Chapter 34

34

Jake rolled over onto his front, hit snooze on his phone, and punched his pillow into shape. Sleep had been a tussle of weird dreams and frustration, not unusual for him after a long flight.

Now, he didn’t want to get up, and as he lay there in dawn’s half-light, he thought about Molly—how supportive she’d been at the cemetery and that feeling of emptiness when he called her from Singapore only to discover she was in Tulloch Point.

After a shower, Jake grabbed his phone from the nightstand to text her, but when he opened his messages, she’d beaten him to it.

Molly: I’m driving back later today but have a work dinner tonight that I can’t get out of. It’s not really a plus-one thing so…

Jake: Okay. Call in after if you can. I’ll leave the front door unlocked.

Those pesky three dots danced on the screen and then vanished. It would be several minutes before she replied.

Molly: I’ll see what I can do.

Jake: OK. Miss you.

And it was true—Jake had missed her so much, and to him, despite his mother’s disapproval, that was all that mattered.

He spent most of the day in his office before driving to Petrie Bay for a late afternoon surf with Todd. Back home later, he was about to make something to eat when his phone pinged with an incoming text.

Alexia: Hey, I’m at a loose end for an hour or two. Can we meet somewhere for an early dinner? I need to talk to you about Jesse’s will.

Shit!

Jake considered her request. He couldn’t stand the thought of sitting in a busy restaurant, listening to Alexia spew her bullshit version of the truth while flashing that maddening fake smile.

Besides, he hoped Molly would visit later, so in the end, he declined the dinner invite in favor of a meeting at his place.

Jake: Can’t sorry. Home now if you want to drop by.

Alexia: Fine. Be there in 5.

She arrived on his doorstep over twenty minutes later, wearing above-the-knee suede boots and a skintight dress more suitable for clubbing than a meeting to discuss his brother’s will.

As usual, she didn’t wait for an invitation to make herself comfortable, and as she took a seat in front of the fireplace, Jake’s unease intensified. If it weren’t for his mother’s close friendship with Alexia, he would have told her to piss off, but he had no intention of coming between the two of them.

“You haven’t been answering my texts.”

“I’ve only been home a couple of days.” He sat in the chair opposite. “What can I do for you?”

“To start with, the least you could do is offer a girl a drink.”

Jake rose from the chair, filled two glasses with water from the fridge filter, and dropped a slice of lemon into each. Alexia raised a brow as she accepted the glass without comment.

“How was Paris?”

“Hot.”

“And Ava?—”

“Is none of your business.”

Alexia shook her head and smirked. “Of course she’s not. Poor Molly. I bet she doesn’t suspect a thing.”

Jake held his anger in the clench of his jaw. He wasn’t about to discuss Molly with Alexia and knew that if he did, she’d twist the truth to suit herself anyway. “So, what’s this about Jesse’s will?”

She huffed. “You’re obviously still pissed about it then?”

“Wouldn’t you be?”

“Look, this is nothing personal. I?—”

“The hell it’s not, but then tit for tat’s been your MO ever since we were teenagers. You always tried to pit Jesse and me against each other.”

“I did not. You can be a right bastard sometimes, Jake, do you know that? I just want to talk, but here you are with your whole grumpy-prick gig.”

“Yeah, well it depends on who I’m dealing with as to how grumpy I get. And do you know what really annoys me? It’s when you use my mother to do your dirty work.”

“Piss off. Hazel has nothing to do with this. But after being slapped down at every turn, I decided to right a wrong that should’ve been sorted months ago.”

“So you went ahead without considering the consequences?”

“What consequences?”

“We were on track to finalize probate before spring. Now, your spiteful stunt could set us back months.”

Jake had to give it to her—the puzzlement in her expression appeared genuine. “But my lawyer said it was just a formality. That once you settled, I’d get my share, and I need that money for my launch.”

“Really?” Jake failed to keep the disdain from his voice. “Dad’s the executor, and he’s adamant you won’t get a cent. Did your lawyer mention that possibility?”

“Well, yes, but he said... Honestly, I don’t really understand any of this. Isn’t it a simple reassignment of funds?”

Jake shook his head. He wanted to open the front door and tell her to leave. “It doesn’t work that way.”

Alexia reached down and pulled a small pack of tissues from her bag. “But that’s not fair. Why does your father dislike me so much?”

“This has nothing to do with like or dislike. It’s what Jesse wanted. And do you know what’s really not fair?”

She dabbed her eyes and waited.

“You’re trying to claim something that is not, and never was, yours. You weren’t part of Jesse’s world, ever, so why don’t you let him rest in peace?”

“That’s not true. Jesse was like a brother to me, and I can’t sleep at night knowing Molly Parker was more important to him than I was.”

“Yeah, well, I’m sure there’s a pill for that,” Jake muttered.

“You know what, Jake? You used to be a nice guy, and now you’re just a callous bastard.”

Her eyes welled with tears, and for a split second, Jake felt like the bastard she accused him of being.

“When you first came home, I thought we might have a chance together, but you’ve changed. I’m not even sure who you are anymore.”

“Look,” he murmured, “I can’t advise you on how to live your life, but I’d like to see you play fair for once and do the right thing here.”

Alexia just stared at him with vacant eyes.

“As for us—you and me—we didn’t fit at sixteen, and we don’t fit now. No amount of wishing will ever change that.”

“But you don’t know that unless you give us a chance. We could be good together. I can introduce you to the right people. We can pool our resources and make something of our lives as a couple.”

He released a heavy sigh at the very thought of being introduced to Alexia’s version of the “right” people. “We’ll never be a couple. You know that. I don’t have feelings for you.”

“I’ve never understood you, Jake. You think you’re better than everyone else. So answer me this. Now that you’re screwing Jesse’s ex and with Ava still in the picture, how does that sit with your moral high ground?”

Jake sat forward in his chair. “Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?”

“Trying to come between Molly and me?”

“Because I’m worried about you. I’ve had a funny feeling about Molly Parker since day one.” Chin high, she smoothed her hair with a hand. “Actually, I was talking to your mum the other day, and she’s worried too. So I made some discreet inquires, just to put our minds at rest.”

“You don’t know the meaning of discreet, Lex, and never have, and I can’t believe you confided in Mum about my relationship with Molly.” He rubbed the back of his neck. Every time they were together, the effect on him was always the same. Negative.

“You know how Mum’s been since Jesse died,” he continued, “but you still have to go and stir your vengeful version of shit… and for what? To get back at me because I don’t want to be with you?”

Jake expected her to at least show some remorse, but her haughty expression surprised even him.

“All she’s after is Jesse’s money, and I bet she won’t stop until she gets your share too. That’s the only reason she’s with you. Can’t you see that?”

“And what do you base this wild assumption on? Your discreet inquiries that turned up nothing?”

“Why did she wait until now to show her face? She knew all along he’d left her money.” Alexia glanced down as she picked at a metallic-green nail, then back up again. “Think about it. Sweetie-pie career girl down on her luck arrives back from New York to take up a short-term contract at some mediocre marketing firm in the provinces, and the coincidence never occurred to you? Please, spare me the violins.”

“What do you mean ‘down on her luck’?”

“You only have to see that wreck she drives to realize she’s in the crap financially.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“Is it? I’m not the enemy here, Jake.” Alexia paused. “Molly Parker’s a catfish. I know it, your mother knows it, and if you’re honest with yourself, you know it too. But then, maybe your dick’s been so far up her ass that you fail to see the real picture.”

“Stop! Just stop, would you?” Jake held his jaw firm. He wanted to lean forward and slap his palm over her mouth to shut her up, but he resisted the temptation by clenching his hands in his lap.

“My pleasure.” Alexia glared at him. “And just remember, you might not want to sleep with me, but the fact that it’s Molly Parker you do want to sleep with—your late twin’s ex, no less—makes you look like a prize jerk around town. And as your friend, as someone who’s always had your back, that hurts. In fact, I’m surprised she’s even interested after I told her what a sloppy kisser you are.”

WTF? “You told her what?”

That fake smile. “Well, you could never quite get the hang of it, could you? It seemed only fair to warn her.”

“I was sixteen!”

“No excuse. And I’d love to say I’m happy for you both, but I’m not.” Alexia plucked another tissue from the pack in her hand. “She’s just a money-grabbing catfish. Why can’t you see that? It’s bizarre.”

“You should leave.”

“My pleasure.” She stood and, unstable on her feet, gazed around the room as if looking for something. “Where’s my bag?”

Jake rose to steady her and frowned as he picked up her bag from the sofa, where she’d sat mere seconds before, and handed it to her. “Are you high?”

“What if I am? You’re such a bore, do you know that? Stoic Jake. For shit’s sake, let your hair down and live a little.”

“You can’t drive in that state.”

“I’ve just had a tiny something to take the edge off. It’s no big deal.” She checked her watch. “And I’m now running late. Are you sure you won’t come? It’d do you good to get out of this depressing place for once.”

Jake centered himself with a slow inhale, a pointed “ piss off” about to fall from the tip of his tongue. “I’ll call you an Uber. You can collect your car tomorrow.”

Alexia smirked. “Yes, Chef.”

“You know what”—he grabbed his keys from the sideboard—“I’ll drop you off.”

“What if your girlfriend sees us together? Does she know your a two-timing asshole?”

“Get in the damn truck before I change my mind.”

“So, you’re not going to give me a lecture all the way into town are you?”

“I wouldn’t waste my breath. At this point, Lex, I don’t give a shit what you do. Just stay the hell out of my life. And keep away from Molly.”

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