Page 93 of A Dark Fall
“Shh—Jake doesn’t know about that part. I think he’d kill him ...” I glance behind me again. I can’t see Jake now, and I have a moment’s panic that he’s left.
“I’ll kill him too. What a fucking wanker,” she hisses quietly.
I nod, lifting my margarita to sip at it. It tastes a little bitter against the previous glass of red wine.
“Ugh, well, you don’t even need to think about him anymore. Fuck that cheating prick.” She sounds riled up and still looks angry, but an instant later, her face transforms into a wide smile.
“Soooo, Jake, did Al tell you she’s playing piano for us at our wedding?” Rob announces from nowhere as Jake slides back into the chair beside me. “I’ll bet you didn’t know she was a pianist.”
I almost groan out loud. Nerves and dread flicker in my tummy every time I think about the wedding. I made a promise to her when I was fourteen that she’s holding me to and which I resent her for immensely now.
Jake turns to me, eyes and voice soft. “Yeah. I heard her play last night for the first time. She was mind-blowing ...” A look crosses over his face then, heated and soft.
My cheeks heat at the memory of how gorgeous he looked as he came in my mouth.
“Ooh, you did? Lucky you—she never plays for anyone!” Rob exclaims. “She must really like you.”
I turn my head to her, and she winks playfully.
“Did she tell you about the time we went out for Dan’s birthday to some cocktail bar in Soho and forced her to play some Coldplay song? The whole bar was singing along. Afterward, the bar gave us a bottle of champagne and offered her a Saturday gig. Oh my god, it was brilliant.” Rob collapses into a fit of laughter, and I can’t help but laugh too.
“Hijacking the piano in a cocktail bar half-cooked on champagne is slightly different to playing sober at the wedding of your best friend. I’m going to mess it up, I bloody know it.”
“We’ll get you half-cooked on champagne again, don’t worry, babe,” she says, still giggling.
With a sigh, I slide closer to Jake, resting my head on his shoulder. I feel his mouth kiss the top of my head gently. He doesn’t appear to be tense or angry about Mark’s questioning, and whatever phone call he took in the hall isn’t lingering either. I feel my whole body relax into him, well-fed, light from the wine and cocktails, and content in his arms. It feels nice.
“You’re going to be fucking amazing, baby,” he whispers.
I turn my head to look at him, my breath catching slightly at the utter belief in his eyes. I realize then that I want him there with me when I have to stand up in front of two hundred people and play. Ineedhim there looking at me the way he did last night. I’ve always felt like a different person with him—one who takes risks and leaves her comfort zone. He makes me feel as if I can do anything.
Some of the others start to float back inside to their seats, but Mark thankfully stays on the patio, seemingly in deep conversation with one of Dan’s friends. Around us, the table chatters easily under the influence of wine, cocktails, and good food, but I’m too relaxed to join in.
Jake and Dan return to their earlier chat about football and some signing at Chelsea they both agree is a huge waste of money. While he chats, I enjoy the heat of his body and the soft feel of his hand as it rubs across my bare shoulder. When I feel my eyes begin to close over, I know it’s time to go home. I glance at Rob, now sitting contentedly on Dan’s knee, and she smiles, giving me a small nod.
“I think I’d like you to take me home now,” I tell him softly.
“You sure?”
I nod sleepily.
“Okay then.” He smiles, pressing his lips to my forehead.
“Okay, guys, I’m sorry to be a party pooper, but I’m knackered. Long, long day. We’re going to call it a night,” I say to the table as I stand.
Robyn and Dan walk us out, Dan and Jake slightly ahead, joking about something together.
“I hope you aren’ttooknackered, babe. I think he has other plans for you,” she whispers as she pulls me into her.
When we reach the front door, Jake and Dan shake hands, and Robyn leans in to hug him, reiterating how nice it was tofinallymeet him. Then she turns to squeeze me tight.
“Have fun,” she whispers in my ear.
“We always do,” I whisper back, and she giggles dirtily.
From inside the car, I wave back at Dan and Rob who are cradled against each other at the front door. I want that, I think then. With Jake. I want to host dinner parties with him and wave our friends goodbye from the door with him. He gets in and starts the engine, but as usual, he waits for me to fasten my seat belt before lifting the handbrake and reversing out of the driveway.
I feel content and relieved and happy. He met my best friend, and it was fine. Aside from Mark, whose opinion doesn’t matter in the slightest, there was nothing to worry about. So, I wonder why I have a little knot of something in the pit of my stomach, or higher up in my chest.