Page 72 of Jake

After drying off slightly, he wrapped a towel around his waist and went to the bedroom. Lauren was already under the covers, her hair still in the towel, presumably her body too.

Jake pulled the covers back on his side and climbed in next to her, pulling her close. His eyes were heavy, too, as he started to fall asleep before one last thought passed through his mind: they hadn’t used a condom.

He jerked his eyes open and lay there, feeling Lauren’s even breathing beside him. Would she be upset, he wondered. Was he? He didn’t know how he felt which was odd. He’d never forgotten a condom before with anyone.

Unable to relax, he lay there and stared at the ceiling, sending off a prayer that she didn’t hate him, or herself, when she woke up and realized it.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Lauren stretched as she woke, immediately noticing that she was in the bed alone. Looking around in the darkening room, she didn’t see Jake anywhere.

She tossed the covers back and then remembered her towels. The one that was on her body was lost to the blankets, and the one that had been holding her hair was now heavy and fell off as she sat up.

Lazily, she went to her suitcase and pulled on a pair of shorts and a shirt before looking in the mirror at the mess that was her hair. She ran a brush through it quickly and pulled it up into a loose bun. There was no hope of getting it to do anything else.

Jake wasn’t in the living room when she came out of the room, and she checked the patio. He was there, glass of wine in his hand, looking out into the distance.

“You okay?” she asked as she sat next to him.

He didn’t answer at first, just kept his gaze ahead and then took a sip of his wine. “I’m fine,” he finally said.

“You don’t seem fine. Plus, fine is never good,” she teased, assuming work or Mr. Hawkins had bothered him. “Did you order dinner?”

He shook his head. “I didn’t yet.”

“Are you hungry?” she asked, trying to keep the conversation going. It wasn’t like him to be so quiet.

“You can order something. I’ll probably eat later.” He handed her his phone. “Code is 1-2-5-6.”

She took it, placing it on the small table between them. “What’s going on?” She sat forward and turned toward him.

He shrugged and continued to watch the waves. She didn’t know how to react to this version of Jake. It wasn’t one she’d ever seen. He normally carried the conversation. Even when he was truly angry, he was much more talkative.

Had she been too bold earlier? He had seemed into it, all their flirting throughout the morning. She thought that he’d wanted to have sex, but maybe he didn’t like that she was so forward about it?

She wanted to ask him but didn’t even know how to start that conversation. Instead, she stood and went back inside, pouring her own glass of wine and taking it to the bedroom.

Picking up her phone off the nightstand, she unlocked it and climbed back onto the bed, propping herself up on the pillows. She’d just find a book to read on her phone until she was hungry or tired, whichever came first.

Jake came in just as she settled in. “Look, I don’t know how you’re going to take it so I’m just going to come out and say it.”

She arched a brow at him, no clue what was going on.

“I didn’t, umm, use anything earlier, in the shower.” He stood there awkwardly looking at her.

“What?” she asked as her brain processed the words. “Oh, OH.” It finally registered what he said. “I didn’t even think about it, shit.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve never forgotten before.” He came and sat on the side of the bed. “I’m clean but I can get tested again, if you want.” His head down, he fidgeted with his fingers.

“Jake.” She sat forward, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Look at me, please?”

“I’m sorry,” he told her as he finally looked at her.

“We forgot, not just you. I’m not angry at you at all.” She wasn’t. She also believed he was clean, and she knew that she was. “I am also clean, but if you want to get tested, I wouldn’t be hurt.”

“It’s my responsibility,” he told her. “Do you want me to get you something, just in case?”

“In case of what?” She wasn’t following.

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