Chapter 27 #10
He had to be smart, charming, pretty-boy adjacent with his dumb perfect cheekbones and his "wow that's such a cool field" voice and his fucking interest in my Rava's future.
Like great. Awesome. Sexy teacher-off in the sand.
That's what we're doing now? Someone kill me. Better yet, someone kill him. Preferably before he asks Rava if he wants to co-teach summer camp together.
You know what? No.
I won't get mad. I refuse to get more mad.
Let him stand there like some pretty little charity case, talking about education and childhood development like he's auditioning for Rava's diary.
Let him laugh at all the right moments, tilt his head like he cares.
Let him fucking try. Because while he's busy starving for Rava's attention, begging for a crumb of it, I have Rava shaking under me, crying out, begging me not to stop.
I'm stuffing him full of me until he's gasping into my mouth. And then I wash my hands, fix my shirt, and sit down to eat lunch with his entire fucking family like the good man that I am.
So yeah. He can talk about pedagogy all he wants. I've got Rava's moans memorized like scripture. Fuck outta here.
We're still playing.
Whack.
The volleyball flies straight into Jasper's head. Full impact. Clean shot. Courtesy of Daisy, unintentionally the MVP of my fucking week. My lip twitches.
No. Don't laugh. You're a serious man.
You're working on yourself. Deep breath.
Inhale. Exhale.
You've read one and a half chapters of that self-help book Rava recommended. You are growth. You are patience. You are—
Okay but that noise he made when the ball hit him? That little "oof" like a malfunctioning printer?
No. No. Stop. Don't smirk.
You're a man of composure. You're healing. You're in love. But holy shit that is satisfying. Lorenzo lets the ball drop and throws his hands up dramatically. "I'm done. I need Bacardi. My soul needs Bacardi. I'm going to sit down before I die."
"I'm coming with you!" Daisy chimes in, jogging after him toward the towels. Jasper lingers behind. Then he turns to Rava. "See that girl sitting by the shore? Where the waves hit the sand?"
Rava follows his gaze, squinting.
"She just got appointed to a primary school nearby." Rava shifts awkwardly, offering a polite half-smile. "Wow…did she do a Master's? Or, like, have connections?"
Jasper smiles. "Come talk to her. We're leaving soon, but you've got time."
Jesus Christ. How much more obvious can this get?
What's next? Is he gonna pull out a damn ukulele and start singing a lullaby about inclusive education?
But no. No, I'm not gonna get jealous. He's just going to say hi to a girl who works in the same field. Big deal. Normal people do that. It's called networking. It's healthy.
Rava looks over at me. Like he's asking for permission.
God, I love him. I nod.
Go ahead, babe. Go talk to Miss Kindergarten Enlightenment or whatever he said.
Rava hesitates, then walks off slowly, down to where the waves reach the sand.
He sits beside her. And Jasper sits right next to him.
I drop down under our tree, grab the rest of Rava's drink, and finish it in one long swallow.
I didn't throw a fit. I didn't punch anyone.
Didn't mark my territory like a wild animal.
I let him go. Calmly. That's growth. That's maturity. That's me being an emotionally developed adult man. Right?
Jesus, I deserve an award.
10 minutes later
Fuck everything I just said. I take it back. All of it.
I don't wanna be mature. I don't wanna be calm. I wanna kill him. Every seven goddamn seconds he touches Rava's shoulder. Like Rava's gonna fly away if he doesn't keep a hand on him.
Fuck the music. Fuck this party. Fuck Jasper. I'm sitting under this tree while that asshole is over there playing beach therapist.
"You don't think he's hitting on him?" I ask, eyes still glued on them like a sniper. Daisy doesn't hesitate. "Oh, he's hitting on him hard." I whip my head toward her.
Lorenzo goes, "One hundred percent. That man definitely wants to climb Rava like a tree. It's almost funny."
"You should have seen the way he looked at him at the bar," I mutter. "Like he wanted to raise his kids or something."
Daisy blinks. "Wait—he was at the bar?"
"I saw him. Rava didn't see shit." I keep watching. I can't not watch. I hate this. I hate how I feel. I hate how close that little shit is sitting. "Should I go say something? I don't know, just…grab him, pull him aside, whatever."
Lorenzo laughs.
"And say what, idiot? 'Hey, sorry, I'm insecure that my literal angel is talking to other humans'? Sit your jealous ass down."
Then Jasper laughs. Before Rava even says anything. He's laughing at things that don't exist yet. He's reading his lips like subtitles and reacting like it's a fucking comedy special.
Then the girl leaves. She fucking gets up and walks away.
She leaves them alone. I freeze. My brain twitches. What the fuck. What the fuck. She just left them. There. Together. Alone.
Like this is a rom-com and she's giving them space to bond. Daisy goes, "Maybe she went to get something, calm down, wild animal." I don't say anything. I can't.
I'm chewing the inside of my cheek hard. Then he does it. He touches Rava's knee. With his whole palm. Like it's his fucking right.
Nope. That's it. I'm done.
The guy who is keeping our stuff nudges me. He leans over. "If I were you, man? I'd go over there."
I don't even nod. I just stand the fuck up.
I'm already moving before my brain catches up. I'm not thinking and I'm definitely not planning. I'm going. I walk straight to them. Jasper's hand is still on Rava's knee. I don't stop walking.
I just let my body do what it wants. I shove Jasper, not hard, but not light either, and drop myself right between them.
Tight fit. Good. Let him feel me here. Let him choke on it.
Rava's eyes widen. He bites his lip like he's about to laugh. Good. Laugh. Watch me ruin the moment.
I turn to Jasper slowly. Meet his eyes. "Hey," I say, calm as ever. He doesn't even answer. Doesn't know what the hell just happened.
I tilt my head. Smile faintly. "Don't stop. Sounded like you were saying something fascinating."
Jasper laughs. "Bit tense, aren't you?"
"Bit fucking close, aren't you?"
He looks at me like I just slapped him. I tap his shoulder. "Hey," I say. "I'm kidding, I'm sorry."
He blinks, surprised. "Oh. Uh, it's okay—"
I cut in, grinning. "Nah, seriously. You seem like a good man. I was just messing around."
He laughs nervously. Rava looks confused now, flicking his eyes between us. I keep the smile up, all warm and casual.
"Wait, I think I saw you earlier at the bar, actually! Were you actually there?"
Jasper nods, easing up. "Yeah, I was!"
"Right, right—" I say, chuckling. "We are in the line. I was the one with my hands around Rava's neck. He was rubbing my arm, remember that?"
Jasper lets out a little laugh. "Yeah, yeah, I saw you!"
My smile drops. "Good. Then if you've got even a little bit of a fucking brain, you'll understand that Rava is not someone you get to play your desperate little games with. Have some fucking respect. Jesus Christ."
Rava's eyebrows jump. Jasper opens his mouth to speak.
"You're hovering around him like a lost dog, and I've let it go.
I've watched you stare at him like he's candy and you forgot your fucking manners.
You lean in every goddamn second like maybe if you breathe enough of his air he'll fall into your lap. "
I point at him. "I've been nice. I've let you talk. I even let you sit next to him. Touch him. But if you don't back the fuck off—" Pause. Lean closer.
"—I will make sure the next guy you crush on doesn't even look your way again."
Jasper just sits there, stunned. I tilt my head. Smile again. "I think your friend's calling you," I say, nodding toward the girl from earlier. "You've left her alone for so long. Why don't you go check on her? Go on. Like the good boy you are."
Jasper stands up, brushing sand off his shorts. He doesn't look at either of us. "Damn," he mutters. "I don't have the energy for this." He shakes his head once. "You win, alright?"
I lean back on my elbows, cocky as hell. "There wasn't a competition to begin with, you fucker."
He doesn't answer. Just walks off. "Enjoy the party," I call after him. Cheerful.
When I turn back, Daisy, Lorenzo, and the guy from the tree are already watching. I flash them a thumbs up like I just won a round of Mortal Kombat. They all return it at once, grinning.
Daisy mimes wiping a tear. Lorenzo claps. I turn back to Rava. "Give me your hand."
He doesn't ask questions. Just gives it to me. I grip it and pull him up to his feet. "Come on," I say, already walking. "Let's go over there. I'm not letting our literal family watch us make out."
We head toward the water, feet sinking into the cool sand. Rava looks at me like I've grown wings or dropped out of the sky.
"What?" I ask, narrowing my eyes, water lapping around our waists. He grins. "That is so hot."
"Hot?" I scoff. "I almost strangled him."
"Exactly, that’s hot," he says. I shove him lightly, splashing water between us. "Don't laugh. Why didn't you say something to him?!"
"I wanted to see when you'd lose it," he shrugs, smug. "Good thing I waited. That was incredible." He steps forward. His hand finds my chest. Then my jaw.
He kisses me. Soft at first. I melt.
God, I'll never get tired of those lips. I grab his face with both hands and kiss him harder, hungrier. It turns messy fast, mouths open, tongues sliding, his breath catching between kisses.
We sink deeper into the sea. My hands move down, gripping his ass, pulling him in flush against me.
"Feel that?" I murmur against his mouth.
Rava laughs, his forehead against mine.
"In cold water?! That's actually impressive."
I smirk. "You bring it out of me, sweetheart."
34) Take It, Angel
Gio