38. Jake
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
jake
T his was the perfect getaway that we all needed.
We spent all of yesterday morning exploring the property and talking about where the best place to build is, how big he wants it, and all the custom touches he will have me make.
He has a creek through the back of the property that would be stunning as his backyard, and if he clears one section of trees, his sunset will be filled with views of the mountain.
It’s a beautiful piece of property. Then we got drunk around the fire while shooting the shit.
It was all fun and games until we woke up this morning to a downpour.
Rain in Washington is nothing new, but an absolute monsoon is.
To make matters worse, we set up the tents in the grassy area with no coverage and a slew of dirt beneath us, which quickly turned to mud.
We hauled ass trying to pack up camp and get everything into the cars.
We didn’t even put away the tents since they will need to be hosed down.
Rookie moves on our part to not put tarps down, but we were being cocky and lazy.
By the time we have everything packed up, I’m caked in mud, so I hop in Thoren’s truck to avoid messing up Riv’s fancy car. He calls Lily on the way back to the house, and I can only hear his side of the conversation, but I already know what she will say.
“She’s making breakfast for all of us. Her and the girls were already making waffles.”
I want to see Amber, but I’m not sure I want an audience. Can I wrap her in my arms, or do I have to give her space? Maybe I should skip breakfast and ask her to come over after. Looking down at my muddy pants, I see the perfect excuse.
“Don’t you dare. I’ll drop you off at your place to shower and change, but if you aren’t at my house in twenty minutes, I’m sending Lily over to get you.”
I suppress a shiver. “Please don’t. I love her, but she’s scary right now.”
The bastard grins like he knows and is proud of that. “She can make my balls shrivel up with a glare. But she’s Lily, so ten seconds later, she’s making my favorite dessert and trying to do too much. I love that girl.”
“Bleh …” I mime vomiting, and he smacks the back of my head. “Just drop me at home, I’ll be there.”
I’ve enjoyed spending time with my friends too much this weekend to skip out on breakfast with them.
My shower is quick, and as I dry off with the fuzzy purple towel Lily intentionally left here, it makes me want to head over there even more.
It’s a small luxury, and I know she did it because she thought it was funny, but the towels are incredible, and just one more kind thing my friend has done.
Upstairs, I pull on a pair of sweats and a sweatshirt, throwing on my hood to tromp over to their place.
I’m soaked through by the time I get to their front porch, so I toe off my boots out here to not get anything muddy.
When I push open their door, Shadow comes barreling for me with barks of joy as her tail swats at everything in reach.
Surprisingly, she’s not even the loudest thing in here.
Laughter and voices talking over each other echo through the front hall, and Shadow races me back to them.
The kitchen’s a mess, plates and mugs everywhere, but it’s exactly what I expected to walk into.
Lily, Michele, and Thoren are sitting at the island, and River has taken over the cooking and feeding everyone, but Amber surprises me.
She’s right next to Riv, dishing up plates.
She’s actually allowing herself to be part of it all instead of standing on the edges watching everyone else experience it.
“Perfect timing,” Riv calls, sliding me a plate. “Just finished the last batch.”
Amber looks up, a small smile lifting her pouty lips as she takes me in.
My feet move on instinct, eating up the distance so I can pull her soft body into my arms. Her signature lavender scent wafts from her wet hair in a bun on her head.
Her presence causes a visceral reaction in me, calming me to my core and heating my blood, sending it all south.
Small arms wrap around me, and she settles into the hug, not caring that the kitchen has grown quiet, with our friends staring at us.
With a kiss to her forehead, I let her go and take the offered plate of food, leaning against the counter so we’re still side by side.
“Well, slap me on the ass and pinch my pierced tits! Is this finally official, or are we supposed to pretend like we didn’t see that and spent the weekend talking about you two?” Michele asks, breaking the silence.
“He put a guy in the hospital for her, I thought that made it official?” River adds.
Thoren turns red with how hard he’s trying to hold in his laughter, and Lily has her eyes glued to Michele’s tits. Amber looks up at me, shocked.
“I don’t know where to start. The fact I’m offended Michele didn’t immediately show us her new boob jewelry, or that no one told me Kyle was in the hospital,” she grumbles .
“Yeah!” River shouts, slamming the counter. “Where was the titty show and tell?”
Thoren loses it, and they all start arguing over whether they should have gotten to see Michele’s new jewelry, but I pull Amber’s body back against mine.
With my lips to her ear, I whisper, “That’s not the last time I will put him in the hospital.
You can decide his ultimate fate, but if you don’t want to, know that he hasn’t felt anything yet. ”
A shiver racks down her spine as she looks over her shoulder at me. Her eyes search mine before she smirks and joins the conversation again. No explanation, no fear. She knows I mean what I say, and I won’t ever let anyone hurt her. She’s perfect.
Breakfast continues as we all stuff ourselves and catch up like old times. Thoren and River start on cleanup duty when the conversation takes a serious turn.
River clears his throat and looks uncomfortably at Michele.
“Ethan called me on Thursday. He was passed up for the job here. Since they’re combining two positions essentially, the committee wasn’t looking for a field firefighter.
The official position is Task Force Leader, and he didn’t have enough leadership experience they were looking for. ”
Thoren reaches over, squeezing Michele’s shoulder. She’s looking down at her hands, refusing to meet anyone’s eyes. “Is it normal to feel equally crushed and relieved?”
My heart breaks for her. She deserves the greatest love, and I’ve never seen her face light up the way it did around Ethan.
If he came back, I truly believe they could fix their past pain and work things out.
“Yeah, Chele, it is. We have you for all your feelings, okay?” My voice sounds like gravel, but I need her to really hear it.
I also want Amber to understand that within this group, we’re family.
“It doesn’t matter. He didn’t get it, and he’s not coming back,” she says, with hurt evident in her tone. Slipping my phone out, I pull up Ethan’s contact and shoot off a text. We will absolutely be having a talk later.
Lily moves the conversation along, talking about all the foods she threw up last week, and has us all rolling with her dramatics. She’s come out of her shell and really stepped into her own since we first met her. It’s the magic of our group.
River is the first to depart, wanting to see his parents before he has to head back to Seattle.
Michele isn’t far behind, with air hugs because “sore tits,” and a comment about being the only single one left.
Instead of flinching, Amber giggles and promises her she will find her own dark knight one day.
Lily gives me a pointed look across the room as I mouth a Thank you . I know she talked some sense into my girl this weekend. I’ve had enough of sharing her. I need her in my home, in my bed, and I need to hear her say she’s mine for real.
Plucking up Amber’s bag and keys from by the door, I tell her to get her ass in her car so I can drive her home. She gives me a puzzled look but doesn’t argue and follows me outside, climbing into the passenger seat.
Amber’s laughter echoes through the small car as I try to squeeze my big ass behind the wheel. Even with the seat all the way back, my knees are hitting the steering column. Why I decided to drive, I don’t know, but at least it’s a thirty-second trip.
When I pull up in front of my cabin, Amber turns to me. “I thought you were taking me home?”
Unfolding myself from that hell, I step out and rush to her side, taking her hand as she climbs out. “I did.”