The Wager, стр. 41

“Oh, spare me. You looked really worried in Amy’s arms.”

Jake muttered an oath and walked away from her. “I didn’t want her then and I don’t want her now, but then again, you trusting my word means you actually have to trust me as a person. It means I have to trust you, too. And I don’t.”

Char threw down her purse and charged toward him. “How dare you! I’ve done nothing to—”

He held up her cell phone. “Mike called.”

“You’re such an ass!” Char jerked the phone away from him. “You answered my phone? That’s private.”

“You’re lucky I’m a good guy.”

She snorted.

“So ask me.”

“What?” Char scrolled through her messages. “What the hell do you want me to ask you?”

“About the wedding. You know, details, who the caterers are, what celebrities are going to be stopping by… you know, the nitty gritty details. Interview me.”

Char’s face fell as she stared into his cold, unresponsive eyes. “Jake, I was never going to go through with the interview.”

“I don’t care.” He did care but he didn’t want her to know he did, because it just made him look pathetic. “Ask me the questions.” He threw a piece of paper and a pen onto the bed. “Come on. Do you want to get fired?”

“No, but—”

“I’m pissed as hell right now,” Jake said honestly. “But I’m not going to be the reason you lose your job.”

“Well, aren’t you just a regular Mother Theresa.” Char snorted. “Don’t you know me better than this, Jake? Do you really think I’d betray my friends to get ahead in the world? I’m not you!”

“You’re being a bitch.”

“You’re an ass if you think so little of me,” she yelled.

“Yeah, well, you’re a shitty friend.” Jake’s nostrils flared as his voice rose. “I thought you were different. That’s why I—”

“Jake?” Travis’s muffled voice came from the other side of the door. “The party’s breaking up, man. Have you paid that crazy lady with the sex toys yet?”

“So many things wrong with that sentence.” Jake rolled his eyes. “Coming.” He walked toward the door. “You.” He pointed at Char. “Not a word to Travis and Kacey. Don’t even tell them you were thinking about taking your boss up on the offer. It will break their hearts, and they have enough going on. I’ll give you a damn story. I’ll run down the street naked if I have to; just leave them alone.”

Disgusted, Jake walked out the door, all the while wondering if his heart would ever be able to trust anyone. 

Chapter Forty-two

Char stared in shock at the closed door. What had just happened? Was Jake actually giving her advice on how to be a good friend? After he’d led her on and then took Amy into a room and made out with her? The man was a mess! And he had the audacity to say that what Char was supposed to be doing was low? She wasn’t even going to do the interviews! She’d decided to sacrifice her job, a job she needed in order to eat, because she didn’t want to betray her friends.

The jackass hadn’t even given her a chance to explain! Once again, his cocky know–it-all attitude had surfaced, leaving her heartbroken and confused. She’d seen him in a searing lip lock with enemy number one and he was lecturing her as if she was the one who’d broken his heart!

Jake would never understand her hesitation about what she did because he’d always had money. He didn’t realize how tempting it was—to be able to pay rent, to eat, to not let your parents down again and again!

With a cry she threw herself onto the bed and cursed Jake Titus to hell. It was becoming a habit. Maybe if she cursed him enough times her heart would stop breaking. So close, yet so far away.

Jake said almost nothing to Char all day Saturday. In fact, the only time he did speak to her was when he’d asked to use her floss that morning. She’d dangled it in front of his face and waited for him to make some sort of joke.

Instead, he took it, flossed his teeth, and left the room.

Adding insult to injury, she was fired that morning.

She’d missed her deadline. It was entirely possible her life as a reporter was completely over.

Char checked her watch. It was already five and Kacey and Travis still weren’t back from town. They’d run some sort of last minute errand.

She tried Kacey’s’ phone again, but there was no answer.

Everyone was getting restless. Char began to pace in front of the gazebo. Thirty minutes later Grandma burst through the door.

“They won’t be making it to the rehearsal,” Grandma said. “Flat tires.”

“Tires? As in more than one?” Jake asked, rising from the pew.

“I’m afraid so. It was as if someone slashed them.”

Petunia shook her head. “Portland’s full of gangsters. Probably one of them boys.”

“Right.” Jake smirked. “Because we know lots of gangsters that want to off us.”

Petunia stiffened.

“We’ll just have to carry on without them.” Grandma rubbed her hands together. “Char, you’re the maid of honor, you’ll stand in for Kacey; and Jake, as the best man, you’ll be standing in for Travis.”

Char’s stomach plummeted. God was cruel. The one man she had been in love with since junior high was now standing in the groom’s, only it wasn’t real. And again, so close. Her heart constricted as she looked into his eyes because she knew this would never be her reality. It was all some sort of sick joke from the universe. She’d hold his hands; he’d pretend to put a ring on her finger.

And at the end he’d walk away.

Char jumped when Grandma blew her whistle. “Order, everyone!”

“We aren’t in a court,” Jake grumbled.

“I need order!” Grandma blew the whistle again, this time right in the pastor’s ear. He winced and looked away, poor soul. “Now, let’s have the girls fan out under the gazebo. Yes, perfect!” She pointed to the guys. “And the men: let’s have you line up on the other side. Oh, that looks lovely.”

It looked horrible, but nobody asked Char so she kept quiet. Then again, it could just be her crappy attitude.

“Pastor?” Grandma raised her hand instead of blowing the whistle, praise God.

“Yes, Nadine?”

“Will you please go through the entire ceremony? I want to be sure that the microphones are working and we’ll be able to hear the bride and groom.”

“Of course.” The pastor smiled and held out his hand to Jake. “I’m Jim.”

Jake shook his hand.

Pastor Jim turned to Char. “And you must be the maid of honor.”

Her smile was tight as she took his hand.

“Both of you stand just here.” He pushed them together.

Char almost stumbled into Jake’s hard chest. His eyes were distant, as if he was shutting her out from his world. She could almost see his abs through his tight black t-shirt. Lowering her gaze didn’t help because then she had a full view of his distressed designer jeans, and his Marc Nason boots that had probably cost more than her car.

“Dearly beloved…” Jim began reciting the welcome and the prayer. “Now we are going to move on to the vows. Take each other’s hands and repeat after me.”

“I, Jake Titus…” Jim started.

Jake cleared his throat. His hands were so warm as they held Char’s. “I, Jake Titus.” his voice had a husky drawl to it as he continued to talk. “Take you, Char Lynn, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.” His voice caught in his throat as his eyes burned into hers. “To love and to cherish, to treasure, to be my best friend, from this day forth until my last breath leaves my body—I will be yours, as long as we both shall live.”

Char had to bite her lip to keep from crying. It was everything she’d always wanted to hear him say.

Jake closed his eyes when he was finished.

“Now, Char.” Jim cleared his throat. “Repeat after me. I, Char Lynn…” Char repeated the same vow. Halfway through her hands started shaking. Jake opened his eyes and mouthed It’s okay, so she kept going.