23. Exposed #2
They pulled up to Isabel’s house and got out, and while Jake busied himself with porting his sister’s bag and the remainder of the snacks inside, Alex flashed him a quick smile.
“You’re good, right?” she asked.
“Great,” Jake said. “Go say hi to your aunt.”
It was hard to stay in a bad mood when there was so much joy swirling in the air around him. He grabbed Alex’s bag from the backseat and hoisted it up, ready to drag it inside to his room.
Isabel had offered to give up her room for one night, but once Jake tossed his pillows and blanket onto the couch, she let him be.
It wasn’t going to be comfortable, but it was a small sacrifice to make.
He pushed open the front door, giving it a gentle kick behind him to close it, and nearly dropped the bag.
“Robbie.”
“Hi, Jake.” Robbie smiled. It was a polite smile, the same kind he’d given Jake in Sandway the first time they met. Its impersonality sent a chill down Jake’s spine. “Where’s your car?”
“It was such a nice day, I decided to walk.”
“You didn’t tell me Robbie would be here,” Alex said. “This is so exciting.”
Jake realized he was scowling, and he forced his lips back into a neutral expression. “Yeah, it’s great.”
“I thought you would enjoy it if I invited Robbie,” Isabel said. “And Alex certainly doesn’t mind, do you, dear?”
“Of course not.” She turned to Robbie. “I’m really looking forward to visiting your bookstore. Although Jake told me it’s closing down soon?”
“I’m afraid so,” Robbie said. His words were calm and practiced, but he kept stealing glances back at Jake.
Jake didn’t know what to do. He wanted to ask Robbie what the hell was up with them. Was it over? Were they done? Was Robbie as angry with him as he was with Robbie? He desperately wanted answers, but not in front of his sister.
Dinner was a raucous affair. Robbie and Alex got along swimmingly, and although Robbie still had a shadow cast over him, only Jake seemed cognizant of it. Though judging by a single look Isabel shot Jake when she set the cake down on the table, she might have known something was up too.
“Yeah, I feel bad, but Jake is sleeping out on the couch while I’m here,” he heard Alex saying.
“Damn, that’s rough.” Robbie sounded less and less interested in every bit of conversation that involved Jake as the night wore on.
“He’ll survive.” Alex laughed.
“I don’t know,” Robbie said, “he’s pretty particular. I’m surprised he offered at all.”
Jake set his fork down with a clink. He had no appetite left, not even for Isabel’s beautiful chocolate cake.
“I love my sister,” he said. “That’s the difference, Robbie.”
Robbie met Jake’s gaze for the first time in over an hour. The hurt in his eyes was unmistakable, and suddenly Jake felt sick.
“Um, I heard that there’s a restaurant in town,” Alex said quickly. “And a bar, right?”
“Yes, Sea Bites and The Cove, respectively,” Robbie told her. “The Cove’s not worth going to, though. You’re better off sticking with more upstanding places.”
“Like Eaton’s Gas and Groceries,” Jake said. “Now, that’s an upstanding business.”
“Jake, stop,” Robbie said darkly.
Jake hesitated. He hadn’t expected that at all. “It is,” he insisted. “Your parents know how to run a business people want to go to, if nothing else. You should try the fried chicken there, Alex. It’s worth its weight in gold.”
“Shall we move into the living room?” Isabel suggested. “I’ll make us some tea.”
“That would be lovely,” Alex said. “Thank you, Aunt Isabel. Dinner was delicious.”
“Yes,” Robbie said, folding his napkin neatly on the table. “I’m sorry I didn’t have time to make anything to bring.”
Everyone turned to Jake, waiting for him to shoot something back.
But Robbie was not going to win that easily.
He would not keep Isabel and Alex on his side, not once they realized he’d been the one to put Jake in an impossible position first. So he kept quiet, letting Isabel and then Alex gather up the dishes.
“Finished with your cake, Jakey?” Isabel asked.
Under the table, Jake’s fingers dug into his thigh. “I am,” he said. “Thanks.”
“Of course, dear.”
Robbie, after offering to help with the tea and being rejected, made his way into the living room. Jake sat alone at the table for a few seconds before gritting his teeth and joining him.
“You’ve got balls showing up here now,” he said, sitting down opposite Robbie.
“I came here for Isabel,” Robbie said. “And to meet Alex, of course. You know that.”
“You shouldn’t have.”
“I can do what I want.”
“Except stand up to your parents, apparently.”
“I offered to have you help me with that.”
“Oh, please,” Jake scoffed. “You wanted me to go along with you just to make a point to them. The only thing that could get me to change my mind now is if you actually loved me.”
“I do.”
“No, you don’t. You couldn’t live with me, Robbie. Not forever. We would be miserable. I’m not cut out for this life, and you… you’d regret giving up everything for this. For me.”
“Then love isn’t enough.” Robbie’s hands rested in his lap, picking at his fingernails. Jake had never seen him so nervous before—not even around his parents.
“Because it’s not real love. Trust me, I would know.”