Free Pieces (Riverdale #1) by Janine Infante Bosco Page B

seemed like the
perfect answer, and it shut people up for a while, but Jake had no idea why
they actually wouldn’t.
          “What the fuck are you Dr. Phil or
something?” He looked at Nick. “I’d be a pile of shit if Cara wasn’t in my
life. She’s my voice of reason, take that away from me, and all hell breaks
loose.” That was the best he could come up with, and it wasn’t a lie. If things
went sour with them and she wasn’t in his life, he’d be a fucking mess.
          “Ever wonder what happens when she meets
someone, gets married, and has a family?” Nick asked curiously. What the fuck
was with this guy and his questions? Jake wanted to punch him, for the mere
fact he was asking all the questions that Jake often wondered when he was by
himself.   The questions he dreaded
knowing the answers too.
          “I’ll be Uncle Jake.” Unless, of course,
in five years they found themselves in a little chapel, going through with
their contingency plan, but he wasn’t about to fill Nick in on that, he’d think
he was really a goner then.
          “She won’t be there all the time to be
your voice of reason, if she has a family to put first.”  
          Jake shook his head. “You’re killing my
buzz, Nick.” He raked his gaze over Cara, who was looking back at him. Their
eyes met for a moment, before she glanced back at the dart board. “Fuck this.”
He threw his pool stick down onto the felt table and looked back at Nick. “I’m
getting out of here.” Figuring he’d get the hell out of there before things
turned ugly for him and Cara. He just needed some space to cool his heels.
Whatever game Cara was playing she’d have to play alone. “Tell the girls I said
goodbye.” And with not so much as a glance their way he left Nick alone,
holding his pool stick.
     
          Cara watched out of the corner of her eye
as Jake rushed out of the bar, she felt her shoulders slump and the frown
threaten her face. She didn’t know what bothered her more, the fact that he
left without saying goodbye, or that he hadn’t been affected by her not so
subtle attempt to find a bed buddy. She didn’t know why she was surprised he
never really reacted when she was with another guy. Even when she had a date,
he never asked how it went. He only knew of a few of the men she had dated, and
never said anything until the relationships were over, assuring her they
weren’t good enough for her. She blew out a breath when one of the guys wrapped
their arms around her waist. She had no desire to play nice anymore, and
unraveled herself from him before walking back towards the bar.
     
     
     
     
     
         
     

 

Chapter Six
          Jake had canceled his clients for the day.
He couldn’t bring himself to get out of bed, he was just physically and
mentally shot. He wasn’t sure that staying in bed all day would be the remedy
for his troubles. Sure he was able to sleep here and there when his mind
permitted. The last few days said mind, had taken on a life of its own and it
revolved around a certain raven haired beauty that was on a mission these days
to find herself a mate.
          He told himself he had no right to be mad,
but he didn’t mind being a hypocrite, a selfish one at that. He drummed his
head, trying to understand why he felt it was okay for him to date and fuck
around, but the minute Cara did, or attempted to, he felt shunted, he’d even
use the word betrayed. She was his, maybe he hadn’t claimed her yet, but hey,
Rome wasn’t built in a day. Or a decade, right?
          One thing was certain, he needed to get a
grip on this thing sooner rather than later, or he was going to combust,
physically. The warning signs were there, the constant fatigue, the loss of
appetite, just last night he woke, drenched. He had sweated through his sheets.
There were times when his chest constricted so tightly he was tempted to drive
himself to the nearest emergency room. Then he