Page 60 of Promise Not To Fall

When Stevie leaves, Jake’s mood is almost cheery. Until Liam shows up. The man is everywhere these days, but I know it has something to do with the fact that he loves competition. It’s in his combative nature, and he wants to seal the deal. With me. I’m not exactly sure which one of us he’s trying to get a rise out of though, Jake or me. I’m almost positive it’s Jake.

Something changes in Jake again when Liam walks in. It’s like that first day when Amara’s mom had been in the bar. Jake watches me, his eyes scanning my face as Liam approaches us, his hand sweeping through his hair.

Liam sits next to me and orders a beer. Jake hands him one without so much as looking at him, and then goes about tending to the rest of the bar, his eyes never far from me.

Liam smiles, his hand boldly on my thigh under the bar. “You enjoying yourself?”

“Yeah, I’m having a good time.” I turn into his touch, giving him my eyes, like a goddamn idiot. “What about you?”

“I’m having a great time.” His fingers move a touch higher, and though it makes me uncomfortable, I don’t move away from him. “Have you gone snorkeling yet?”

“Snorkeling?” It seems like a strange question for him to ask. “No. I haven’t, but I plan to Monday with my friend.”

Liam nods, his eyes on my chest, and then they find my eyes again. “I could take you guys out. My buddy Messer has a boat.”

“That’s okay. I’ll just go with whatever the hotel recommends.”

“Why?” His brow scrunches. “There’s so much more to see on the islands than what tourists get to see.”

I know that. I’ve already experienced it the way everyone should. The thought makes me glance at Jake. His back is to me as he talks with an older couple at the end of the bar. I can see his stance though and the whites of his knuckles as he grips the edge of the bar.

“Whatd’ya say?” Liam presses. “Your friend can come too. There’s plenty of room.”

“Thanks, but no. I promised Rylee I would be with her that day.” I change the conversation. “What brings you here? Just a vacation?”

“Yeah.” Removing his hand, he reaches for his beer and finishes it off. “I’ve been coming here for the last three years.”

“What brings you back here? There’s beauty all over the world. Why the Bahamas?”

Jake returns, standing about a foot from us as he mixes a drink, his eyes cast down.

“You don’t think it’s beautiful here?” Liam asks, leaning into me to bump my shoulder with his.

My eyes shift to Jake. “There’s certainly beauty here, but there’s amazing places in the world. Australia… Fiji….”

“I’ve been to all those places.” Liam’s gaze follows mine to Jake. “Can I get another one, man?” Without waiting for a response, he glances over at me again and winks. “I can go anywhere I want.”

“So why the Bahamas?” I ask again.

Liam shrugs. “Friends, I suppose. I’ve made some good ones here. Everybody needs legal help,” he teases.

Jake slams Liam’s beer down on the bar. “Last one. You need to leave.”

Liam snorts. “What the fuck is your problem, man?”

“You. You’re my problem,” Jake snaps. The look on his face and the way his words are delivered make me shiver. “I told you not to come back, yet here you are.”

Liam looks at me. “Some things are worth coming back for.”

Jake’s jaw clenches as he folds his arms over his chest. “Finish your beer and leave.”

“Jake, stop,” I urge, not wanting them to get in a fight. “He’s just having a beer.”

Patience is not my style. It’s not Jake’s either. He sweeps his eyes to mine, never replying, and walks back to the couple at the end of the bar.

I never wanted to treat him like that. But I am, and fuck if I don’t regret it.

After twenty minutes, the bar is closing and Jake’s standing at the end of the bar. “Let’s go, Kendall.” I can see the jealousy in his eyes.

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