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Jake flicks his gaze from me to Miles, before turning back to Marcus. He may not have said it aloud, but it’s clear what both men aren’t saying. Jake is pulling rank on Miles, and as his employer, Marcus will now be responsible for Miles’ actions.
“Both,” Jake replies, making his message clear.
Marcus gives him a nod of understanding, but doesn’t say anything more. I want to see how Miles is reacting to Jake’s thinly-veiled threat, but I can’t bring myself to see the hatred in his beautiful blue eyes, which used to only hold love for me.
Whilst they are talking, I manage to claw back a bit of control over my breathing, and my head is no longer swimming like I might pass out. I focus on taking deep breaths as Jake slowly approaches me.
With each step, he watches for any signs that I might stop him from coming closer, but when I don’t, he keeps moving until he’s crouched down in front of me.
With slow, deliberate movements, he reaches out and uses his thumb to wipe the remaining tears from my red cheeks. I look up at him as he gives me a sad smile.
He takes one of my hands from off my legs and laces our fingers together, squeezing it tightly, as though he’s trying to pass some of his strength over to me.
“Let’s get out of here,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper.
With the slightest nod, I let him pull me to my feet. I’m shaky from being curled up so tight, and from the lack of air while I was hyperventilating, and so I’m not surprised that my legs feel wobbly.
Jake lets go of my hand, so he can wrap his arm around my back, before reaching over with his other hand, grabbing mine again. He pulls me to his side, letting me lean on him as he helps me walk. He uses his body like it’s a shield, preventing me from seeing anything that might hurt me.
As much as I’m grateful to him for protecting me, the clearly insane part of my brain that is still in love with Miles—or maybe it’s my heart—can’t help wondering how he is.
Is his nose broken? Does he regret the things he said?
Those thoughts lead to me struggling to catch my breath again, so I push them from my mind. Once we’re outside and the fresh air hits me, I take a deep breath, filling my lungs in a much needed way.
Jake keeps his hand in mine, but takes a small step away from me, giving me the space he thinks I need. In reality, it only makes me feel more empty and alone, but I can’t blame him for wanting a bit of distance. Since I came into his life, I’ve caused him nothing but trouble.
Although I try to keep the pain, loneliness, and sadness from seeping into my voice, I’m not sure I do a very good job. “I should probably go home. I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused.”
I try to drop his hand and walk towards my car, but he refuses to let go as he steps in front of me. He places his hand under my chin and tilts my head, so that I’ve got no choice but to meet his gaze.
Jake’s beautiful chocolate eyes are staring at me with nothing but kindness, and my heart aches. “You don’t have to apologise. You’ve done nothing wrong. And you are definitely not going home. Our day of fun is needed now more than ever.”
My eyes widen as I shake my head slowly in confusion. “You still want to go out?”
Jake chuckles as he rapidly nods his head, his smile growing with each bounce. “I promise, it will put that gorgeous smile back on your face, and you’ll have a great time. What do you say?”
As I’ve come to learn about Jake, his energy is infectious, and I can’t say no to him. The moment I agree, his smile lights up his face, and butterflies flutter in my stomach at the way he looks at me.
He pulls me towards his car, and I soon realise I’m grinning alongside him. I try to focus on the sweet guy in front of me, whodidn’t even hesitate when it came to defending me, but my heart continues to betray my head.
I can’t help thinking about when Miles looked at me the way Jake is doing. That’s quickly replaced by the way he glares at me now, like he hates me, and the awful things he said to me.
I’m used to being hurt and abused by people who are supposed to care about me. I’ve known that more than I’ve known love. I just never thought Miles would ever be capable of hurting me in that way.
When you give someone your heart, they have the power to hurt you more than anyone else. I just never thought he’d break mine the way he has.
- SEVEN YEARS AGO -
Two weeks ago, for the first time in almost two years, I spoke to a stranger in a bar. I don’t really know what possessed me to go over and start a conversation with Miles. Maybe it was loneliness after so long on my own, or maybe there was just something about those gorgeous blue eyes of his that called to me.
He looked almost as lost and alone as me, and I think my darkness called out to his. Although we didn’t talk about anything deep, meaningful, or personal, after just a couple of hours, I felt like I’d known him forever.
Despite him clearly being in a difficult place too, he seemed to push that to one side, and he concentrated on making me smile and laugh, which is something I thought I’d forgotten how to do.
So, at the end of the night, when he asked if he could see me again, the word yes tumbled from my lips before I’d even thought it through. It was the easiest scary decision I’ve ever made.
The two weeks between then and now seem to have passed by almost like a dream. We’ve either seen or spoken to each other every day, and we’re doing the whole ‘getting to know you’ thing… Well, as much as I can, given the circumstances.