15. Jacob

Chapter 15

Jacob

We arrived at the villa late last night when I was too tired to care about anything other than figuring out which bed I could fall asleep in.

Molly engineered it so Archer and I sat together on the plane. It was weird being so close to him without being able to touch him, hard not to brush my fingers against his hand or thigh. This holiday is going to be excruciating, but at least I can look forward to what will come after. He wants to spend more time with me. He wants more than just sex. And that makes me so happy.

Outside, cicadas chirp, creating a constant high-pitched buzz. I shower, pull on shorts and a T-shirt, and wander through the villa. I have to admit, however grudgingly, that Molly has good, if expensive, tastes. Stone flooring cools my feet. The rooms are light and airy. The kitchen is large, the dining room looks out onto the private swimming pool via patio doors, while the lounge overlooks the beach and ocean. It's quiet. Is everyone else asleep?

I make myself coffee, take it outside, and find a spot in the shade to drink it. Footsteps patter over stone. Archer jogs into the garden. Without acknowledging me, he goes to the edge of the pool and strips. What is he doing? His trainers and socks come off first. Then his T-shirt. My heart is in my throat, my pulse is hammering, and my cock threatens to stand to attention. He slips his shorts off, revealing tight-fitting swimming trunks. He winks at me over his shoulder and dives into the water, clearing a third of the pool. He uses front crawl to propel himself through the water, turns, swims towards me, turns, and carries on. I enjoy the view as I sip my coffee.

"I don't know how he has the energy," Molly says.

I jump. Thank god I've almost finished my coffee, or it would have gone all over me.

She sits on a lounger drenched in sunshine. She's wearing a revealing bikini with a narrow strip of cloth tied around her waist. Her skin glistens. Did Dad help her put sun cream on? I scrub the image out of my mind.

"Archer, come and enjoy the sun. You're meant to be on holiday," she calls.

Archer finishes his lap, folds his arms on the pool's edge, and rests his chin upon them. "But when else do I get to finish a run with a swim? If only I had a bike too."

Molly rolls her eyes and tuts.

"I'm going to figure out what there is to do around here after breakfast," Archer says.

"Sunbathe." Molly stretches out on the lounger.

"Boring."

I smile slightly.

"Don't you want to relax for even one day?" Molly asks him.

"Nope. I want to explore. Which do you prefer?"

It takes me a second to realise Archer is talking to me. He knows I'm a sightseer, like him. "Me?" I point to myself.

He laughs. "Yes, you."

"I like seeing things."

Molly glances between us. "You could explore together."

"Great idea. Are you up for it?" Archer asks.

"Uh, yeah, sure."

"I've got a travel guide and my laptop. I'm sure we can agree on a few things we'd enjoy."

"Probably."

I hate sounding so non-committal. I want to explore with Archer. But as far as Dad and Molly are concerned, my ‘friendship' with Archer is lukewarm at best. I hate lying. How long did Dad lie to you and Mum? Dad's actions don't make mine right, but I can't tell them I'm screwing Archer. I can't. Dad would lose it. All my life, he's told me how I should behave. He wouldn't approve. It shouldn't matter, but it does.

"It's a good idea. It will give you boys a chance to get to know each other," Molly says.

I cringe.

"That's the plan. Umm, Mum, you do realise you and Jacob are almost the same age, don't you?"

"Yes."

"So he's not a boy . Nor am I, for that matter."

She pouts. "You'll always be my baby."

" Mum! "

"It's true. I bet your mum feels the same way, doesn't she, Jacob?"

I hunch my shoulders. "Uh, yeah."

"Anyway, let me do a few more lengths, and then I'll make breakfast," Archer says.

"I'll do it." If I stay, I'll get hard watching his powerful body cut through the water. "Do you want anything, Molly?"

She shakes her head.

"Thanks." Archer turns, pushes off the wall, and carries on swimming.

The villa owners left us some fresh fruit, pastries, fruit juice, coffee, tea, and milk. I put a selection of things on the table, glancing at Archer swimming as often as I dare. Not that Molly would notice. She's lying in an optimal sunbathing position with her eyes closed.

Archer gets out of the pool, splattering water over the patio. He dries himself with a towel, wraps it around his waist, and wanders inside.

"Will she sunbathe all day?" I ask.

"Probably."

"How?"

Archer shrugs. "Beats me."

"This looks great, thanks." Archer sits, drinks some juice, and helps himself to a pastry.

"Does all that exercise make you hungry?" I peel an orange.

"Ravenous. I couldn't run as far or as fast as I'd have liked this morning."

"Why?"

"Too hot. Even this early. I'll adjust by the end of the fortnight."

"In time to go home and get used to the British weather again?"

He laughs. "Yup."

I'm captivated by the way he devours the pastry. Specks of icing sugar and flakes of pastry cling to his lips. I want to lick them off and then kiss him. I want to taste the pastry on his tongue.

He clicks his fingers. "Earth to Jacob."

"Shit, sorry."

"What were you thinking about it?"

I hunch my shoulders.

"Never mind. I can use my imagination." He licks his lips clean and pushes his laptop towards me.

The web browser displays a ‘Things to do in Maspalomas' page.

"There are a few tours, but we'd need to find somewhere to book them and plan a bit. I suggest we walk into the tourist hub today, explore it, and book some day trips while we're there," he says.

"And buy some food."

"Good plan."

I flick through the travel guide. "The rainforest tour looks fun."

"Right. We should do that first."

"There are full-day tours of the island, a volcano, and a canyon. The lighthouse looks interesting."

"I think we can walk to that. We wouldn't need to book anything to visit."

"A city tour of Las Palmas."

Archer leans onto his hand. "Why, Jacob, I'm starting to think you want to spend as little time in this villa as possible."

"What makes you think that?"

He flutters his lashes. "I wonder. But I might have to limit the trips. Not that you have to."

I frown. "Why?"

He rubs his thumb and forefinger together. "I'm a bit cash-strapped. Working in the bar is minimum wage, plus tips split between everyone on shift."

"Let me pay for a few of the trips."

"You don't have to."

"I want to."

"That's generous of you," Dad says from behind me.

I practically jump out of my skin. Shit.

"But don't worry about it. I'll cover the costs of anything you boys want to do. It means a lot to Molly and me that you get along. So the more time you spend together, the better, eh?"

"That's very kind, but you don't need to," Archer says.

"Nonsense."

I clench my fist behind my back. Nice of him to splash his cash with his new family. My childhood was full of memories of asking for things and being told no.

If you want it, you'll save your pocket money and buy it yourself.

"Maybe I'll come on a few trips with you." Dad joins us at the table, selects two pastries, and puts them on a plate. "Do you think Molly would like to join us, Archer?"

Archer glances out the patio door. "I doubt it. She likes to come on holiday to relax and do nothing."

Dad smiles. "I'd like to do some of that too. Striking a balance between relaxing and seeing a few things is how I like to holiday."

Great. It will be even harder for Archer and me to snatch moments alone. Why did I agree to come on this stupid holiday?

"I'll speak to Molly and see if she wants to come on a wander with us." Dad takes a pastry outside and sits on a sunbed adjacent to hers.

"With us ?" I ask.

"Looks like your Dad wants to tag along. But that's okay. I should probably make an effort to get to know him a bit better."

Does that mean I have to get to know Molly better too? Would we have been friends if we'd met under other circumstances?

I tear a pastry in two and stuff half into my mouth. I wash it down with juice. Dad and Molly come inside, their arms wrapped around each other's waists.

"I'm going to spend the day with Molly." Dad pecks her on the lips.

She makes an overly cute, bubbly noise. "Oh, did you know that Playa del Inglés is the LGBTQ capital of Gran Canaria? Barry told me you were gay, Jacob."

"It's not a secret."

"So's Archer. You should check out the night scene together. You might even find someone to hook up with. But be safe if you do."

I want to crawl into a pit.

"I think Jacob knows all about safe sex," Archer says.

I glare at him.

He smiles and shrugs.

"You can never be too careful," Molly says.

I take my plate and mug to the sink. "I'm not here to hook up with anyone."

"It might make you less uptight if you did," Molly says.

"Mum!"

"It's true. You need to loosen up, Jacob. Doesn't he, darling?"

Molly is hanging off Dad's arm and stroking his jaw.

"Yes. You should relax while we're here. You're too tense," Dad says.

He's the main reason I'm like this. I wash my mug and plate and then go to my room to grab my wallet. I stalk out of the villa without a word to any of them.

I walk along a path lined with palm trees, with the beach on one side and villas on the other. Even though it's early, dozens of deck chairs line the beach, most occupied. After the villas come huge hotels, some with nicer architecture than others. The main thing they have in common is that they've all been rendered in white plaster, which makes them almost painful to look at in the bright sunshine.

"Hey." Archer taps me on the shoulder.

His face is flushed, and he's changed from the tight swimming trunks and towel into a pair of baggy shorts and a close-fitting T-shirt.

"I wasn't planning on going on a second run this morning." He falls into pace alongside me.

"I'm sorry. You didn't have to follow me."

"Yes, I did. But don't worry. I told Mum and Barry I'd find some shops to buy food for lunch." He waves a fold-up reusable carrier bag, puts it in his pocket, and slides his fingers through mine.

I pull my hand away.

"Relax. No one knows us here. Mum and Barry are sunbathing. We can hold hands."

He's right, and I'm overreacting. Why can't I be as chill about our relationship as he is?

"Sorry." I take his hand, which is a little clammy, and squeeze it gently.

"Talk to me."

I hunch my shoulders. "I know I'm uptight. But what does everyone expect? I thought my family was happy, but it turned into a battleground overnight, all thanks to—" I bite my tongue.

"You can say it. Thanks to Barry's affair with Mum."

"And now Dad and Molly want me to play happy families like everything is fine. Well, it's not. Mum's heart is broken, and I-I?—"

"You're angry."

"Yes."

"You have every right to be." Archer pulls me to a halt, steps before me, and holds me by the hips.

I rest my forehead against his and take a few deep breaths. "I don't want to take it out on you."

"You're not. You're venting, which isn't the same thing at all. Everyone needs to vent sometimes."

"Even you?"

He smiles. "Even me."

"Does Molly tell you to go out and get laid often?"

Archer laughs and encourages me to carry on walking. "Unfortunately, yes."

"It's cringy."

"Eh, I'm used to it. I'll ask her to tone it down around you."

"Thanks. I don't need Molly thinking about my sex life. Or Dad. Especially not Dad." I shudder at the thought.

"You don't talk about that stuff with your dad?"

"Never. I asked him for advice once, but he said he couldn't give me any because he didn't know what two guys did together."

Archer squeezes my hand. "Is he okay with you being gay?"

"I think so. He's never said much about it. I didn't feel like I couldn't come out to him, but he's also not the type of person who'll ever wear an Ally T-shirt or a ‘You're Safe With Me' badge or anything." I kick a loose piece of stone off the path.

I've never thought too hard about whether Dad does or doesn't approve of my sexuality. He's always been a stern, hard-to-read man. As he hadn't yelled at me or kicked me out, I figured he must be okay with it. Not that I care what he thinks of me anymore. I lost all respect for him the moment I discovered he was screwing his secretary behind Mum's back. Except that isn't true, is it? I care too much about his opinion. I always have.

Is what Archer and I are doing any better? We're not cheating on anyone, but we are lying.

"What would help you relax?" Archer asks.

Doing him, but that's not an option.

"We could check out the shops and see who can find the craziest souvenir," he suggests.

I smile. He's so sweet.

"I bet we can find somewhere to get massages. It'll be a lot cheaper than back in England. Have you ever had a massage?"

I shake my head. "Have you?"

"Nah. Mum swears by them, though. Woah. Have we stepped back in time?"

The modern hotel complexes provide a stark juxtaposition to the shopping area we've walked into. The buildings look like they belong in the nineteen seventies, and we're walking on what can only be described as ‘crazy paving'. Nearly every building is a cafe or bar with wicker chairs and tables arranged outside. Signs for British beer and food are everywhere. The flags of every country imaginable fly on strings stretched across the pavement, the fabric cracking in the breeze.

We keep walking and find two shopping centres—which remind me of outdoor markets—with a greater variety of stores, including supermarkets.

Farther along, we discover a huge sign for Yumbo Centrum, with a cartoon dinosaur, above a set of pale terracotta steps.

Archer shields his eyes with his hand. "I think this is the place to be if you're LGBTQ+."

"Seriously? The sign makes it look kid-friendly."

He pulls the guidebook out of his pocket and flicks through it, then reads a page. "It says it's family-friendly by day and an LGBTQ+ hotspot by night. Let's check it out." He puts the book away and jogs up the steps.

Swept along by his enthusiasm, I follow. It's quiet, but then it's still early. The shopping centre is on multiple levels and has a variety of shops selling clothes, sunglasses, flip-flops, souvenirs, and other bits and pieces, including a pharmacy, a supermarket, and a tattoo parlour. We discover a trove of eateries and pubs. Several shops have various LGBTQ+ flags or signs proclaiming they're inclusive or safe.

It's a huge maze we could get lost in.

I nudge Archer and point at a banner for Scruff Fashion, with two fit, extremely well-hung guys wearing too-tiny underwear. "Family-friendly?"

He laughs. "I appreciate it. They're hot."

The nightclubs are shut for the day, but we'd have tons to choose from if we decided to return at night. I can easily imagine dancing with Archer with my hands on his skin, which would be hot and and sweaty from disco lights.

Archer grabs a pair of sunglasses from a stand and puts them on. "Do they suit me?"

The sunglasses are far too big for his face, and the violent shade of orange clashes with his complexion.

"No."

"Are you sure? How about these?" He swaps them for a pair of equally hideous green ones and struts up and down in front of the shop. He pulls the glasses down his nose and flutters his lashes.

I can't help but laugh. "Gorgeous."

"Try these on." He hands me a slightly nicer pair of black-and-yellow ones.

I indulge him, squinting at my reflection in the mirror on the sunglasses stand. "They make me look like a bumble bee."

"I'm okay with that. He's the best Transformer."

I snort-laugh. "Jazz is the coolest."

"Cool, yes. But adorable? No."

I put the sunglasses on the stand.

"Rainbow flip-flops!" Archer grabs my hand and pulls me across to the opposite shop, which contains LGBTQ+ clothing.

I smile as Archer tries a pair of flip-flops and goes inside to browse the huge variety of T-shirt designs. Thanks to him, my mood has lifted. It's impossible to be unhappy when he's near. He's breezy, bright, and bubbly, which is exactly what I need in my life.

"We should get this for your dad." He holds up a black T-shirt that says ‘I'm an Ally' in distressed block capitals. A fist rises from the word ‘Ally'.

I burst out laughing.

Archer turns the T-shirt. "You have a dirty mind, Jacob Hart."

I point at the fist.

He rolls his eyes. "So dirty. It's supposed to be a—Well, I'm sure it's not supposed to be that ." He puts it down and shows me one that says ‘Proud Ally' with three gnomes in Pride colours, waving Pride flags.

"Dad wouldn't wear that."

"But the gnomes are so cute. You'd look great in this one." He shows me a black T-shirt with the Pride flag colours in a chalk effect across the chest.

"It's nice."

He grins and holds the T-shirt against me. "I'm going to buy it for you."

I grab his wrist. "You don't have to."

"But I want to, so I shall. It'll be our secret."

I tug him against me, sandwiching the T-shirt between us. "Thank you."

"What for?"

"Making me smile and laugh. Helping me relax."

"You're welcome." He kisses me and goes to the till to pay for the T-shirt.

If we can keep carving out time together like this, maybe the holiday won't be so bad after all.