‘This is what you’re doing? Wasting your chance of a lifetime withthem? Drew’s dragged you down since the moment he stepped into our lives. I should never have let him move in.’
Jake stiffened, his fists curling at his sides. I stood beside him, ready to go to war with her on his behalf.
His chest heaved. And I waited for him to crumple.
Instead, Jake roared.
‘Will you leave me the fuck alone? I never wanted any of this.’
Even the taxi driver froze at Jake’s outburst.
‘I’ve spent my life trying to make you happy. Laid awake for more nights than I can fucking count terrified that if I disappointed you, you’d leave me like Dad did. But I lost myself. And I won’t lose Drew and Sarah.’
Eloise’s eyes widened, outrage bright and poisonous. ‘Jacob?—’
‘I love them,’ Jake said, and my pulse thundered under his confession.
Words I never thought I’d hear Jake say.
He grabbed our hands and gripped them tight, speaking to Eloise but his words were for us. ‘Both of them. And I’m going to be with them. With or without you in my life.’
Hot tears clouded my vision. Jake had been there for years. In the next room. On my team. In every filthy, desperate wank of my life. But for him to say it aloud in front of everyone, toclaim us, no matter the fall out.
Fuck, it undid me.
Sarah sobbed as he leaned in and kissed her. Publicly showing everyone that we were his. Then he turned to me. Our breaths mingled as he stopped just short of my lips.
His chest pressed against mine. His quick heartbeat made hope surge.
‘I’m sorry for everything,’ I whispered.
‘Just kiss me, you hot creep.’ Laughter lilted Jake’s words, and I obeyed.
Our lips met in a clash of need. Hard. Desperate. I could taste Sarah’s salty tears on Jake’s tongue. Reaching out for her, I snagged her jumper and pulled her to us.
All three of our mouths pressed together. A little awkward, but so very sweet.
I tasted his fear. Her relief. Their fuckinglove.
Eloise gasped like Jake had stabbed her.
‘You disgust me. All of you.’ Eloise stormed off.
For once, my father didn’t follow her. He lingered on the step, a softness in his eyes that I hadn’t seen in years. When our kiss broke, Dad smiled and gave the smallest, proudest nod I’d ever seen.
And I wondered if we could have everything I’d ever dreamed of.
EPILOGUE
JAKE
Sunlight drenched the terrace of our villa. Who knew the south of France would be so idyllic? The lazy humming of insects as the sun dipped, orange rays washing over the polished white slabs. The blue of the Med glittering beyond the sand.
And sweet Sarah climbing out of the pool.
Water dripped down, tracing her curves. A trail I’d memorised with my tongue. I ate her up with my eyes as she walked toward me, and when she lay down beside me I wanted nothing more than to stay there forever.
The smell of her sunscreen filled my nose as her wet hair chilled my chest.
