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We sat out there for another hour, talking about everything and nothing. By the time we cleaned up our trash and headed back to the cars, I felt—while not better—at least a little less stressed.
When she offered a hug, I returned it. “Thank you.”
“Anytime,” she whispered. “I’ve got your back.”
Then she was in her car, and I was in mine.
My phone had been very quiet since I texted the guys earlier. I sent a text to Jake that I was heading home, and I hadn’t even put the phone down when he replied.
Jake:OMW
Thirty minutes later,I’d just changed into PJs when the knock hit my door. The cats were put out with me for having been gone for so long, but I ignored them as I hurried to answer.
Jake surged inside as soon as I opened it, and I wrapped around him tightly. “Oh, your face…”
“Trust me,” he said. “I don’t even feel it.” Then he was kissing me, and we had to get the door closed and locked.
Even being careful, it was hard not to put my hands on something bruised on him as we made it to my room and stripped out of our clothes. We needed to talk, and we would.
But right now, I didn’t need words, and neither did Jake.
Chapter Twelve
We Might As Well Be Strangers
Archie
Me:My place. 30 minutes. No excuses.
No one arguedwith the text. Now, sitting around the outdoor table overlooking the pool with food spread out in front of us, no one said a word. The only one actually eating was Jake, he had torn right through one burger and into the second before he began to slow.
Coop sipped his soda and watched him eat with his eyebrows raised. No missing the concern there—or the fact Coop had taken the chair next to Bubba’s. The fact that I could barely look at Bubba without getting pissed off didn’t bode well for this conversation.
Still, we needed to have it.
Now, maybe more than ever.
Cracking open a beer, I took a long drink and gave them all another minute. Personally, I didn’t want Jake to be responsible for choking. The only good part of this particular moment, Frankie was somewhere else having a girl’s night with Rachel.
I couldn’t stand the bitch, but she’d been nice to Frankie. Maybe too nice. But right this moment, Frankie needed nice. One thing going for Rachel, none of us had dated her.
Yay.
“Look,” Bubba said, breaking the silence as he leaned forward. Jake stilled and laser focused on him so hard, I braced. If he launched at Bubba over this table, it was going to be hell to separate them. Like Jake, Bubba’s face was a mass of bruises. His right eye was a pitch perfect black and purple bruise that looked like it hurt.
Call me petty, but I didn’t mind that part. Mine had only just faded from where Bubba slugged me, but it was still tender. What bugged me was they’d beaten the shit out of each other. Not like we hadn’t had our share of scraps over the years. This was different.
This was fighting over Frankie.
For real fighting.
“You’re all pissed at me,” Bubba said after a protracted silence.
“Great revelation,” Jake retorted, his tone dry. “Did it take you all day to get there?”
The two glared at each other. “Fuck you, Jake.”
“Right back at you.”
