“He can afford it,” Jake answered. “He’s sort of loaded.”
“Right.”
“But your mum’s right to worry. I’m worried. If someone puts two and two together about him…” He dipped his head.
I handed him his drink. “I’m sorry you’re going through this.”
He took the mug of velvety choccie goodness. “Thanks, mate. I’ll be okay. I really need to hash things out with him. Clear the air properly. If he’s gonna be in my life again, it doesn’t need to be awkward.”
I nodded slowly, hands wrapped around the warm mug. “Positive steps.”
“I…I still love him. I think I always will. But…how can we ever be together again after…” He stopped, sipping his drink.
“I’m here if you want to talk,” I offered.
He’d only chatted about his history once before with me and Mum in the mansion living room after he lost his eye. Poured his heart out, then pulled up the drawbridge after that. Made us swear to never bring it up again with anyone.
We took a vow of silence. Mum even went as far as to pretend she didn’t really know they had a romantic history, which always made me laugh.
Poor Jake. I could tell he missed Dean, but also saw his pain.
Dean always worked as Jake’s secret backup, like Jake did with us. One day, they were out on a mission in an abandoned factory, investigating a lead on some shadow witches who’d kidnapped a goblin family from their home.
A fight broke out, and a situation arose where Dean hesitated. Just for a second, but enough for Jake to get hit with a spell and sent careening across the factory floor. He hit a jagged piece of metal, which gouged out his left eye.
I couldn’t even imagine it. Yikes.
Dean’s hesitation also caused the death the goblin mother. The others were saved, but Jake suffered a breakdown over it, ending his relationship with his fae lover.
Such a sad situation.
Jake held up his mug. “This is banging.”
“Thanks. It’s a specialty of mine.”
“Good one to have.”
He looked so sad. My heart went out to him, bigtime. Loving someone so much only for things to go wrong was like taking a bullet.
I hoped they could work things out, though. Dean made a terrible mistake, changing Jake’s life massively, but what did he want now that time had passed? His man back? To move on with the love of his life back on his arm?
I’d ask him one day.
“Want to do something?” I asked, not wanting to waste any time thinking about my ex.
“Like what?” he wondered, licking chocolate from his lips.
“Watch a film?”
He checked his watch. “It’s midnight.”
“And?”
He grinned. “Film me up, matey.” His brows pinched together in a frown. “Sorry, that sounded really porny.”
“No judgment, Mr. Winter. No judgment.”
Chapter 11
