Chapter 9
9
OWEN
I slam the front door so hard it makes the windows and shutters of the villa shake in their frames. A reflection of how I feel: rattled.
Heading for the kitchen, I pull open the refrigerator, take out a beer, twist the top off, and take a large gulp.
In anger, I bash it down on the worktop, making it explode like a volcano. Irritated, I curse under my breath before cleaning it up.
“Christ, who bit your ass?”
“No one.” I storm past Gregor into the living area and drop myself onto the sofa.
Speaking in an amused voice from behind me, he asks, “You’re not pissed off, then?”
“No.” Tilting my neck, settling the back of my head against the cushions, I eye the ceiling.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Great, glad we cleared that up.”
I twist my head to look at him. “Do you know she’s spending the night with Blake? ”
“Who’s spending the night with Blake?” Gregor’s brow lines with confusion.
“Jade.”
“Jade?”
“Yes, Jade.”
“They’re close, so what?”
“What does he look like? Is he big? Could I take him?” I seriously do not know why I care or why I have this unfamiliar ache in my chest when I think about her with him. Or why little Poppy has already slid into my thoughts and heart.
It’s not right. Nothing is right, and it’s making me feel off balance.
I’ve known them for all of thirty hours.
So why does it feel longer?
Gregor raises his pointer finger in the air, then he slyly smiles. “Wait, are you into Jade?”
“No.” Lies, lies, all lies.
“Fucking hell, you’ve no chance.” His words only antagonize me more. “She’s really protective of Poppy, and after Michael, she doesn’t trust easily.”
I mutter words of annoyance under my breath, rolling my head back to the center.
“I didn’t catch that,” Gregor informs me.
I run my hand down my face. “I said, something happened between us last night.”
Gregor plonks himself down beside me on the sofa. “Well, shit. Cobra won’t be happy about that.”
“Cobra?”
“Yeah, he’s our big boss; the wing commander. He’s our supervisor and oversees our health and safety procedures and does the commentating at the displays. You’ll meet him soon. I think he has feelings for Jade. ”
With a nickname like Cobra, sounds like he’s ready to strike and sink his teeth into her.
He adds, “But he can be leery. Weird. I don’t like the way he looks at Jade.”
“Weird how?”
“I don’t know. Creepy. Like his eyes linger on her too long. And just other things he does and the way he speaks about her. I don’t know. Maybe I’m wrong.”
Blake. Cobra. How many more admirers does she have?
Never one to be jealous before, I find myself wanting to lay my heart on the line for her, enter the gladiator ring, and fight any man until I’m the last one standing. Maybe it’s the lack of direction I currently have in my life that’s sending me off-piste, but I can’t say I’ve ever felt the instant spark like the one I feel with Jade.
Gregor continues, “Jade is…” He tails off.
“Special, I know, so everyone keeps saying.” They don’t have to tell me. I feel it. All the way down, deep in my bones.
“Wow. This is big.” Gregor sounds shocked at my news. “Jade is a closed book in relationships.” He pauses, his gaze thoughtful. “She’s an introverted extrovert. In public, at the shows, during press conferences, meeting celebrities and the royals and such, she lights up the whole room and does more positive PR than any of us combined, but with her private life, she keeps that on lockdown. That’s a treasure chest no one’s getting the key to.”
Except she let me unlock it last night— not that I’m telling him that— and I’m so fucking grateful she did, because after hearing how closely guarded she is, I feel special . She made me feel important. But now I know she is having dinner with Blake, she clearly doesn’t feel the same spark.
“And she told me earlier that she doesn’t like that her villa is next door to Cobra’s. I’m certain he has an ulterior motive,” Gregor adds.
Without saying anything, I know what he means; Cobra wants to get closer to Jade.
“He allocated the biggest villa to her and then put himself right next to her in the smallest apartment, making it look like he was taking one for the team.”
Cobra couldn’t be more obvious if he tried.
“Is Jade interested in Cobra?” I snap, not understanding why my blood is boiling hotter than the sun and I have an overwhelming desire to pull his fangs out with my bare hands, despite having never met the man.
“No way. Jade would never date another fellow serviceman… not after Michael. It’s weird and I’m not sure what’s going on, but she’s mentioned how uncomfortable he makes her feel. She’s not interested in him at all.”
Gregor slaps my thigh. “You can’t fuck this up. She’s my boss, Owen, and I won’t let your fuck-boy ways ruin my career. She’ll give me all the shitty flying stunts if you mess around with her.”
I sit up straighter than a ruler. “I am not a fuck boy.”
“Yes, you are. All those times you split up with Skye, did you not hook up with girls every time?”
“Yes, but…”
“And now you’ve split up with Evangeline? It’s only taken you a week to get your dick wet.”
What the fuck? I push myself to my feet. “I didn’t fucking sleep with Evangeline.”
“What?” He looks shocked, his eyes wide and doubtful. “For an entire year, you kept your dick in your pants?”
“Yes.” Exasperated, I fling my hands in the air. “I haven’t slept with anyone since Skye and I broke up.”
“No way? ”
“And I never ever cheated on Skye.” I only hooked up with the same three girls when Skye and I would break up. It was a rebound thing and something I’m not proud of.
“Well, that’s a pleasant surprise.” He rubs his chin. “So, you and Evangeline… never?”
I shiver at the very thought of her cold hands touching my body. “Fuck no. She was too young for me, and it was all fake and wrong .” So fucking wrong. “We weren’t even friends.”
“Well, that’s a damn shame. She was hot.”
“And as deceiving as a starfish; pretty on the outside, but a cold, heartless bitch on the inside.” I shudder again. That girl gives me the heebie-jeebies.
“Your parents seem to think she was right for you.” Gregor smirks, knowing that’s the furthest thing from the truth.
“That girl has the emotional capacity to love as much as a serial killer does while stalking his next victim. I’m certain they picked her out of a line of suspects at an identity parade,” I say, making Gregor laugh.
Downhearted, I prepare myself to spill the next news I learned earlier. “While we are discussing Evangeline and matters back home, I got a text from Jacob earlier telling me that my dad sold my car.”
Gregor’s mouth drops open. “Your fucking car?”
Although it hurts, I shrug it off. “He bought it for my twenty-first birthday. He’s angry at me and taking back what ‘rightfully’ belongs to him, I suppose. He had a removal company box up all my stuff from my house too and put into storage.”
“He’s trying to hurt you, Owen. Don’t let him. It’s just stuff. Stuff that is easily replaced.”
I nod in agreement and plonk my ass back down on the sofa.
Knowing me well, he asks, “I can tell there’s more. What else did Jacob say in that text? ”
“That I have forty-eight hours to get my ass back to Castleview Cove or he’s cutting me from my inheritance.”
“No,” he exclaims. “He can’t do that.”
With nothing more to lose and my loyalty to the family dissolving, I spill the tea. “I couldn’t give a shit about my inheritance. I’ve decided I’m not going back.”
“You’re not?”
“I need to do something for myself, Gregor. You have this incredible career. One you wanted. I’ve never had to think for myself before. I need to discover what I want to do with my life, not what my father wants for me.”
Hoping he understands, I glance at him and wait for his response.
Eventually he does. “Do whatever you need to in order to be happy.” Pausing for a beat, he then finishes with, “Fuck them. Prove them wrong.” He then changes direction. “Do you still have your trust fund grandfather left you?”
“Yeah. Still there. I checked this afternoon.”
He exhales loudly. “Thank God for that. That’s rightfully yours. That money was left in trust for you and you alone. What about your sister? Does she still have hers? I’m assuming she does?”
Ashamed of myself for not taking more interest in my sister’s life, I answer truthfully, “I have no idea.”
If I reach out and check how she’s doing… offer her an olive branch, it could be the beginning of making amends. We could maybe patch the little tatters that are left of our relationship back together. However, perhaps now is not the time.
Gregor runs his hand back and forth across his blond buzz cut, determination written all over his face. “Do whatever makes you happy, Owen. That money will help to set you up for life.”
“It will.” Mari’s words from earlier race through my mind. Don’t play the game. Change it.
From this point going forward, I am determined to make my own choices. My strength at work is finance. I’ll invest it wisely.
He stares at the wall as if considering what his life would be like if he were in my position. “You did the right thing leaving, Owen. I’m proud of you, man.”
Embarrassment floods my cheeks, because no one has ever been proud of me. My parents didn’t even show up on the day I graduated from university.
Gregor cuts through our silence. “Stay here with me. Sort your head out.”
“Yeah,” I agree with him. I’m not allowing my parents to bully me anymore. “Then I’ll decide what my next move is.” I point at the spot I’m rooted to on the sofa. “And I don’t want the business anyway, so I don’t care if he cuts me out of it,” I confess.
My sister can have it.
“That empire is all that matters to my father.” Disheartened, I sigh. Although I know Camilla has no interest in it either.
“You mean something to me, Owen,” Gregor murmurs, the emotion clear in his voice. “You always have. I know I treated you like my little brother when we were growing up; the fights about sharing my toys and moaning when you wanted to tag along with me and my friends, but that means I also love you like a brother.” His Adam’s apple bobs slowly in his throat. “Jacob and Lincoln do too.”
I wiggle nervously in my seat. “Thanks.”
He clears his throat and changes the subject. “I’m meeting some of the team for dinner later. Wanna join?”
“Nah.” Not wanting to go out tonight, I say, “I’ll make myself something. There’s lots of food in the refrigerator.”
“I like how much you’ve grown in the last year, Owen. Buying your own groceries, learning to cook, firing your cleaner. Doing your own laundry. It’s admirable.”
“And about damn time.” I sweep my chaotic chlorine-filled hair from my face.
“You’ve changed. I liked you before. I like you better now.” His honesty throws me off kilter.
I have changed for the better, grateful to have broken free from the charmed, almost unreal life I was living before my friends woke me up from my selfish coma.
“I like me better now, too.” I push aside the stuck-between-worlds feeling, still at a loss about what direction to lead myself in. “But I’ll feel even better after a shower,” I say, rising to my feet and moving out of the living room.
“We are flying early tomorrow,” Gregor informs me, so I know he’ll be gone at the crack of dawn.
“I’d love to come watch.”
“I’d love that too. It’s been a long time since any family has watched me perform.” He looks excited when he leaps to his feet and bounces on his toes. “I’ll organize a pass for you to get on base and you can use my hire car.”
“Can’t wait. Enjoy your meal tonight.” My foot hits the first step on the staircase. “I didn’t sleep with Jade last night.” I clear up my earlier statement, just in case he gets the wrong idea about Jade and me.
“Really?” he replies, his voice thick with sarcasm again.
“Yes. Really.” I draw out my words. “We did, you know, other stuff.”
He casually leans against the doorframe and stares at me as if expecting me to divulge, then a big toothy grin curves his lips.
“I shouldn’t have said anything. You’re an asshole.”
“She dumped you for Blake?” Gregor teases.
“Yes. Now fuck off.”
Gregor’s taunting echoes in the hallway. “Now you come to mention it, she has grown closer to Blake over the last couple of months. I see that now. Blake filled a civilian post, not a military one, so that would work out perfectly for Jade if she doesn’t plan on dating anyone from the military, I guess.”
The asshole keeps on making jokes as a low growl bubbles in my throat. With every stomp up the last of the steps, I imagine it’s Blake’s face I’m pummeling the sole of my foot into, and Gregor’s.
Well, isn’t this year just the gift that keeps on giving?
Showered and changed, I’m sitting on my bed, legs sprawled out in front me, ankles crossed, laptop teetering on my knees. I’ve trawled the internet, reading everything my eyes can soak up about Jade.
I’ve watched interviews, scrolling pages and pages of photographs of her shaking hands with celebrities and royalty, her arms around musicians and sports personalities, and she appears to have met everyone, becoming a celebrity in her own right.
On camera, she’s a natural. In photographs, she’s scroll-stopping and captivating. Her big blue crystal eyes and firecracker-colored hair make her unique in so many ways. I can’t fathom why I never paid attention to Gregor’s career sooner. How did I not see her before?
Because you’ve had your head up your egotistical ass, that’s why.
I stalked her social media platforms for way too long, scrolling, enlarging, and learning everything there is to know about her schedules, the display, how the stunts are performed, and watching press videos of her with the team.
I then watched a half-hour special with her that followed a day in the life of an aerobatic pilot on the Air Force’s video channel, too, making my stomach do its own three-sixty spiral while she reached speeds of five hundred miles an hour. Soaring, looping, and flipping through the air, sometimes only feet apart from another aircraft, making me realize she’s an unsuspecting daredevil in a jumpsuit; and fucking sexy as hell in it.
Hypnotized by her online presence, I scrolled back through her cleverly curated newsfeed and grids. It’s work focused, and aside from Poppy’s birth announcement, there isn’t a selfie in sight.
On closer inspection, and thinking about it, it looks as if it’s managed by an external media company. Or Blake maybe. Fucking Blake. The guy I can’t find any information about. It’s killing me that she’s currently next door with him, and Poppy. Does Poppy like him more than me?
Why does it matter? All you did was change her diaper and look after the little cutie for a couple of hours.
I smile to myself.
It was a great couple of hours, though.
However, my judgment is way off since I’ve fled my hometown. With no job prospects or even a roof over my head, and with my beautiful Aston Martin Vantage sold, Jade would never be interested in someone like me. After all, I have nothing to offer. Although, I have my trust fund money.
Maybe I should start my own business? It would certainly allow me to have control.
What the hell would I do?
Still lazing with my back against the headboard, I continue my detective work.
Having found out from Gregor that he’s friends with Jade’s ex on social media, I click open a new tab on my internet browser, open Gregor’s page, and type Michael into Gregor’s friend list. With only one option, I click on his name and there he is in a flight suit, all sickly-sweet smiles and oozing success.
Selecting his photos folder, there is only one of Poppy, looking only a few days old. The rest are all selfies.
“What a douche canoe,” I mutter to myself.
I scroll further and stop in my tracks as dozens of photos of Jade and Michael cuddling, laughing at parties and on holiday appear. I click and open the one that catches my eye, stealing my breath away.
A picture of Jade fills the screen. Head in hand, she’s casually leaning across a dining table, wearing a plain white tee, her long copper hair spilling over her shoulders in waves; a stark contrast against the white fabric. No makeup, big pouty pink lips, and massive blue eyes stare back at me as if looking into my soul.
Her beauty knocks the air from my lungs, my mouth instantly dry and blood rushing through my brain.
“Holy fucking shit.” I palm my twitching cock over the fabric of my shorts, remembering how she cried my name last night as she came on my tongue.
I want her.
A text drops into my phone.
Gregor
I arranged your visitor’s pass. Blake approved a team pass for you too, which will give you access to all areas. Go to Jade’s and pick it up from Blake. You need that for tomorrow.
Another text drops in.
Gregor
At least you’ll be able to see if you can take Blake on ;) I didn’t pack my boxing gloves though, sorry.
Me
Idiot.
Gregor
*Laughing emoji*
Go now.
What’s the urgency?
I jump off the bed and examine my outfit in the mirror, then pull on a pair of white sneakers, internally telling myself it’s not a fashion show, nor is it a competition.
Yes, it fucking is.
With one final glance in the mirror, running my hands through my hair, I tuck both sides behind my ears.
Right, Blake, it’s game on.