fresh features that weren’t caked in makeup like so many of the other women in the bar. She wore a casual but short T-shirt that showed off her curvy bosom and toned midriff. Her blue jeans showcased her lean legs. She was wearing very cute worn brown cowboy boots.

Everything about her screamed, “I am Jake Caplin’s type!”

I felt sick.

Physically sick.

I studied Jake for a reaction as she reached out and touched the iron fist logo on his Pearl Jam shirt. He’d been holding himself aloof from her but whatever she said, it brought forth that smile that could floor a woman.

And it floored her. I could tell in the way her smile widened and her body relaxed, as if she were melting under his attention.

I turned away, feeling a little breathless.

And then the berating commenced. Jealousy was something I wasn’t allowed to feel where Jake was concerned. I gave him up, and giving him up entailed having to watch other women flirt with him.

Shit.

What if he spent the night with her?

The thought froze me to the spot.

You’re being crazy, Charley! He’s not going to hook up with a random stranger on a road trip to scatter his best friend’s dad’s ashes.

I looked back over at him and my eyes narrowed. The girl was standing even closer and they seemed to be having an actual conversation.

“Blondie, what can I get you?”

I whipped around at the voice and was confronted by a cute bartender. He was a couple of years older than me with dirty-blond hair, sexy stubble, and twinkling bright blue eyes. He grinned as I blinked at him, coming out of my panic over Jake and the girl.

What could he get me?

For one: a stool. I did not want to go back over there until the girl was gone.

I glanced at the filled stools in front of me, frowning.

As if the bartender read my mind, he tapped the bar in front of a big beefy guy and said, “Jay, you mind moving down the bar.”

“Sure thing, Ty,” Jay said and I watched in amusement as he pushed the guy beside him, and like a set of dominoes they forced everyone down a spot until the stool in front of me was open.

I slid on it and smiled gratefully at Ty the bartender. “Thanks.”

Ty grinned and I had to admit, I took some comfort and pleasure in the appreciative look in his eyes. “No need. I wanted something prettier to look at than Jay.”

I laughed. “Well, thanks anyway.”

“So what can I get you?”

I tilted my head in thought, the blood rushing in my ears at the thought of what was going on behind me. “A time machine?”

Ty chuckled. “You think I had one of those, I’d be working here?”

“Oh? What would you use it for?”

“Ah, well, that would be telling. What would you use it for?”

I shrugged. “Lots of things.”

He leaned across the bar, his eyes drinking in my every feature. “You’re telling me someone like you has regrets?”

“Someone like me? What do you know about someone like me?”

His response was a slow, wicked grin that I had to admit penetrated my sadness and jealousy just a little. “I’ll be right back.” He strode down the bar to help his colleague and I checked him out from the back. Very nice.

True to his word, Ty came back after a minute or so, opened a beer, and planted it in front of me. “On the house.”

I picked it up with a smirk. “And what does a filly have to do for that around here?”

He threw his head back and laughed. “A filly? Really?”

I grinned back at him.

Mirth still bright in his eyes, he shook his head. “Nothing. I promise. Except maybe stop looking so sad. You are far too pretty to be so sad.”

I tipped the bottle head in his direction and avoided his compliment with a casual, “Thanks for the beer.”

“What’s your name?”

“Charley.”

He leaned on the bar again. “It suits you. Charley, I’m Ty.”

“You have a nice city here, Ty.”

“Thank you.” His expression turned curious. “What brings you to us, Charley?”

I shook my head. “Uh-uh. Too depressing.”

“Okay.” His brow wrinkled in thought. “Where are you from?”

I shook my head again. “You could be a serial killer. The less information I give you, the less chance of you finding me to serial kill me.”

Ty chuckled and as our eyes locked, I didn’t feel the sizzle I should have. I was too busy wondering if Jake had noticed I was talking to this guy or if he was too busy getting his flirt on with the beautiful brunette to give a shit what I was up to.

“Ah, suspicious and overly cautious. Let me guess—law student.”

Wow, impressive. “You’ve really honed those people-reading skills bartenders are known for, huh.”

“That or I’m psychic.” He glanced behind me. “For instance, you were or are in a relationship with the tall guy in the Pearl Jam T-shirt over by the pool table.”

My muscles tensed. “Is he looking over?”

“Mmm-hmm. And attempting to fry my ass with his eyes.”

“Where’s the gorgeous girl in the cowboy boots?”

“Leanne?” he smirked. “Your friend stopped talking to her the minute he saw me talking to you.”

I sat on that a moment and then sighed. “Ex-boyfriend. Awkward road trip.”

Ty met my eyes again. “He looks pretty furious. But I’m up for pissing him off even more if you like.” His eyes lowered to my lips.

With a dry chuckle, I said, “As much as I love the idea of kissing a random bartender, especially a cute one, I’m the one who broke his heart so I don’t think I’ll be doing anything to hurt him any more than I already have.”

Ty gave me a good-natured smile as he straightened up away from the counter. “Well, if you change your mind, I get off at one.”

My expression said we both knew I wasn’t going to be there when he got off work and then I slipped from the stool and braced myself to return to my friends.

As soon as I saw Jake’s face, I knew Ty was right.

He was furious.

And hurt.

I suddenly felt sick again.

My eyes flew to Claudia and Beck and I flinched at the uneasiness pouring off them. Thankfully, there was no recrimination in their faces—it wouldn’t be fair for them to be angry at me for talking with the bartender when Jake had been flirting with cowboy-boots girl.

Speaking of… I glanced around the bar until I found the brunette over by the jukebox with a few friends. Her gaze was locked on Jake. I only just managed not to curl my lip into a growl of territorialism.

“Who’s winning?” I attempted to ask nonchalantly as I stopped beside Jake at the pool table.

“Seriously?” he snapped.

When I wouldn’t look at him, Jake crowded me against the table so I had no choice but to acknowledge him. I stared up at him, my face perfectly blank so he wouldn’t realize how off balance he was making me.

“What are you trying to do to me?” he said, anguished.

“Jake, man,” I heard Beck say softly. “Maybe this should wait.”

“I’m sick and tired of waiting,” he said. He gently took hold of my arm and started to pull me away from the table. “We need to talk.”

“Jake.” I tugged out of his hold, drawing us to a standstill. He glowered back at me and I returned the look. “Don’t you dare try to haul me out of here.”

“We’re going to hash this shit out once and for all and if I have to throw you over my shoulders, I will.”

“Is there a problem here?”

Oh shit.

Ty had come out from behind the bar and now we had an audience.

Jake stood in front of me, blocking Ty’s view. “This is none of your business. She is none of your business.”

“Jake.” I tugged on his shirt, outraged by this behavior. “Stop acting like a Neanderthal.”

“I’m pissed off,” he snarled, looking over his shoulder at me with fire in his eyes.

“Well, I’m pissed off too!” I yelled back.

“Maybe you could take being pissed off outside,” Ty suggested.

“No problem,” Jake said as he grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the exit.

I let him because by now, I was uncomfortable with the audience and I also didn’t want witnesses when I murdered him. “What the hell are you doing?” I said as soon as we were out the door. I vaguely noted that Claudia and Beck didn’t follow.

“What am I doing?” Jake drew to a sudden stop, turning around on me. “What the hell are you doing?”

Before I could answer he started walking again, refusing to let me go. We both seethed as we marched the five-minute walk back to the motel. Jake let us into his and Beck’s room and I wrenched my hand away.

“This is ridiculous,” I huffed. “We’re acting like five-year-olds.”

Jake slammed the door shut. “I’m not the one flirting with a freaking bartender.”

“Hah! No, you’re just the one,” I stabbed a finger at him, “flirting with boots with all her hair and tan skin.”

Jake looked confused for a moment and then his expression turned grim. “That’s what this is about? I was talking to that girl? She was flirting with me. I didn’t encourage it. But you saw what you wanted to see, didn’t you, Charley. So you decided to flirt with the bartender to get back at me. Very mature.”

“Mature? We’re talking about maturity? You just blew up at me in a bar for talking to another guy.”

“I’m not the one who broke things off!” he yelled, his chest heaving as he grew breathless with anger. “I get to flirt with other girls. But I haven’t! I haven’t touched a single girl since you left me because I can’t let you go! And I fucking hate you for it, Charley!”