Page 51 of Friends with Benefits

‘A bit of attention? He’s been giving her fuck-me eyes since we arrived.’

‘All right, I’m lost,’ Kit says to me. ‘I thought you were trying to get Emily back? What am I missing?’

I contemplate telling him about Emily. Our saga. But I can’t be bothered.

I realize I’ve run out of steam on the whole Emily thing. I’d like her back in my life but… that’s all. I half smile and let out a short laugh as I realize: I’m over it. I’m over Emily. Maybe I should never have thought about changing our relationship. Then I never would have lost her.

That doesn’t mean I’m over the lies. It just means I know I don’t want to be with her like that. Maybe Jess was right. Maybe I couldn’t stand the thought of losing Ems, and being in love with her was the only way I could think to keep her in my life.

The squeal of a line steals all our attention.

‘You’re on, Jakey!’ Brooks calls.

I jump into action, flicking off my cap and taking control of my rod as whatever has taken my bait pulls the line far out to sea. I let it go until it calms, then I slow the reel and try to control the fish. Slowly, cautiously, I work the line, encouraging my catch back toward the boat.

‘She’s heavy,’ I say, tugging back on the rod.

‘Congratulations, you finally caught something you wanted.’

I turn to where Marty is standing, leaning on the screen of the cockpit, chugging on a thick cigar, his shades in place, his hair slicked to one side.

‘Yeah, no thanks to you,’ I snarl.

‘Concentrate, Jake. This could be dinner,’ Edmond says.

I try to focus on the fish and line. But Marty comes closer. ‘Are we still talking about the fish on your line or are we talking about the girl you’re too pussy to admit you’re into?’

‘Is he fucking kidding me?’ I ask, looking at Drew, knowing these guys are colleagues and for my brother’s sake, I probably shouldn’t break Marty’s jaw. ‘I know you didn’t call me a pussy, man.’

This time, I glare at Marty.

‘Ah, come on. You’re like a brooding teen. Emily, I want you. No, Jess, I want you. Someone please want me.’ He shakes his head and puffs on his cigar again.

I start to see red.

‘Shut the fuck up, Marty. And stay the hell away from Jess.’

The boat falls silent, other than the sound of Edmond taking the rod from me as I rise to full height, facing Marty, willing myself to exercise some self-control. Knowing, if he keeps it up, one of us is going to wind up in the sea.

‘Why? Shouldn’t someone make use of her since you seem to have lost your balls?’

I close my eyes, trying to force away my desire to put my fist in his face. It doesn’t work. I open my eyes and all I can see is him and how much I want to hit him.

‘Jake.’ I hear Drew’s warning tone as I charge.

I drop my shoulder into Marty’s gut and propel him back, hard. Hard enough to take us both overboard.

We plummet into the cold water. I open my eyes to make sure he’s okay, for some goddamn reason, then I kick up to the surface.

He breaks the water after me, coughing and spluttering.

‘Have you lost your goddamn mind?’

‘I told you not to fucking push me.’

‘Christ, Jake. If you’re this nuts over her, do something about it.’

‘You think I don’t fucking want to, Marty? Huh?’ I run a hand through my wet hair, pushing it back from my face as my legs tread the ocean. ‘There have to be two people to make a relationship, you asshole.’

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