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“Yes!” he cries, and I laugh, loving seeing him so excited.
“Pops is ready for a lie-down, I think,” Phil groans as he stands up and stretches out his back. “I think I’m getting too old for this.”
“What? Never!” I tell him with a smile.
After saying goodbye, we head to the ranch truck. With the picnic basket, towels for swimming, and Jacob’s little legs, Jack decides driving to the river will be easier. We could have gone on horseback, but I don’t want to suggest that after Jack’s accident, and it would be tricky with the basket anyway.
“Do you want to drive, Jacob?” Jack asks, and Jacob’s face lights up.
“Yes!”
Jack laughs. “Come on, then.” He climbs into the driver’s seat and lifts Jacob in, settling him on his lap. I slide into the passenger seat, my heart exploding with love for them as I watch an excited Jacob grip the steering wheel tightly.
“You might have to give me directions. It’s been a while since I was at the river. I think the last time was when I visited for Lib and Mason’s wedding.”
His words cause a wave of sadness to crash over me. We made love for the first time by the river, and hearing him say he doesn’t remember being there hurts. Even though I know he doesn’t remember, it’s like a knife to my heart, another reminder that he remembers nothing about our relationship.
I’m quiet on the short journey, and I know Jack’s noticed. I’m looking out of the passenger side window, but I can feel his gaze on me. I hadn’t even thought of the feelings being back at the river would evoke. I don’t want to ruin the afternoon by overthinking everything, so I take a deep breath, pushing my emotions down as I feel the truck come to a stop. Jack opens his door and lifts Jacob down.
“Stay away from the water,” he shouts as Jacob runs off. We can see him through the windshield, and we watch him for a few seconds in silence. “I’ve been here since the wedding, haven’t I?” His gaze is fixed on Jacob and I’m grateful he can’t see the tears that are beginning to sting my eyes.
“Yes,” I whisper. He sighs and nods before climbing out of the car, and I sit there feeling torn. I can’t decide if I’m relieved or disappointed he hasn’t asked about it. It’s not like I could tell him if he asked anyway. I guess he assumes we came here in a group. Maybe being here again will jog his memory. I really hope it does.
Jack
Iglance across the cab at Aria, whose head is turned away from me as she stares out of the window. I’ve done it again. I’ve unwittingly hurt her. It was one innocent comment, but I saw the flash of hurt in her eyes, and I knew straight away I’ve been here after Libby and Mason’s wedding. The more time I spend with her, the more I question whether something happened between us before the accident. Would she look so devastated at me not remembering if we’re only friends? But if that’s true, where does Zara fit into everything? I refuse to believe I’d cheat on Zara, no matter how unhappy I was.
Jacob squirms on my knee, and I open the door, lowering him gently to the ground. “Stay away from the water,” I shout as he runs off. I watch him running around for a few seconds, and with my eyes still on him, I ask, “I’ve been here since the wedding, haven’t I?”
She pauses for a second before answering. “Yes,” she whispers, confirming what I already knew. I sigh and nod before climbing out of the car. I hate that I’m hurting her, but I seem to be doing it more and more.
Going to the flatbed of the truck, I pluck out the picnic basket and head over to a large tree, the canopy of which provides some shade from the hot Texas sun. Aria follows me a few seconds later with the blanket. Laying it out, she sits down on it and smiles at me.
“I’m starving. What have we got?” I know she’s trying to put our conversation in the truck out of her mind, but her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes, and I have to stop myself from asking her to tell me everything. I remember the torment on her face in the Brass Hall last night when I tried to talk to her. I don’t want to see that look on her face again.
Calling Jacob over, we sit on the blanket, and I lay out everything I prepared at the house. There’s far too much food for the three of us, especially as Jacob barely eats anything. He’s too excited to go swimming, and I have to ask him three or four times to sit down, bribing him with swimming only if he eats something.
“Did you bring sunscreen?” Aria asks when we’ve all finished. “I’ll put some on Jacob before we go in the water.”
I reach into the bag I’ve brought containing a change of clothes for Jacob, pulling out the sun cream, along with a swim nappy.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” I ask, unable to stop myself from thinking that Zara hasn’t bothered once to put sun cream on him in the past week.
“Of course not.” I watch as she calls him over and removes his clothes, making quick work of pulling his swim nappy on. He’s practically bouncing with excitement and I can’t help but smile. He lets Aria cover him in sun cream without any moaning, something he doesn’t do for me, and she even talks him into sitting on the blanket playing with his cars for ten minutes while the cream soaks in and his lunch goes down.
“Would you mind putting some on my shoulders? My British skin isn’t quite used to this heat yet.” I chuckle. Looking at her, I swear I see her eyes flash with heat before she swallows.
“Erm… okay.”
I peel off my t-shirt and turn so my back is to her. I look over my shoulder as she kneels up and squirts the cold cream onto my shoulders. Tearing my eyes off her, I close them as she touches me, her soft hands gently rubbing the cream into my skin. Despite the temperature, goose bumps erupt where she’s touching me, and I have to stop myself from turning around and kissing the hell out of her. My hands itch to touch her, and I have to adjust myself as I start to get hard in my shorts. What is wrong with me? I’ve never felt this drawn to someone. The desire to kiss her is overwhelming.
“You’re done,” she says quietly, handing me back the sun cream. Taking it from her, I stay with my back to her while I put everything away, knowing if I turn around now, she’ll see the effect she’s having on me.
“Thank you,” I whisper eventually, when I can trust myself to speak. The air seems to crackle with tension, and I hope I haven’t made things awkward.
“Who wants to go swimming?” she asks.
“Me!” Jacob cries, breaking the tension. She laughs and stands up, removing her jean shorts and tank. I try not to stare, but I’m not very successful as she kicks her shorts away, leaving her in a tiny black bikini. I knew she was beautiful, but seeing her like this takes my breath away.
