17. Jake

The drive back from the Hamptons to the city was quiet. Too quiet in fact. Jake just couldn't get his head around why Damian was acting so distant, it felt like he didn't even want Jake around.

The fact that Damian had decided to end the weekend early had disappointed Jake, but given how little talking they did on the drive home it might have been for the best.

After dropping Jake off at his apartment block, Damian had driven away with barely a wave. Jake felt dejected and sad. But at least he was home – and the thought of getting into his comfiest pajamas and watching a fantasy movie was something to look forward to at least.

Jake opened the apartment door and looked around.

It was just how he had left it – which is to say it was definitely on the messy side! Far from the luxurious Hamptons hotel suite, or Damian's own place for that matter, Jake's apartment was small and lacking in luxuries. But this wasn't important, not to Jake anyhow.

As far as Jake was concerned, this was his little corner of the world. Home was still very much where Jake's heart was, and even the sight of the ancient microwave oven that only worked if you banged it three times was comforting to him.

One thing that Jake could have done without though was the sound of his upstairs neighbors noisily clattering around their apartment and shouting each and every word that came out of their mouths.

‘Some things never change, right,' Jake said with a shrug.

After chucking his overnight bag on his bedroom floor, Jake quickly stripped out of his clothes and hopped into his favorite pair of pajamas. The pajamas were old but fit Jake so perfectly that he could never bring himself to buy a new pair.

Feeling a little less sad now he was back home and starting to feel cozy, Jake took his favorite blanket and flopped down on the couch to watch a movie.

Hmmmm… The Hobbit?

Pffft. Damian said he'd watch that with me this weekend.

His fucking loss.

With a sly smile, Jake put The Hobbit on his TV and began to tuck into a small bag of popcorn. But try as he might, Jake couldn't shake the feeling that there was something going on with Damian.

Damian's sudden cold behavior had been so out of character. Sure, Damian could be strict, grumpy, and even a little bit too stern sometimes… but this was different.

What Jake really couldn't quite believe was how Damian could clearly see that he was upset, and yet didn't do anything about it. A true Dom would have seen that Jake needed care, attention and a touch of patience.

Jake thought back to the creepy man in the hotel bar…

‘I wasn't imagining it! He was spying on me. I know he was!' Jake said, looking beyond the TV screen and out toward the window that overlooked the city. ‘I'm not going fucking crazy.'

Jake felt so disappointed that Damian hadn't shown some understanding and given him enough time to explain about the man. Instead, Damian had seemed far more focused on taking out his bad mood on Jake. That wasn't the right thing to do at all, certainly not in Jake's eyes.

But before Jake could get too low, he heard a knock at his door…

‘Um, hello?' Jake said, not expecting anyone.

‘Open up douchebag! It's us!' Lyle said, his familiar enthusiasm and spark bringing a smile to Jake's face.

Jake opened the door and immediately found himself wrapped up in a big hug from Lyle and Tommy.

‘When we saw your message about leaving the Hamptons early, we had a feeling you might need some love!' Tommy said as he gave Jake an extra tight squeeze.

‘And as fun as The Hobbit is, how about we hit the park and have some fun?' Lyle added. ‘We'll take some shots, kick back, and just generally talk busllshit all day. You know, like how we used to?'

Jake started to laugh. Quietly at first, and then louder and louder.

‘Yes!' Jake declared, flinging his arms up in the air. ‘I think that might just be the best idea I've heard in a minute.'

The three friends were always there for one another when times got tough, and Jake was so grateful that they had taken it upon themselves to show up unannounced.

But amongst the joy, Jake suddenly realized something…

‘Oh fuck no,' Jake said, his look of joy giving way to something else altogether. ‘Guys, I can't come. I've got a shift at Damian's Den.'

The atmosphere amongst the three friends suddenly felt dampened. It was like all the air had been sucked out of the room.

‘But…' Jake said, a mischievous grin coming over him. ‘I could say that I forgot. You know, pull the old forgetful kitchen hand routine?'

‘Hmmm. I ‘m not sure that's a good idea,' Tommy said. ‘Won't Damian punish you?'

‘Yeah, I don't know,' Lyle added, a look of uncertainty on his face. ‘You've already had a bit of an argument. Won't this just make things ten times worse?'

Jake took a second to think things through. He could see that Lyle and Tommy might have valid points. But on the other hand, by not going into work, Jake would avoid any potential conflict with either Damian or Jack Bouquet.

‘No, I've decided… we're going to the park,' Jake declared, a huge smile on his face. ‘Life should be fun, and I need to spend some time with the most fun people I know and get some serious shots down me.'

Lyle and Tommy smiled and the three friends embraced once more.

It was time to hit the park. Jake knew that there might be consequences from missing his shift at Damian's Den.

But that could all wait.

It was time for Jake to cheer himself up in the best way he knew how – good company, drinks, and a whole ton of drooling over the hot as hell men likely to be in the park.

* * *

The park was full of people, laughter, and most importantly… three friends all determined to have the best time.

‘Damn, that shot burns' Lyle said, taking another slug of tequila.

‘Look, there's a new gelato stand over there,' Tommy added, himself already sounding woozy from the booze.

‘Oh let's do it,' Jake laughed. ‘Some gelato sounds just perfect.'

‘Okay, but let's play some hide-go-seek first!' Lyle said, drunkenly hopping up and down on the spot. ‘Something tells me that I'm going to win.'

‘Pffft! Not unless you cheat again!' Jake laughed. ‘Remember, cheaters never prosper. You two hide and I'll seek.'

The three of them laughed and Lyle and Tommy set about running off in different directions to find their hiding spots. Jake felt a lot more relaxed than he had earlier. Although the uncertain situation with Damian was still hanging over him a little bit, Jake was definitely feeling better than had he stayed at home by himself.

Or worse… had he stayed in and then gone in to work later.

When Jake considered the alternatives, he was more than happy to have chosen to ditch work and come to the park instead.

‘Okay, I'm coming you guys!' Jake hollered, his voice flush with excitement. ‘And when I catch you, it's two tequila shots each, one right after the other.'

With a hop, skip, and jump, Jake began chasing around the park in search of his friends. It felt good to be enjoying a buzz from alcohol and letting loose. Life could be serious as hell at times, and Jake always enjoyed going a little wild with his buddies from time to time.

Hmmmmm. Not here….

Where could he be?

Wait, I know…

Jake pivoted and began running toward the gelato stand. It was more than possible that Lyle, or Tommy for that matter, would have hidden near the gelato stand so as they could take in the sights and sounds of people enjoying their gelatos ahead of getting some themselves.

But as Jake approached the gelato stand, his face turned from one of inquisitive joy to pure terror.

‘N-n-n-n-no… it can't be….' Jake stammered, his heart thumping inside his chest. ‘Is… that… him?'

Walking toward a dumbstruck Jake was the very same man that Jake had seen in the hotel. It was the creep in the bar. And now, out of all the parks in New York City, he just so happened to be in this one at the same time as Jake?

This wasn't right. Something was up.

But as Jake began to slowly back up and get ready to walk in the opposite direction, Jake saw the mysterious man begin to increase his pace as he headed toward him.

‘N-n-n-n-no, this can't be right,' Jake said. ‘I'm scared. I…'

Before Jake could finish his sentence, he found himself turning a running as fast as he could. Each time he turned round to check, the strange man was still in hot pursuit.

Jake was scared. In fact, he was absolutely terrified. As he pumped his legs as fast as they would carry him, all Jake could think about was Damian and how much he needed him in that moment.

What's going on?

What does this man want from me?

I want Damian. I need my mafia protector…