Page 91 of Fish Out of Water

“I don’t know,” Robbie said, “he’s pretty particular. I’m surprised he offered at all.”

Jake set his fork down with aclink. He had no appetite left, not even for Isabel’s beautiful chocolate cake.

“I love my sister,” he said. “That’s the difference, Robbie.”

Robbie met Jake’s gaze for the first time in over an hour. The hurt in his eyes was unmistakable, and suddenly Jake felt sick.

“Um, I heard that there’s a restaurant in town,” Alex said quickly. “And a bar, right?”

“Yes, Sea Bites and The Cove, respectively,” Robbie told her. “The Cove’s not worth going to, though. You’re better off sticking with more upstanding places.”

“Like Eaton’s Gas and Groceries,” Jake said. “Now,that’san upstanding business.”

“Jake, stop,” Robbie said darkly.

Jake hesitated. He hadn’t expected that at all. “It is,” he insisted. “Your parents know how to run a business people want to go to, if nothing else. You should try the fried chicken there, Alex. It’s worth its weight in gold.”

“Shall we move into the living room?” Isabel suggested. “I’ll make us some tea.”

“That would be lovely,” Alex said. “Thank you, Aunt Isabel. Dinner was delicious.”

“Yes,” Robbie said, folding his napkin neatly on the table. “I’m sorry I didn’t have time to make anything to bring.”

Everyone turned to Jake, waiting for him to shoot something back. But Robbie was not going to win that easily. He would not keep Isabel and Alex on his side, not once they realized he’d been the one to put Jake in an impossible position first. So he kept quiet, letting Isabel and then Alex gather up the dishes.

“Finished with your cake, Jakey?” Isabel asked.

Under the table, Jake’s fingers dug into his thigh. “I am,” he said. “Thanks.”

“Of course, dear.”

Robbie, after offering to help with the tea and being rejected, made his way into the living room. Jake sat alone at the table for a few seconds before gritting his teeth and joining him.

“You’ve got balls showing up here now,” he said, sitting down opposite Robbie.

“I came here for Isabel,” Robbie said. “And to meet Alex, of course. You know that.”

“You shouldn’t have.”

“I can do what I want.”

“Except stand up to your parents, apparently.”

“I offered to have you help me with that.”

“Oh, please,” Jake scoffed. “You wanted me to go along with you just to make a point to them. The only thing that could get me to change my mind now is if you actually loved me.”

“I do.”

“No, you don’t. You couldn’t live with me, Robbie. Not forever. We would be miserable. I’m not cut out for this life, and you… you’d regret giving up everything for this. For me.”

“Then loveisn’tenough.” Robbie’s hands rested in his lap, picking at his fingernails. Jake had never seen him so nervous before—not even around his parents.

“Because it’s not real love. Trust me, I would know.”

“You, the man who fucks and dumps, would know what true love looks like?” Robbie shook his head. “Forget it. I can’t make you love me back, and I wouldn’t want to. I don’t want your pity anymore.”

“Teatime,” Isabel said, emerging from the kitchen and setting down a white porcelain teapot with little painted seagulls in the middle of the coffee table while Alex arranged the cups.