12. Jake
CHAPTER TWELVE
jake
ELEVEN YEARS AGO
We’re just leaving the university now, but you should stop by for her graduation party,” Colter said over the phone.
Distant chatter in the background made it a bit difficult to hear, but I got the gist of what he was saying.
“Yeah, I’ll do that for sure. What’s the address again?”
He rattled off the address for the hotel that Caitlin and Adam’s grad party was taking place at. As much as I hated the idea of celebrating Adam, I hated the idea of not being there for Caitlin more.
After taking a quick shower and running a comb through my hair, I dug through my closet for the nicest short-sleeve button-up I could find—pulling out a red-and-black striped Wrangler shirt—and threw on some nice jeans and a dark-gray cowboy hat.
Colter had already moved out of our shared dorm room earlier that week when his finals wrapped up, but I had put off moving out as much as possible, not wanting to go back home only to hole up in my room because of my dad.
The deadline for moving out was Monday, though, so I had to face the music soon.
Chip and Maggie offered to let me stay at the ranch over the summer and work in Silver Creek, and I was heavily considering it. Maybe I’d accept their offer when I saw them at the party.
When I arrived at the hotel, conversational chatter directed me to the ballroom where the party was being held. I strolled through the doors without a hitch, and the moment I saw her, my mouth spread into a wide grin.
Trying not to look too eager, I slowed my pace until I got close enough to tap her on the shoulder. She whirled around, but any uncertainty in her features disappeared when she recognized me.
“Jake! Oh my gosh, I didn’t know you would be here!” Caitlin pulled me into a hug. “Thank you for coming.”
Her perfume—a blend of orange and something spicy like cinnamon—enveloped me, and I inhaled a deep breath, not wanting the embrace to end. “I wouldn’t have missed it.”
She pulled back first, breaking contact, the absence of her like a rift between us.
“Are you hungry? Come get some food and cake.” She pointed with her right hand toward the buffet tables filled with appetizers, side dishes, fruit, and burgers, keeping the other one tucked behind her back.
“Colter’s sitting with my parents, Clay, and Adam. ”
I sucked on the inside of my cheeks, offering a tense nod.
I took my time getting food, mentally preparing myself to sit with the bane of my fucking existence and make awkward small talk, because Lord knows I wasn’t going to dissect sports or fucking finances with Adam.
Did he even watch sports? Probably not. His form of entertainment was probably watching the stock market.
Colter waved when I approached their table, patting the seat next to him. “Glad you could make it, man.”
I dipped my chin in acknowledgment, giving Clay and Colter’s parents, Chip and Maggie, a small wave and pointedly ignoring Adam.
He returned the sentiment, so at least we were even.
“Jake, it’s good to see you!” Maggie hummed.
“Have you thought about our offer this summer?” Chip asked, adding on to his wife’s greeting.
I nodded. “I have. I’d love to come stay on the ranch, if you’ll still have me?”
Maggie nodded. “Absolutely. We’re always grateful for the help.”
“Especially since Caitlin has graduated now. We’re losing our summer help,” Chip joked.
“So, Adam, what are you planning to do now that you’ve graduated?” Maggie asked with a soft lilt. She worried her lip between her teeth as he sat up even straighter.
“Actually, it’s funny you mention summer help, because Caitlin and I are moving to Washington.”
Five heads snapped toward him, some with expressions of blatant disbelief.
Maggie’s brows shot up. “Oh?”
He nodded, leaning back into his chair was a satisfied smirk. “Yeah, I got a job with an investment company out there. They’re very excited to have me. They want me to start right away.”
Chip cleared his throat. “Thought Caitlin wanted to stay here in Goldfinch.” It was more of a gruff statement than a question, because it was true. In every conversation I’d had with her, she wanted to stay in Montana so she’d be able to visit home.
Adam shrugged. “Yeah, well, she doesn’t have a job offer lined up, so it made the most sense for us to go where my work will be. And my family’s out there, too. You know how it goes.”
Silence fell over the table, and I stuffed my burger into my mouth so I didn’t say something rash.
“Oh my God! Caitlin, what is that on your hand? Don’t tell me. Is that a ring?” one of her friends across the room squealed, breaking the silence, and my heart lurched.
Adam laughed, scootching his chair back, the sound of the legs scraping on the floor like nails on a chalkboard.
“That’s my cue.” He walked over to Caitlin and her friend, taking Caitlin’s left hand in his to pull her to the front of the room.
“I was going to make a formal announcement, but Shannon just had to spoil the surprise.” He made it seem like a joke, but deep down I knew Adam Holmes was probably pissed that someone had stolen his big moment.
Caitlin’s cheeks flushed. She had never been one for wanting—or needing—the spotlight. Caitlin was okay with not being the center of attention. Though, in the time I’d known her, she’d been the center of mine.
“Sorry, not sorry!” Shannon sing-songed.
“Well, now that we have everyone’s attention,” Adam’s voice grew louder, booming.
“Before we got here, I asked Caitlin to marry me. I would have loved to get a ring on her finger sooner and have my last name on both of our degrees, but I was a patient guy”—this got some laughs out of the crowd, but I had to fight the disgust from displaying on my features—“and by the grace of God, she agreed to be my wife.”
Colter shifted uncomfortably in his seat beside me, glancing over at me every so often as if to gauge my reaction. Finally, after the fifth time, I shot him a glare that would make even a U.S. Marine wither back.
“Sorry,” he muttered.
“It’s fine,” I clipped, remorse immediately washing over me for snapping at my best friend.
People swarmed Caitlin and Adam. Questions like, “Do you have a date?” and, “Where are you going to get married?” and, “Can I see the ring?” filled the room.
Bile rose in my throat, burning and bitter on my tongue.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Adam staring off in our direction. When I finally turned my head and made eye contact with him, his lips curled up in a cocky smirk. It vanished as quickly as it appeared, but the message was received.
Adam got the girl. The one who called me on nights when she was stressed about her final exams. The one who texted me randomly during the day just to say hi.
Not only was he moving her a thousand miles away to Washington, but he was also marrying her.
The stupid grin on his face, aimed directly at me, told me he knew he’d won, and there was nothing I could do, because who was I to interfere if he truly made her happy? I’d swallow my pride for Caitlin’s sake, even if it made me nauseous.
Across the room, my eyes caught on Caitlin’s for a split second before she tore hers away.
I was going to be sick.