Catching the look, Claudia downed her drink and turned away from the band. Rowena, our Scottish friend who we suspected was sleeping with the bassist, Denver, brushed her bright purple hair out of her eyes to exchange a worried glance with me.
Claudia was erratic around Beck.
I knew she was attracted to him, but I had my suspicion, as did every person in our group with the possible exception of Beck, that Claudia was in love. However, one minute she pretended to be fine about his manwhorish ways, and the next she looked like she wanted to find a corner to cry in.
I nudged her arm and she looked up at me with sad, stunning green eyes. Did I mention she was the most beautiful girl I’d ever met in real life and one of the coolest, funniest, kindest girls to boot? Did I mention Beck was an idiot?
“Do you want to go?”
She glanced back at the stage, glowered (which, in all honesty, I preferred to the sad puppy-dog look), and turned to me. “Yeah, if you’re ready.”
“You’re leaving?” Jake leaned into me again.
“It’s either that or I kill your best friend.”
Jake looked over at Beck and gave a slight shake of his head. “He needs to pull his head out of his ass.”
“Yup. Before then, though, I’m going to head back to the apartment with Claud.”
“Want me to come?”
I heaved a shaky sigh. Time to admit what I was up to tonight. “I actually have a thing tonight. A telling-Mom-and-Dad-about-me-and-you thing…”
Jake’s eyebrows rose. “Did I hear that right over the music?”
I cupped his face in my hands, feeling the slight bristle prickle my skin. Playfully, I rubbed my nose against his, smirking. “You might want to watch what you say next. I’m feeling a little nervous right now. I might back out.”
In answer, I felt the soft press of Jake’s mouth against mine. My lashes fluttered closed and my lips parted for his soft, sweet kiss. My mouth tingled as he drew back.
“I’m also telling them about the academy.”
For that, I got another kiss, but instead of drawing back afterward, Jake pulled me into a hug. I melted against his strong chest, my hands resting on the hard muscles of his back. He smelled great, and the strength in his arms as they held me to him made me feel safe.
In that moment all my worries disappeared. I felt the traitorous compulsion to open my mouth and whisper those three little words.
“You ready to go?” Claudia’s loud question stopped me in the nick of time.
Pulling reluctantly out of Jake’s hold, I said, “Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need it.” He brushed my cheek with his thumb. “Thanks for doing this for me. It means a lot.”
My throat clogged with emotion so I flashed a cheeky grin to cover it. “I’m doing it for us.” I stood and shoved my laptop and notes into my backpack.
Jake’s hand curled around my thigh and I glanced down to see him staring up at me, unable to hide the uncertainty in his eyes. “You’ll call me afterward?”
“If it’s not too late.” I bent down and pressed a quick kiss to his mouth. “See you tomorrow.”
I said goodbye to Rowena as Claudia moved through the busy room toward the barroom. When I turned back to wave goodbye to the guys, I got a chin nod from Lowe but nothing from Beck. He was too busy watching Claudia leave, a little furrow between his brows.
She hadn’t bothered to say goodbye to him and at this point, I didn’t blame her.
Outside the bar, Claudia wrapped her arms around herself, her long dark hair blowing wildly behind her. She had a remote expression on her face I didn’t like. Not one bit. Ignoring my own nerves over the conversation I was about to have with my parents, I strode forward and linked my arm through hers.
She smiled absentmindedly at me as we walked toward the apartment.
“So,” I said, “last weekend you and Beck seemed fine. You seemed to have come to terms with how things are between you, and you were nervously excited about taking him with us to Barcelona to meet your father.”
Claudia’s parents were wealthy, self-indulgent, neglectful socialites from Coronado, California. They had no time for their daughter. Over Christmas break, Claudia found out why her dad was particularly indifferent. Turns out he wasn’t her real father. Her real father was a British artist called Dustin Tweedie. In an effort to make some kind of amends, Claud’s mom had tracked him down. He lived in Barcelona and Claud’s mom was going to pay for Claudia to fly out there this spring to meet him—with Jake, Beck, and me in tow for moral support.
Claudia tightened her grip. “I was. But that was last weekend.”
“What happened between then and now?”
“I wrote an email to Dustin two days ago.” She wouldn’t look at me, and anger burned hotly in my blood at the sight of her throat working against emotion. “I still haven’t heard anything back.”
Having no idea what it felt like to be the recipient of not one, not two, but three indifferent parents, I really didn’t know what to say. “It’s only been two days.”
Two of our neighbors called out to us and we waved back. As soon as they were gone, Claudia shrugged. “Does it matter? I should just face it now. He won’t want me coming out there and interrupting his life.” Her laugh sounded hollow. I hated it. She wasn’t meant for bitter. “Let’s face it, Charley. I’m missing whatever that thing is that makes men care.”
Stunned, I stopped outside our courtyard gate. “That’s not true.”
She pulled away. “I can’t even look at you. You would never let them make you feel like this.”
“Uh, hullo.” I waved my hand in front of her face. “Were you not here these past few months, watching me wallow in self-pity over a certain handsome young man with the surname Caplin?”
She snorted but still wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“Claud, we’re allowed to have bad days, okay? Today is a bad day for you. That’s all. This shit with your parents is not going to change you. Please don’t let it.”
“And Beck?”
I cared about Beck, I did. And I know he cared deeply for Claudia, but right now it wasn’t enough for her and I felt like we’d had this conversation one too many times. “I think maybe you had the right idea last week.”
“Cutting him out a little?” She shrugged. “He got all broody about it and I caved.”
“Well, this time, don’t cave.”
She shot me a droll look as we walked toward our building. “Oh really? It’s that easy.”
“Okay, maybe not. Maybe you just need a distraction.”
“A distraction?”
“Yeah.” I thought of the one thing that had distracted me while Jake was dating Melissa. I grinned. “You need Lowe.”
“Um, I like the guy and all, but I am not sleeping with Lowe.”
“I’m not talking about sex.” I gave her my most serious look. “Believe it or not, Lowe is an incredibly insightful, compassionate, patient guy. He’s a really good friend to have on your side.”
“Jesus, does Jake know you’re half in love with his friend?”
“I am not in love with Lowe. He was just there when I needed him. You should hang out with him. Seriously. Oh, and don’t say shit like that in front of Jake.”
She grinned mischievously and the uneasiness I felt dissipated. This was more like Claudia. “Does Mr. Caplin have a jealous streak?”
“Yes. It’s almost as wide as mine,” I grumbled.
“And you’re positive my hanging out with Lowe won’t incite your jealousy?”
I considered it, letting her walk into the apartment ahead of me. It wasn’t too long ago I’d had a crush on Lowe, but that’s all it was or ever would be. What I felt for Jake… it burned in my very depths. No one had ever come close to making me feel what I felt for him.
He was my missing puzzle piece.
“Nope,” I finally concluded. “He’s sexy as sin and I like him, but he doesn’t come close to Jacob.”
&n
bsp; “Aww, Jacob,” she teased.
“Please don’t start calling him that.”
“Oh, I believe you started it.”
“Great. He’ll kill me.”
Claudia laughed, coming to a stop outside her door. Her laughter melted into a smile. “Thanks for making me feel better.”
“You’re my family. I hurt when you hurt.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes. “Dude!” She shook her head as she unlocked her door. “This mascara is not waterproof!”
The door slammed shut in my face and I burst out laughing. “Good night, then!” I moved slowly to unlock my own door.
Once inside, I felt the butterflies come back to me with a vengeance. Fighting through the nerves, I hurried to set up my laptop on my desk, plugging into the hardline Internet connection. My Skype page opened and I sat on the narrow bed in front of my desk to wait.
Eight years ago I earned the nickname “Supergirl” from my entire town. When the people of Lanton, Indiana, heard the name Charlotte Redford, that’s the first word that popped into their heads. However, I’ve never felt as brave as people tell me I am. I certainly didn’t feel brave as I waited to face my kryptonite—my parents.
There was nothing I hated more than disappointing Jim and Delia Redford. My parents had always been loving and supportive, and my sister Andie and I almost felt like we owed it to them to be good, obliging kids. But my mom and dad hated the idea of me becoming a cop from the moment I mentioned it to them. I think they might’ve been okay with it if they thought I had any intention of settling for a deputy job in Lanton. There wasn’t a whole lot of crime in my hometown. But nope. They knew I had every intention of hightailing it to the Chicago Police Academy in the hope that I would one day join the illustrious ranks of the Chicago PD. My sister’s fiancé, Rick, happened to be a detective in the city. And I wanted to specialize—possibly work the homicide division—so I understood their reservations, their desire for me to go to law school instead.
It was Jake who pushed me to realize I was sick of compromising for them…
“Is it possible to die of sex exhaustion?” I panted, collapsing in a sprawl across Jake’s sweat-dampened chest.
He lazily stroked my spine. “I’m thinking yes.”
“That was…” I groaned at the feel of him inside me.
“Mind-blowing?” he offered with a suspicious amount of smugness. “Told you it would be.”
I bit his shoulder gently. “Cocky.”
“I dare you to leave teeth marks.” Jake cupped my ass. “I’d love explaining it to people.”
“What people?” I mumbled. “You’re inside the only person who should be seeing you shirtless, mister.”
He chuckled and I burrowed deeper against the sound in his throat. “The guys and I don’t really care about walking around the apartment shirtless.”
Despite my exhaustion, I found the energy to jerk away from him, my hands pressed to his chest as I scowled down at him. “In other words, you’d love to explain those marks to Lowe.”
Inured to my glower, Jake tucked my long hair behind my ear before following the wavy strand of platinum down over my breast. “It would make a point.”
“A point he is well aware of. The traitor dumped me in your hands last night.”
Jake offered me an unrepentant grin. “That’s true.”
Before I could respond, he took me by surprise, wrapping his arms tightly around me as he sat up. Our lips almost brushed as he brought us chest to chest. Sensing I wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon, I shifted off my knees and wrapped my legs around his waist. Jake’s eyes darkened with the movement.
“No way,” I said. “You can’t possibly…”
“Not yet.” He crushed me against him, whispering the words across my mouth. “Anyway, we have stuff to talk about.”
I instantly wanted to pull away but Jake cupped his hand around my nape, forcing me to look at him. I jerked against his hold.
“Good, we’ll start with that,” he muttered darkly. “Why do you keep pulling away from me?”
“I told you I don’t like it when you hold me by the neck. It’s not a big deal.” It was so a big deal. And Jake knew it was. He just didn’t know why.
The truth was he used to hold me like that when he wanted my entire focus. It was kind of intense and more than kind of sexual, and I thought it was something he just did with me. However, I’d once witnessed him holding his ex-girlfriend Melissa in the same way, and as stupid as I knew it was, it bothered me. A lot.
“I don’t believe you.”
“Next question,” I sighed, tugging his hand off my neck.
Jake didn’t look happy but he relented. “When are you thinking about telling your parents about us?”
“Well,” I wriggled on him with a cheeky grin, “I was thinking we should uncover the plot of some evil mastermind and you can save the world first. There’s no way they won’t be happy for us after that. It would be petty.”
Kneading the muscles in my lower back, he said, “I’m trying to be serious and I can’t do that when you’re sitting on me naked, acting cute.”
“Then I guess my work here is done.” I kissed him hard. Jake’s arms turned to steel around me as he hauled me closer, deepening the kiss with a groan that reverberated through me in such a delicious way…
I wrapped my arms around him. Jake broke our kiss, grabbing my upper arms to push me gently back.
He scowled at me. “Play fair.”
I slumped. “Why should I? You’re not.”
“How is trying to have a conversation with my girlfriend not playing fair?” He narrowed his eyes. “How did I become the chick in this scenario?”
Laughing, I ran my fingers through his hair, loving the way his lashes lowered over his eyes in pleasure at my touch. “You did that all by yourself.”
“I’m being serious.” He turned to kiss my wrist. “I’m not asking you to tell your parents. I’m just asking you if you’re planning on doing it at some point. We can’t,” he exhaled heavily, eyes locking with mine, “we can’t move forward until you tell them.”
“I know. I will. Just… it’s hard. Give me time.”
“And while you’re at it, tell them about the police academy.” He crushed me close again, his breath hot on my lips. “Please. This is your life, Charley. Live it how you want to. Four years ago, you were solid in your decision. I don’t know if it was because of me, if I made you doubt yourself somehow, made you doubt your ability to make the right choices…” He tilted his head back, looking at me with such belief and love, I wanted to melt all over him. “Stop compromising who you are. They’ll love you. They’ll understand.”
As the chat-request bubble popped up on my laptop screen, I sucked in a deep breath and kept Jake’s words with me as I clicked the answer button.
Although I’d been worried about leaving Mom and Dad when our relationship (my relationship with my dad, really) was in limbo, I could breathe a little easier now that Claudia and I had settled into our old apartment in West Lafayette. The apartment was in a picturesque red-brick building with whitewashed balconies. It looked over a green, and had a communal pool and gym. The apartment itself was big, contemporary, and we each had a good-sized bedroom and bathroom to ourselves. It cost Claudia’s parents a small fortune in rent every month. However, they could afford it and Claudia couldn’t give a crap if she milked them for all they had, considering money was the only currency they offered up in terms of affection.
“Well, I think I’m finally unpacked,” I announced, walking into the open plan living room and kitchen area. Claudia was playing Carrie Underwood on her laptop while she—“Why are you rearranging the furniture?”
She stood from pushing the sofa, wiping sweat from her brow. “New year, new everything.” She grinned as if that was an answer.
“Watch your back, okay?” I said, eyeing the brown leather couch dubiously. “It’s not exactly a poodle you’re pushing around there.”
/> “I’m fine. I’m done.” She strode into the kitchen and pulled two bottles of water from the fridge, throwing one my way. I caught it as she said, “Did you check in with your parents?”
She knew too well I had. “They’re going to Chicago this weekend. That usually does them some good. I just wish things weren’t still so strained between us. I was hoping it would miraculously return to normal before I left for school.”
“Maybe if you’d go with them to Chicago once and a while…”
“Don’t,” I snapped.
“Okay, shutting up.”
Turning the tables on her, I said, “Speaking of parents… have you spoken to any of yours?”
Claudia’s expression soured. “My mom. She’s been calling more since Barcelona.”
Surprised by the seeming show of parental concern, I said, “That’s good?”
My friend raised an unimpressed eyebrow. “We’ll see.”
“Cautious as she goes. Smart.” I glanced around at the exceptionally clean and tidy living space, knowing it wouldn’t stay that way for long once classes started. “So… are we meeting Alex and Sharon tonight or are you planning on something else for the ‘new year, new everything’ attitude you got going on?”
She made a face at my sarcasm. “Be like that if you want, but I actually got the idea from you. You said you wanted a fresh start. Well, you’re absolutely right. We’re starting over almost from scratch. I have a plan—now you need one.”
“And what exactly is yours?”
“Life is for living, right?” Claudia grinned, her green eyes glittering. “I’m finally going to ask Will out.”