“Why?”
“Because I’ll have f**kin’ killed Tom for letting it happen.”
We both start laughing, as the pilot comes on the intercom to tell us to buckle up because we’re coming in to land.
Dave pulls into the drive outside Jake’s house. I mean our house. I still haven’t gotten used to saying that. And I would never say this to Jake, but it doesn’t feel like my house.
Because, well, I kind of hate his house…okay, maybe hate’s too strong a word.
I intensely dislike Jake’s house.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful. Not overly flashy. Modern. It has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a music studio, and a gym.
But it’s a bachelor pad. And that’s the problem.
It was Jake’s bachelor pad that he brought countless women back to.
God, just thinking about it makes me want to hurl.
I’ve never had sex with Jake at his house before. During the short stay we had here between tour dates, sex wasn’t exactly on either of our minds.
But now I live here, and Jake’s going to want to have sex—a lot—and I know I’ll be thinking of the countless other women here before me. In Jake’s house. In his bed.
The bed that I’m going to share with him.
I hate that more than I can express.
Ugh.
I know I’m being overly sensitive, and I know Jake has never lived here with a woman before. That counts for something.
This is his home. My home now. I’m going to have to get used to it.
How? I’m not entirely sure, because currently I feel like the memory of his old life lingers like a bad smell when I’m in his house.
My house.
Crap.
I really need to get used to referring to it as “my house,” otherwise Jake will notice, and I don’t want to upset him. I don’t need to be stirring up any of my issues with his past.
“Just drop the cases in the hall and get yourselves home,” Jake says to Dave and Ben, unlocking the front door, letting me in first.
I see the light is on in the kitchen, and hoping that one of my favourite people in the world is here, I say good-bye to Dave and Ben and head straight for the kitchen.
“Chica!” Stuart beams at me as I enter through the archway. “Aren’t you just a sight for sore eyes? Look at you, all tanned and beautiful. What I wouldn’t give for your colouring.”
“The perks of having a Puerto Rican mother.” I walk into his open embrace, planting a kiss on his cheek. “I missed you.”
“What? You had time to miss me? You’re telling me the infamous snake over there didn’t keep you busy while you were away?” Stuart nods in Jake’s direction. Jake is leaning against the archway, watching us.
His face looks blank. Sometimes I have a hard time assessing Jake’s mood. It’s only his eyes that have the ability to give him away. Not this time, though.
“Oh, he kept me plenty busy.” I share a secret smile in Jake’s direction, one that flickers in his eyes, bringing them to life.
I can almost see what he’s thinking, and my cheeks flush at the memories of the many things we got up to on holiday.
“But I still found time to miss my favourite guy,” I add, turning back to Stuart.
“I thought I was your favourite guy?” Jake says with mock annoyance, coming over, taking a seat at the breakfast bar.
“Get in line, man. Hos before bros.” Stuart clamps his arm around my shoulder.
I snort, then clamp my hand over my mouth.
Not attractive, I know. Snorts just happen sometimes, unexpectedly.
“God, I feel like I’m in an episode of One Tree Hill,” Jake complains.
“You’re such a moody bastard after a flight.” Stuart waves him away with his hand. “So you guys had a good time?” he asks, directing his question at me.
“The best! You’ll have to come next time, Stuart. It’s amazing there, you would love it.”
“You want Stuart to come on our honeymoon with us?” Jake raises an eyebrow.
“Oh, right, of course. Okay, so the next time after that.” I smile.
“It’s that good that it’s going to be the honeymoon destination?” Stuart questions, a glint in his eye.
“That good.” I nod, smiling at the memory of the island.
“So you guys have set a date?” Stuart releases me and leans up against the counter.
Taking off my jacket, I hang it on the back of the stool across from Jake and hop up onto it. “Not yet, but I’m going to start planning tomorrow…well, start figuring out how exactly to plan a wedding and set a date.”
“If you need a hand, gorgeous, just let me know,” he offers.
“I might just take you up on that. Ooh, you made tea.” I smile, noticing the brewing pot on the side. “Could I love you any more?” I jump down from my stool and nudge Stuart with my hip.
“Not too f**kin’ much, I hope,” Jake mutters, reaching over to get a biscuit out of the barrel.
“Don’t worry, baby. I love Stuart in a purely platonic way. He’s like the brother I never had.”
“Aww, honey, that’s lovely.” Stuart smiles at me, nudging me with his hip.
“I thought I was the brother you never had all those years growing up.” Jake’s brow furrows.
“Jake, if I had ever looked at you in a brotherly way growing up, then we would never have ended up having sex in our adulthood.”