25. Jacob

Chapter 25

Jacob

Molly is lying on a sun lounger.

"Where's Dad?" My mouth is dry.

She sits and smiles. "Welcome back."

"Where's Dad?"

She waves her hand. "On his way to the airport."

My jaw drops. "He left?" My heart rips open into a cavernous gulf.

"Yes. I'm sorry."

"Why?"

Archer wraps his arms around me. I lean into his embrace and stroke his hand. But even his comfort and support can't erase the tension in my body.

"We went around in circles for a while. I suggested he needed some time to cool off, so he said, ‘fine' and left. Hopefully, by the time he gets home, he'll see sense and apologise, and we can put all this arguing behind us," Molly says.

Dad has never apologised for anything. Even if he did, it wouldn't be enough.

"Are you okay?" Archer asks Molly.

She looks okay, but a slight tremble at the outer corners of her lips suggests she's not.

"Of course. It was an argument, that's all. Everything will work out." She leans across and puts her hand on Archer's knee. "Are you okay?"

He clenches his fists. "No."

She raises her eyebrows.

"How can you think about forgiving Barry after the way he treated Jacob?"

"He was angry?—"

"No. He was out of order. He was wrong to accuse Jacob of sleeping with me to get back at you. I don't know what you see in him."

Molly opens and closes her mouth.

Archer glances at me. "I'm sorry, but your dad isn't a nice man. You deserve better." He glares at Molly. "So do you. I only wish you could see that."

"He loves me."

"Does he? I'm not sure Barry Hart loves anyone but himself."

I hold Archer's hand and run my thumb over it.

"I'm sorry." He turns his hand and threads his fingers through mine. "I'll shut up now."

I hug him to me and kiss his temple. "I don't ever want you to shut up."

He's right about all of it.

"Barry was wrong to go." Molly's voice is wobbly and uncertain. "He was wrong to accuse you of using Archer."

"You believe I didn't?"

"You looked me in the eyes and told me you weren't using Archer, and I believed you. I'm sorry."

I blink at her. "Why are you apologising?"

"That your dad wouldn't see sense. That he's not here."

"It's not your fault."

"I'm sorry your mum got hurt because we-we?—"

I wasn't expecting that. "You should be apologising to Mum. Not me."

"Maybe I'll get the chance to one day."

"Maybe. One day. Right now, I think she still wants to scratch out your eyes. No offence."

Molly lets out a fragile, watery laugh. "None taken." She lifts her head, rolls her shoulders back, and wipes the tears from her eyes. "There are a few days of the holiday left. We should enjoy it to the full."

Can I, now Dad has decided to leave rather than accept my and Archer's relationship? I clasp my hands. Emotion overwhelms me. My shoulders shudder, and tears drip down my cheeks.

Archer holds me tight.

"He hates me."

"I'm sure he doesn't," Molly says feebly.

"That's what he said."

It was one thing telling Archer I was done living my life to please Dad. It's another sitting here, knowing he's left because of my actions. Because I chose to see Archer. Because I chose to love Archer. I shouldn't care. I should be relieved he's saved me the bother of telling him to fuck off out of my life. But would I have done that when all was said and done? Or would I have tried to bridge the gulf that's formed between us? Now, that gulf feels insurmountable. Because he chose to walk away.

"It hurts," I whisper and choke at the same time.

"He doesn't deserve you," Archer says.

He's right. But for all the times Dad has put me down, picked fault in what I've said and done, or belittled me, I still love him. Maybe I shouldn't, but I do.

I brush the tears from my eyes and focus on Molly. "Are you okay?"

Her chin wobbles. "This wasn't how I envisaged the holiday going. I wanted us to get closer as a blended family. Things blowing up the way they have is partly my fault. I shouldn't have pushed everyone to get along. And now Barry is gone, and everyone's so upset. How am I supposed to fix this?" She wrings her hands.

"You can't fix everything, Mum," Archer says.

"I suppose not. You'll want to share a room for the rest of the holiday, won't you?"

I hadn't thought about it. I hadn't thought past finding out what Dad had to say to me, which was apparently nothing at all.

"You've been careful, haven't you?"

Archer groans. "Yes, Mum."

"Good. I'll move into whichever room you don't want. That way, we won't be in neighbouring rooms, and you'll have some privacy."

My face becomes hot.

"Maybe we should go inside. We don't have sunscreen on," Archer says.

"Good idea." I practically fall over my feet in my rush to stand and escape the embarrassing conversation.

Archer steadies me, and arm in arm, we enter the villa. We go to my room, which is the slightly larger of the two.

I sit heavily on the edge of the bed. "I can't believe he's gone. I can't believe he wouldn't even talk to me. To us."

Archer strokes my hand but remains quiet.

"What are you thinking?" I ask.

He fidgets and shakes his head.

I pull him so he's sitting beside me and cup his cheek. "You can tell me anything."

He lets out a squeak.

"You don't have to like my dad to love me. Besides, an outside perspective is probably what I need right now."

"Okay… If you're sure?"

"I am. Tell me."

He sucks in a breath. "It's classic bully behaviour. He knew he was in the wrong, but it's easier to run away from a situation than to admit that."

I sigh. "You're right. I just wish he'd been here. I wish he'd had the guts to talk to me."

"Bullies never want to face up to their behaviour. They're cowards, more often than not." Archer runs his fingers through my hair and gives me a smile that lights up the room. "Maybe he'll apologise once he's had time to calm down and realise he doesn't want to lose you."

"Yeah, maybe."

"And if he doesn't, you've got me in your corner."

"Do you think Dad and Molly will work things out?"

Archer shrugs. "Is it terrible to say I hope they don't?"

"No."

"Your mum will be on your side too."

I wince. "Shit. I need to call her before Dad does it for me."

"He wouldn't. Would he?"

"Fuck knows. I wouldn't put it past him."

"Would she listen to him?"

"I don't know."

"Want me to leave?"

I put my arm around his shoulders. "No. Stay. I love you." I kiss him tenderly.

"Are you okay?"

"Not right now, but I will be."

I video call Mum via the house's internet connection so I don't rack up a huge phone bill calling her from overseas. Archer lies on the bed beside me, stroking my thigh. Unless I purposefully angle the phone camera towards him or he speaks, Mum won't realise he's here.

Mum appears on the small phone screen, her brows pinched. "Hello, love. Is everything all right?"

Why is it that that question can undo me? My chin trembles.

"Jacob. What's wrong?"

"Dad and I had a huge fight. He's on his way back to the UK."

"Oh, love. What about?"

This is it. The moment of truth when I find out if Mum can support my relationship with Archer.

"I-I'm seeing someone. I'm in love with them. Dad thought I was only doing it to get back at him, but that's not true. I swear it's not."

Archer increases the pressure of his hand. His touch grounds me. Damn, I'm glad he's here.

"Slow down. Who are you seeing?"

"Archer. He's amazing. I love him."

"Who's Archer? You've never mentioned him." Is that a hint of disappointment in her voice?

"Molly's son."

Mum stares at me.

"I love him, Mum."

"Is he there?" She sounds a little strangled.

"Yes."

"Well, you'd better introduce him to me, hadn't you?"

I gesture for Archer to join me. He sits and shuffles close.

"Hi, Mrs Hart." Archer winces. "That's right, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's right. Truth be told, I never liked my maiden name."

Archer replies with a nervous smile.

"So, you're the young man who's stolen Jacob's heart," Mum says.

"I wouldn't say stolen—" I say.

Mum rolls her eyes. "Do you love Jacob?"

"Yes. Very much so." Archer looks away from the phone into my eyes.

I meet his warm, caring gaze and smile. Probably a sappy smile, given that's how I feel whenever I'm around him, but I don't care. He makes me happy.

"It's real," Mum says.

I blink and shift my attention to her. "What is?"

She gestures between us. "Your feelings for each other. Your dad's an idiot if he can't see that. It's written on your faces."

"You're okay with us being together?"

She sighs. "It would be unfair of me to blame Archer for what Molly and your dad did. I do want to get to know you, though, young man. You'll need to come around for dinner as soon as you're back in the country."

"Are you inviting us both or just Archer?" I ask.

Mum laughs and wags her finger. "Cheeky. Both of you. Your dad has abandoned the holiday over this?"

I dip my chin. "Yes." My voice is shaky.

"What a fool. And Molly?"

"She's still here," Archer replies.

"She didn't go with him?"

Archer shakes his head.

Mum purses her lips. What is she thinking? "How are you feeling, love?"

I suck in a shuddering breath. "It hurts that he won't talk to me or look at me."

"I'm going to wring that man's neck. Figuratively speaking. Although those roses he bought me could do with some fertiliser—" Mum says.

"Mum!"

"I'm joking."

"What would you have said to your dad?" Archer asks.

I tap my finger against my thigh. "That he can think what he likes, but that I know the truth. Yes, I was angry at him for breaking Mum's heart, but I would never have played games with someone else's heart to get revenge on him. If that's how little he thinks of me, I don't want him in my life." I clench my fists. "That's what I would have said. Only he didn't give me the chance. He robbed me of the opportunity to say my piece."

"He wouldn't face me either," Mum says.

"He's a coward," Archer says.

Mum points at him. "Yes. That's exactly it. Neither of us needs him in our lives, Jacob. We're better off without him."

"Do you mean that?" I ask.

"Yes. I'm sorry it took him hurting you to make me realise that."

I smile. "It's okay. Does that mean you're going to let go of your anger?"

"I'll try. Is that good enough?"

"Yes."

She blows us kisses. "Come and visit me when you get home."

"We will," I say.

"I love you, Jacob."

"Love you too."

She ends the video call. I sigh, toss my phone to the end of the bed, and flop backwards.

Archer comes with me, cuddling and stroking my hair. "That seemed to go well."

I nod.

"Are you okay?"

"I…think so."

"I've got a suggestion for you."

"What?"

"Everything you want to say to your dad—put it into an email. You don't have to send it if you don't want to. It could live in your Draft folder forever. But I think getting it all out will help you, whether he sees it or not."

I kiss his forehead. "Good idea, thanks."

"It won't hurt forever."

I hug him close. "I know. Gah. I am better off without him. I don't need that kind of negativity in my life. It'll just take a bit of getting used to."

"Lean on me as much as you need to."

"Thank you." I lift my shirt to my nose. "These clothes stink."

Archer laughs. "Yup. We should get changed."

I roll him onto his back and lean over him. "Or we could get hot and sweaty again first."

He gasps. "Why, Jacob, you're horny today."

I nuzzle my nose against the crook of his neck and inhale deeply. "I need to be close to you. Is that a bad thing?"

"No. It's a good thing. It means you and I are going to be okay."

"More than okay, I hope." I kiss him softly.

"Great?"

I smile and kiss him again. "That's better."