“Sweetheart, I can never get enough of you.” He winks.
Bubbling warmth rushes to my cheeks, and I’m pretty sure they’ve turned an embarrassingly deep shade of red, but then again, almost everything he says leaves me blushing and my heart fluttering in my chest.
I nod, tugging down the hem of my shirt that’s ridden up from shifting in my seat.
“I’ll ask Sofia. I’m sure she’ll be fine with it.”
“Great. Let me know what you ladies feel like and—” The sound of his phone ringing cuts him off mid-sentence. We both glance at his phone on the island counter and see Elena’s name flashing on the screen.
I arch an eyebrow in question. “Jake?”
He slowly shakes his head, frowning as he picks up his phone. “She usually doesn’t call me at this time unless it’s an emergency,” he says, already rising to his feet. “I just need to take this.”
Before I can respond, he’s already got the phone to his ear and is walking out the back door. Shirtless in the middle of winter, he steps outside to the deck, and I consider whether I should grab him a jumper.
Not giving it a second thought, I head upstairs to his bedroom and rummage through his drawers until I find a thick hooded jumper and pull it free. Then I grab a pair of leggings and my windbreaker from my overnight bag, throw them on, and make my way back downstairs.
When I step into the kitchen, Jason’s already seated on one of the stools, his thumbs flying over his phone as he types out a message.
“You all good?” I ask, catching the slight frown on his face.
His head snaps in my direction, and he sets his phone down on the island, giving me his full attention.
He clears his throat, his palm rubbing nervously against his knee. “Umm... I just got off the phone with Jake and Elena.”There’s hesitation in his eyes as they dart between mine and the wall behind me, like he’s trying to figure out how to say whatever’s coming next.
I walk over and sit on the stool beside him, turning to face him. “Everything okay with Jake?”
“Everything’s fine. Elena called to say her parents booked a family trip to Japan, and they’re taking Jake with them. They want to take him to Disneyland while they’re in Tokyo.”
“Oh, wow! He must be so excited.”
“Yeah, he is.” He chuckles. “But umm... they want me to go with them. Jake was insistent that I come along too.”
My brows shoot up, completely caught off guard. “Oh,” is all I manage to say.
“It’s a birthday gift for Jake. They’ll be going the first week of August, on his actual birthday, the third.”
That’s only a week away. It’s like they planned it that way on purpose, so he wouldn’t have time to think it through and decline.
I force a smile, even as my stomach twists at the thought of Jason and Elena on a family trip together. “How long will you be gone for?” I ask.
“Just a few days. I can’t take too much time off from work. So I’ll only join them in Tokyo, then I’ll head back home before they leave for Osaka.”
I give a slow nod and offer his hand a quick, soft squeeze before letting go. “I’m sure you guys will have an amazing time.” My tone is calm and steady, but underneath, bitterness coils tight in my chest. This has Elena written all over it—only she would plan something like this just to mess with me.Gah! I hate her!
Jason studies me for a moment, his eyes searching. “Are you sure you’re okay with it?” he asks, his voice careful, uncertain. “It’ll only be four days, and I’ll be booking a separate flight and hotel room.”
“Babe,” I say with a reassuring smile. “It’s totally fine. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on this experience with Jake. I mean how often do you get to do something like this with him? Probably not often. So go and have fun. Don’t worry about me.” I reach for his hand again, gently holding it in mine. “All I ask is that you bring me back a magnet.”
He chuckles, the tension in his shoulders melting away. Gripping my hand, he pulls me into his lap and kisses me softly on the lips. “I’ll bring back whatever you want. Even a giant stuffed toy.”
“Maybe a shirt instead—in your size. I much prefer wearing your shirts anyway.” I flash him a playful wink.
“I see that,” he says, unzipping my windbreaker to reveal his shirt that I’m wearing underneath. He slips my jacket off and throws it onto the island. Then, in one quick motion, he lifts me into his arms.
“We’ve still got a couple of hours before your nail appointment,” he whispers into my ear. “And I plan to spend most of that time pleasuring you, in my bed, with nothing but my shirt on.
Every word from him sets my core alight. And as he walks us to the bedroom and makes good on his promise, bringing me to yet another explosive release, a wave of unease begins to stir in the pit of my stomach. No matter how good Jason makes me feel, that flicker of doubt that whispers cruel thoughts just won’t leave me. The idea of him and his ex-wife in such close proximity, playing happy families and making new memories together, hangs over me like thick smoke in my lungs—bitter, suffocating, and hard to ignore.
