31. Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Vi
Applause rose among the luncheon attendees, and I smiled in gratitude. I took my documents and made for the stairs at the end of the dais.
Most of Saturday had been taken up by airport runs, and making sure people were settled in their hotel rooms. We had made up plans with them, letting them know when we would visit and spend time together, and when they would be able to go out and about and get to know the city. We explained what to expect for the party day, and their flight back the next weekend. We had been busy, and everything had gone well.
Gabe and Lina were in charge of Sunday, considering my earlier commitments. Still, Jake and I were expected to join the family later, and spend time with aunts and uncles and cousins I hadn't seen in years.
I made it to the stairs at the edge of the platform. Jake waited for me at the bottom; he grinned and offered me a hand to help me down.
"Thank you, Jake." I gave him a quick kiss. "How was it?"
"It was great. You had them laughing a couple of times."
"That's how I keep them awake," I said, before the organizers approached and we talked more about the event.
I chatted with them and some of the attendees, with Jake by my side keeping guard. Giving me a proud smile once in a while. When possible, I held his hand. Sometimes, he put his hand on my lower back. For a little while, it didn't feel like a serious conversation waited for us afterwards.
Jake and I socialized for about half an hour, before we said our goodbyes, and left through the side door.
I sighed. "That was good. I'm glad I did it."
"It was nice. I hope some of the folk there got inspired."
We walked into a park, hand in hand. If we found a place to sit down and talk, it would give us easy access to the street on the other side, where we could be picked up by a driver.
"Inspired?" I chuckled. "I'm content with them getting a couple of nuggets they can use as motivation, but inspiration? That's a tall order."
"I don't know. I was inspired."
I laughed. "Please."
"I'll prove it." He stopped in the middle of the path, and unbuttoned his shirt fast.
I raised both eyebrows. "Jake? Don't tell me you—"
His undershirt was a deep navy color, with a bold white font across his wide chest.
She's too inspirational and too cute to handle, not to say anything of HOT. - Jake, Violeta Fan Club President when that didn't work to stop the tremors, I shook my hands in the air. "Not worth the paperwork, to be honest."
He must have seen the announcement of the luncheon somewhere; it was public, after all. After the events of the previous fifteen minutes, I doubted I had to worry about Andrew trying to find me where I couldn't hide anymore.
But maybe I would still send a letter from my lawyers, just in case.
"That's not the point," Jake said. "Don't minimize it."
Panic threaded through his words. I gazed at him, eyes narrowing.
"He was lashing out," I said at last. A toe into the water, the ripples testing what lurked underneath. "He couldn't stand the fact he was never going to be the one I chose, and his attempts made him look a fool. That's all."
"Doesn't give me an excuse to use my size— or to use violence. I shoved him. I almost punched him."
"Jake…" I shook my head and pulled from his arm again.
He didn't look at me. His eyes were on the ground, the sun shining beautifully on his hair. His chest worked hard, and a different type of warning rang in my head.
"Jake— are you okay?"