13. Jacob

Chapter 13

Jacob

"Guess who's in town for twenty-four hours?"

Is that why Rex is calling at six a.m.?

"You?" I ask in a hopefully not-too-groggy voice.

"Bingo. I'm travelling from Hong Kong to Thailand via Leeds."

"Umm…it's early, but I'm pretty sure that Leeds isn't on the way to Thailand if you're travelling from Hong Kong."

He laughs. "It's Mum's birthday, so I thought I should show my face. Are you free for lunch?"

"Sure. Twelve thirty?"

"Usual haunt?"

"Sounds good."

"See you then."

I end the call and stare at the ceiling for a few minutes. My alarm won't go off for another half an hour, but thanks to Rex, I'm wide awake.

Will Archer be jogging along the canal towpath? I imagine him in a tight-fitting top and even tighter shorts. He has thick thighs I'd love to get wrapped up in. I shiver at the thought of him straddling me, his powerful thighs squeezing me as he rides my cock. We'd cuddle and talk afterwards. I'd stroke his sweaty back and kiss his damp brow, and he'd ask me random questions. Is it okay that I enjoy the tender moments we share as much as the sex?

Not that we'll be able to have either on this stupid holiday. I'd hoped the branch manager would give me a reason not to go by denying me the holiday time—it is short notice—but no one else was off, so she approved my request. I don't want to go, but refusing will make me look churlish. How am I going to cope with pretending Archer and I are barely on friendly terms for two weeks? How am I going to cope with not being able to touch or kiss him?

I don't want to think about the stupid holiday, so I fill my head with fun, sexy things.

I get up, have a leisurely shower where I ramp up the steam by stroking my cock to thoughts of Archer, have breakfast, and head to work. I'm early, but so is my manager. We chat over coffee and then set the branch up for the day. People come and go, and the morning flies by.

Before I know it, I'm walking into the greasy spoon cafe where we always meet, the one where Rex and I used to hang out after school. We did homework here, revised for our exams here, and said goodbye here when he got his first overseas gig. It will be a tragedy if it ever closes.

Rex is waiting for me at our usual table in the back corner. He grins and waves. He's tanned and dressed for warmer weather.

"I ordered your usual. Mary will bring it over soon," he says as I join him.

We've been on first-name terms with Mary, the owner, for years.

"I'm sorry about your parents, and, wow, your dad worked fast. Was the ink even dry on the divorce papers?"

I shrug. It wasn't his fault they got divorced or that Dad married Molly.

"Are you okay?"

"As okay as I can be. It's pretty raw."

"I bet. Is your mum okay?"

I suck in a breath. "She's bitter."

"Understandable. You seem to be coping. I'd be a fucking mess."

"You're not too old for me to tell you off for cussing," Mary says as she approaches with a tray bearing our food and drink.

Rex laughs. "We kind of are."

"So? Have you forgotten your manners while you've been doing all that travelling?" She puts a full English breakfast and a mug of steaming black coffee in front of each of us.

"No, ma'am."

"Don't be cheeky."

Rex salutes.

Mary rolls her eyes and leaves to serve other customers.

"I've missed a lot, haven't I?" Rex cuts into the egg yolk, spilling the bright yellow liquid over his plate. He dips the corner of a triangle of toast into it.

I shrug.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You're following your dreams."

Rex sips his coffee. "But at what expense?"

"We're solid if that's what you're worried about. We'll always be friends. I like that we can pick our friendship back up whenever you're around."

"Whenever I breeze through town, you mean?"

"Yeah."

"Anything I can do?" Rex asks.

"Move the conversation onto happier things?"

"Consider it done. Tell me everything that's happened while I've been gone." Rex threads a sugar sachet through his fingers.

I blow out a breath. Do I tell him about Archer?

"Come on. Don't keep me waiting. I want all the gossip."

"You haven't told me any of your news."

He waves his hand. "I can show you a bunch of photos of the places I've been to recently if you want?"

"I'd like that. But what have you been up to?"

He chuckles. "Aside from taking photos?"

"Yes. Is there a guy?"

He waggles his brows. "There's always a guy. Except in the countries where that kind of thing will get me arrested."

I gape at him.

"Relax. I'm careful." He taps his fingertips against the mug, creating a series of soft chimes. "Something is going on with you."

I tug at my collar. "What makes you say that?"

"You're more uptight than usual."

I narrow my eyes. We can't all be as carefree as Rex. Or Archer. It's something they have in common. Something I envy about them.

"My guess there's a guy," Rex says.

Heat rises to my cheeks.

"Tell me everything."

I squirm. "I can't."

"Why?"

I can't tell him I'm screwing my stepbrother. I can't.

"A secret guy." Rex hums.

Except, Rex is like a dog with a bone. Once he's latched on to something, he won't let go. Fine, I'll tell him about Archer on my terms.

"It started as a one-night stand."

Rex grins. "Good on you. Started? So it's more?"

I lower my voice, "We're fuck buddies."

"I didn't think you had it in you. I thought you wanted commitment."

I shrug. It's not something I can have with Archer.

"Well, he must be a good fuck if you're happy with that arrangement. You are happy with it, aren't you?"

"Yes." Was that convincing?

Rex puts his mug down and leans on the table. "Why the secrecy?" he whispers.

Since when has this shirt been two sizes too small? The collar is choking me. I run my finger around the inside to ease the imaginary pressure on my throat. Why shouldn't I confide in Rex? Who's he going to tell? He'll be flying to Thailand in a few hours. He might even talk some sense into me. Yeah, right. Rex wouldn't talk sense into anyone.

"You know Molly?"

"The new Mrs Hart? I know of her. What does that have to do with your secret fuck buddy?"

I stab the egg yolk, bursting it. The thick, bright yellow liquid oozes over the white and onto the plate, soaking into the toast. "She has a son."

"And? Oh. Oh!"

"Exactly. My secret fuck buddy is my stepbrother." I brace myself for laughter that never comes.

"He's an adult?"

"Yes. Barely," I mutter.

Rex raises an eyebrow.

"He's twenty-one."

"Definitely an adult. I don't see the problem."

"Did you miss the part where I said he's my stepbrother?"

"No."

I push my plate away. I'm not hungry anymore, even though Mary's cooking is delicious. "It's wrong. I didn't know who he was when we first hooked up. I tried to stay away from him, but…"

"You can't?"

I shake my head.

"He must be one special guy."

"He is. And now his mum has decided we should go on a family holiday together, which is going to be two weeks of hell."

"It doesn't need to be."

I glower at him.

"Seriously, Jacob. It's not that big a deal. Tell your dad and?—?"

"Molly."

"That you and?—?"

"Archer."

"Met before they got married. They'll deal with it."

I grimace. "You don't know Dad."

"Uh, yeah, I do. He's a real stick in the mud. No offence."

I wave my hand. "None taken."

"And he's half the reason you're so uptight about keeping up appearances all the time. But where was that mentality when he was screwing Molly behind your mum's back?"

I pluck a sachet of sugar from the bowl and tap one long edge against the table.

"The way I see it, he's got fuck all room to talk or judge. The only thing that should matter is whether you and Archer want to be together."

I drop the sachet and slump my shoulders. "It's not that simple."

"Make it that simple. Or don't, and be miserable. But secrets have a way of coming out sooner or later. I bet your dad thought he'd never get caught."

True. "It's just sex."

He tilts his head. "Is it?"

The plaid pattern on the tablecloth is suddenly very interesting. "Yes."

It's what we agreed to. It's what we do whenever I go to Archer's. We fuck, and it's amazing. And then we cuddle and talk and often fall asleep together. And sometimes I wake, and he's staring at me with the sweetest smile. Other times, I wake first and stroke his hair until he opens his eyes.

"It will come out. Better it comes out in a way you and Archer can control," Rex says.

"Since when did you give sensible advice?"

He pinches a sausage off my plate. "Since always. Are you going to listen?"

I can't. My family is already in tatters. Who knows what damage I'll do if I confess I'm screwing my stepbrother?

"I'll take that as a no."

"I can't."

"If you say so. But seriously, you're blowing this situation out of proportion."

I know, but how do I stop? It's who I am.

"Are you going to go on holiday?"

"I can't get out of it without looking like the bad guy."

"Want a second piece of advice you're unlikely to follow?"

I nod.

"Be the bad guy. Don't go."

"I have to."

"No. You don't. But deep down, you want to. You just haven't admitted it to yourself yet."

He's right. The question is, why? To spend more time with Archer outside the bedroom. I exhale slowly.

"You just had a lightbulb moment, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"And—?" He draws out the word.

"It's nothing."

Rex sighs. "Suit yourself. I'll be here when you're ready to talk. Well, not here, but you know what I mean. Seriously. Call me. Email me."

"I will."

"Promise?"

"Yes. Are you going to show me your photos? I've never been to Hong Kong."

Rex grins and pulls his laptop out of his rucksack. During the rest of my lunch break, we look at the stunning photos he's taken, each one more breathtaking than the other. No wonder he can make a living out of travel photography.

All too soon, I have to go. He walks me to the bank, where we stop outside and hug.

"It was great seeing you," I say.

"And you. Think about following my advice."

"I will."

He pats my back and then lets me go. "Call."

I grimace. Does he have any idea how hefty the international fees will be?

He walks backwards and spreads his arms wide. "Email."

I smile and nod. "Safe flight."

He waves and turns. I watch him until he rounds a corner. I miss him already. Hopefully, one day soon, he'll come home for more than a few hours.