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“We are all so glad you could make it. I want to assure you that we are taking precautions to prevent photographs and any filming. I can’t imagine what it’s been like for you and…”
“It’s fine, and I really wanted to be here for Jake…”
David put his hand on her shoulder. “We’re all happy that you came. He’s been in another world this week, and I suppose it’s hard to celebrate when the person you want to be by your side can’t be there because the media would exploit you both. Jake explained to us why we didn’t see you at the Super Bowl. We completely understand, but I think it’s been tough for him this week. I am sure for you as well.”
The gravity of what her being at his family’s house meant to Jake, to all of them, hit her. Was it wrong for her to show up? Would Jake be more upset that she had come to his party once they talked?
“Damn it, Jenae, quit fucking talking to me like I’m a child in front of her,” he spat as they walked away from the barn structure.
She whipped around. “Because you’re acting like one. You stalked up to us like you were about to start throwing things like some kind of petulant, spoiled, yes, yes, child.”
He kept walking. “Stalked, really? I walked up to you two, hugging like all is hunky-dory, and we are so honored she’s here. Even though we know, you and I both know, the reason she was at the playoff game was because she was his fucking escortfor the night. I fucking hope she made it up to him after she humiliated him in front of the world. Not sure even her cock sucking abilities could make up for what she did to that guy.”
“Let me rephrase that, Jake, notactinglike a child. Youarea fucking child, a self-centered, self-absorbed, selfish …child!” Jenae screamed, her hands on her hips, her chest puffing out.
“Shhh…Jenae,” he said, snapping his head back toward the barn. They were a couple hundred feet away, and the band was pretty loud. Still, the last thing he wanted was for any of his nosy aunts or uncles to hear them and to have to make up some bullshit story. He shut his eyes, coaxing himself in. “So any more self-words you can think of to describe me?” he said, softening his tone. He hated it when Jenae raised her voice at him because that meant she was done, like there was no discussion left.
Jenae went up on her tiptoes and pinched his earlobe between her fingers. “Yes, I have a few more to describe you: self-important, self-focused…” She jerked his lobe again, watching him grimace. “Remember, I am a thesaurus, the one who wrote your goddamned papers, and to really showcase my vocabulary skills, a self-made asshole.”
He bent his head toward her to relieve the pain in his ear. “Okay, okay, I give, I’m all those self-words…and probably a few more…but Jenae…”
She let go of his ear and pushed his chest. “No buts, no excuses. We had an adult conversation about this. We agreed you would not bring anything up to her until all celebrations are done. You have tonight with her, then tomorrow is the UT party, and she won’t be there…so have tonight, then make plans to talk after tomorrow night. After everything is done. Jake. Listen to me on this.”
“Yep, okay, Jenae, as usual, you are right.” His lips stretched into a smile, seeing his sister’sI told you soface. “You know I want to do this right…but when another piece of the Rakellpuzzle slipped into place as I realized she was there as Roman’s escort…my head felt like it was fucking going to explode. You know I am not good at hiding how I feel.”
“Not goodis an understatement. You fucking fail at it. It’s been that way since you were a baby, but you’re not anymore. You go flying off the handle or…making assumptions about why she was with Roman, but you don’t know that was why she was on a date with him. That’s like stating that the only way a man like Roman would date her is as an escort.”
“No, Jenae, of course not. Please, I’ve been chasing her, and well, I’m a pretty good catch,” he said, smirking. “It just feels odd. I asked her, and she said that was their first date, sooo…now knowing…”
“You can’t do this, Jake—look at everything about her through the prism of what you just found out. We don’t know the particulars of anything.”
A forced breath escaped his mouth, thinking maybe God had cut him short in the self-control department, knowing he was giving Jake two bossy-as-hell sisters. “Okay, I hear you, but let’s go in before one of those people we call family comes out to lecture both of us on how rude we are being.” He heard her, and while she said the words and it made sense, his brain was reaching for every piece of the puzzle that was Rakell.
His dad had moved around the table and was chatting with Rakell when Jake walked up, swallowing thickly. “Hey you.”
“Yeah, you?” She shifted her focus toward him, catching his intense blue eyes, offset by a warm smile.
He scanned the table, his gaze landing on his dad, who was standing near Rakell. “So don’t believe anything these people tell you about me.” The table laughed.
“I’ll fill you in,” Melissa said in a fake conspiratorial tone.
Jake glanced at his mom. “So you guys know each other?”
“Ms. Annette is my singing coach,” Rakell responded.
His stare focused on his mom, his eyebrows pulling in, perturbed.So my mom knew who that girl on the Jumbotron was?“Really? She didn’t mention anything about knowing you.”
“Jake, I wanted you to concentrate on the Super Bowl.” Annette’s black eyes darted to her son with aDon’t start with melook.
Shaking his head, he leaned into Rakell. “Can’t believe she didn’t say anything… actually, I can.”
Rakell let out a chuckle.
Tentatively, Jake touched her upper arm. “Let me introduce you to my grandparents.” They walked a couple of steps toward the table right next to them. Jake introduced his grandparents, Grandma and Grandpa, who had retired to Marble Falls, only an hour from Austin. Then to his grand-pére, who still lived in France but had flown in for the Super Bowl celebrations.
Rakell couldn’t help but notice that Jake’s grandpa had very broad shoulders and deep olive skin. Later, she would learn he was from Morocco, which was probably where Jake got his size and skin color. Rakell remembered from the night with Neo that Jake’s grandma from France had died. She felt a twang of sadness when she hugged hisgrand-pére,as Jake called him, knowing he’d lost his wife a little over a year ago. His voice boomed when he talked about Jake, mainly in French. She answered him in French, and he made sure to tell Jake over and over that Rakell was impressive. Jake finally shut him down with a kiss on the cheek, telling his grand-pére that he was making it more difficult for him to win her over because he was giving Rakell such an advantage. His grandpa let out a hearty, raspy laugh, hugging Jake and saying, “Bonne chance, Jake” with another burst of laughter.
“I need it,” she heard Jake say under his breath as they stepped away from the table.
