Page 51 of Reclaiming Adelaide

Where exactly are we supposed to be going? And how the hell was I supposed to be ready when this was the first I’d heard of it?

“Yes, get your stuff.”

“You mean the backpack I’m living out of? Yeah, got it.” I turned off the TV and dropped the remote on the coffee table. “And where exactly are we going?”

“Jake? I’m here.”

Becca walked through the front door with two suitcases dragging behind her.

“Becca?”

What was she doing here?And where the hell were we going that she needed that much stuff?

“Hi, Adelaide. Are you watching the house or something while we’re gone?”

I scoffed, which made her brows twitch.

“She’s coming with us.”

“And where are we going exactly?” I asked again.

Becca’s face turned down, and her gaze disappeared behind her lashes. Did I say something wrong?

“Adelaide, now.”

Jake snapped his fingers at me like I was a dog, which made me want to bury my knuckles in his jaw.

“Don’t do that,” I gritted out.

“The jet is waiting for us. I don’t have time for your stubborn attitude.”

Standing, I made my way to the laundry room. “I don’t think wanting to know where we’re going is called an ‘attitude,’ but whatever.” I grabbed my bag sitting on top of the machine and stomped back toward him.

I shoved my shoes on over my thin socks with Koi fish printed on them. My body tilted, and I hopped, trying to stay on my feet. I hopped again, and my eyes widened as I tilted towards the stairs.

My pulse spiked as my face rushed to meet the edge of the stairs, my wicked fingers refusing to release my damned shoe. Strong arms wrapped around my waist, and jerked me, making my vision run in reverse until the ending scene was his chest in my face, his spicy cologne intoxicating me.

I glanced up and shrunk in on myself. His profound gaze swirled wild strands of desire around my heart, tugging hard to let me know it was there. His brows softened. I froze in his arms, afraid that if I moved a fraction of an inch in any direction, he’d release me.

I was a fool who loved a man who wanted nothing to do with me. What was it they say? ‘You always want something you can’t have.’ That was it. Although, I’d say my love for him blossomed well before I found out I couldn’t have him.

“Ahem. I’m just going to put my suitcases in the car,“ Becca said from behind us.

Jake quickly released me like I’d been diagnosed with the bubonic plague. “Be more careful. We don’t need you falling down the stairs.”

“It’d be a simpler death than what they’d have in store for me,” I mumbled under my breath as I sat on the floor and tied my shoe.

I didn’t have a death wish. I loved my life and wanted to finish it out until I saw flying cars and virtual reality so real I could feel what I touched and tasted what I’d put in my mouth.

Fantasy, I know, but it’s what I wanted.

“Stop talking like that.”

He’d heard that?

“Right. The basement with your serial killer best friend.”

He’d threatened it so many times now. It became an ongoing theme in our relationship.

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