Twenty One (Love by Numbers Book 2) (21 page)

If I have to be brutally honest, it actually pains me to leave my girl for the evening, which is seriously messed up. I’m turning into a needy freak and I have to reign in my possessiveness and jealously before I scare her away.

That doesn’t stop me from taking her not once but
twice,
when we get back to our suite.

I may be away from her for the next few hours but she will know where I have just been, she will
feel
exactly where I have just been.

Every time she moves a certain way, I want her to
feel
the delicious ache of her muscles and remember who made her feel that way.

It’s that thought alone that allows me to walk her down to the hotel bar a few hours later and leave her there, alone with Liv.

I scan the bar as Nate, H and I make our way to the foyer and spot a few young guys sat at a corner booth, gazing appreciatively over at our girls. My fists clench and I want to knock the lust filled looks right off their smug faces. Nate, ever watchful lately, also eyes the blokes up but places a hand on my shoulder to calm me.

“She doesn’t even know they are there Jake, the only man she sees is you.”

It doesn’t stop me from turning on my heels, marching straight back over to
my
girl and landing a deep, sex filled kiss on her stunned lips.

“W….what was that for?” she half giggles, half stutters, when I pull away from her.

Running my fingers over her jaw and plump, swollen lips, I lean down and place a chaste kiss to the edge of her mouth “Because I can”, another soft kiss to the opposite corner, “because you’re mine”.

Her eyes are closed, her head still tilted back from our kiss when she replies, “I’m yours”.

I run my finger tips down the smooth skin of her cheek before cupping her jaw in my hand. Even with her eyes still closed she leans into my touch.

“C’mon J, I’m gagging for a pint and some action. Put your chick down, she’s not going anywhere.”

H sounds like he is sick and tired of my clinginess towards Emma and I’m kind of making myself a bit weary of it too, but I just don’t know how to change.

“Go Jake, Liv and I are just having a few drinks, then we are going to go back to the suite, climb into our PJ’s and eat our own body weight in the British candy she brought with her. I can’t wait for a
Curly Wurly
.” She licks her lips before looking over at Liv, checking that she is still in conversation with Nate, and adds “I might even save you some if you promise to go and have some fun, or else I have a feeling H may finally go through with his Dudevorce.”

Always thinking of others; my girl is
always
thinking of others.

I give her one last kiss on the lips and whisper against them, “Okay, I’m going. Just save me some
Dairy Milk.
I love it melted and will have an excellent use for it later.”

She visibly shudders with anticipation of my seductive promise, before she collects herself enough to lightly push my arm away with a “Go. Enjoy your night, drink lots, find H a woman,” then in quieter voice “and find out what happened with Bella. He needs someone to talk to Jake, even if he doesn’t know it yet himself.”

Like I said, my girl is always thinking of others.

A
short limo ride later and flanked by my ever present minders, we arrive at ‘Womb’, another of Tokyo’s top night spots.

The place is packed, the queue outside stretching around the block. We don’t have to worry about things like that though, as yet again, the ever useful Nina has phoned ahead and planned our arrival. This means we are ushered through a side door, straight into the VIP area.

This place is huge, with a vast dance floor and amazing sound system. The biggest mirror ball I have ever seen, hangs from the centre of the main dance area, reflecting the multi-coloured lighting in to every single corner of the impressive space.

Even though it’s huge, it’s also packed to the rafters. The VIP area is filled to bursting, with who I am guessing, are Tokyo’s top movers and shakers.

I spot a few international film and TV stars and surprisingly find myself a little star struck. Yes I may be getting attention right now but that is within the bubble of VB, not out in the showbiz world.

“Bloody hell J, this place is bumping. I gotta tell you, having a best mate who’s a star sure does have some epic perks.”

H nudges my shoulder as we take a seat in the booth that has been reserved for us.

He wastes no time in ordering us a vast array of alcohol, while Nate places his usual order for a bottle of Grey Goose.

The waitress leaves to fill our order but not before H attempts his dodgy version of chatting her up. She avoids his advances with an air of professionalism that says she has to do it quite often.

“H man, steer clear of the staff and focus on the buffet of beauties around us instead, you may have more luck then.” Nate jests.

“When I want advice from either of you loved up pussies, I’ll ask for it,
man.
”

Where the fuck did that come from?

“H, chill. He was just messing with you.”

He glares at me from across the table and then flicks his eyes to the dance floor.

Nate and I share a confused look and he mouths at me “What’s the deal?” All I can do is shrug my shoulders and shake my head.

I haven’t got the slightest clue.

A
fter sinking down more than his fair share of alcohol and refusing to engage in any conversation, H gets up and heads to the restrooms.

“You need to have a chat with him; I don’t think I’ve ever seen him rip someone’s head off the way he did mine.” Nate’s brow furrows in concern before he takes a long drink of his vodka on the rocks.

“Yeah Emmy told me the same thing and that was before that little mantrum he just threw.”

“What the hell is a mantrum? Have you and H swapped bodies?” He laughs and leans in closer waiting for my reply.

“Yeah, it does sound like something H would say.” I let out a small chuckle before thoughts of my surly friend sober me. “I just have a feeling that all this is about more than his split from ‘she who must be obeyed’.”

“Well the only person he’s going to open up to is you Bro, I think I’ll finish my drink and leave you guys to catch up.”

“You don’t have to do that Nate, I’ll have a chance to talk to him again, don’t go leaving early because something has gotten his knickers in a twist.”

“J, we all leave tomorrow afternoon, now might be your only chance. I know heartfelt conversations aren’t unusually your thing but it’s kind of painful seeing H this way. So do what you can to sort it.” With those last words of wisdom, he downs the rest of his drink and goes to take his credit card from his wallet to settle his bill.

“It’s on me Bro, not often do I get chance to take the tab, so put your money away, it’s no good here.”

He eyes me thoughtfully for a second, “I do believe my baby Bro is finally all grown up. Thanks for the drinks. I’ll catch you in the morning.” He pats me on the shoulder before he exits the booth and leaves. The lucky bastard is escaping back to his warm bed and warmer woman, while I get to sort out my grumpy mate.

H better spill his guts and fast. I have a warm bed waiting for me too.

Nate is right though, this isn’t typical H behaviour. In fact, the H I know and love, is so laid back, he’s practically horizontal. This new H is so far removed from him, that I wonder what exactly has rammed such a big stick up his arse.

H
returns to the table a few moments later, looking rather the worse for wear. I guess all that alcohol he downed in quick succession has begun to take effect.

“Take a seat, we need to talk.”

No point beating around the bush with him. I’ve always been straight with H; I don’t plan on stopping now.

“Fuck your talk J, I’m going to invade that dance floor and find a soft body for the night.”

I grab his forearm and force him to sit.

“Sit the fuck down and talk to me. This isn’t you H, what the hell is going on?”

He glares at me before taking a deep breath and breaking eye contact. His gaze flickering absently across the undulating and writhing dance floor, that is filled to the brim with clubbers, who are happily enjoying their night out.

When he begins to speak his voice is so small and quiet that I have to move closer to hear him.

“I’ve got stage one seminoma, testicular cancer.” He takes a shuddery breath before continuing.

“I’m booked in for an orchidectomy the day after we fly back.”

The bottom just fell out of my world.

All I heard was testicular cancer.

Almost as quietly as he just spoke his confession, I force out my question, “What does that mean H, I don’t understand.”

I place my hand on his arm in a show of support, hoping to give him some of my strength.

He looks up at me, the stark white of his face highlighted by the flickering club lights.

“I’m having both balls removed, followed by a dose of chemo.” He breaks my gaze again; his eyes somewhere off in the distance.

“Who’s gonna want me now hey J? A joker with no balls. I guess Bella dumped my arse just in time and the joke is finally on me.”

S
pending time with someone you are close to, knowing that it will soon come to an end, is bitter sweet.

L
iv and I laugh, chat, share stories and just generally catch up with each other for over an hour in the hotel bar. Some guys offer to buy us drinks but Liv, ever the flirt, sends them on their way with a smile.

“Good job Jake wasn’t here to send them packing.” She laughs before taking another sip of her drink. “Who would have thought your bloke had such a possessive streak in him. That kiss he gave you before he left was
scorching.”
She widens her eyes at me and wiggles her eyebrows, causing yet another laugh to break free from my lips.

“Yes, I guess you could say he’s full of surprises. He’s nothing like I imagined he would be…… no that’s not true, what I mean is, he is
more
than I ever thought he would be.”

My confession causes her to look over at me dreamily. “Yeah those Fox men sure do have some mad skills.”

I, in a very unladylike manner, snort out a laugh and nudge her playfully with my arm, “You can say that again.”

“Yeah those Fox men sure do have some mad skills.” She winks at me playfully and I realise just how much I’ve missed her during the last few weeks.

“C’mon Em, let’s go stuff our faces and pass out in a sugar coma. Your suite is definitely a far more private place to discuss our men and their
mad skills.”

I shake my head, trying hard not to laugh again. Liv is never one to miss out on the details.

She knocks back the last of her drink and links her arm through mine as we head to the elevator, eyeing the extra security Jake has arranged to watch over us while he’s gone.

“We had no chance of going wild tonight did we?” she sighs. “Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee over there would have soon grassed us up.”

“Yeah well, they don’t have access to the inside of the suite, so you can go as wild as you like when we get back.”

“Oh Em, you’re so Rock ‘n’ Roll. Only you would think going wild was eating a whole packet of Maltesers.”

M
y stomach hurts from laughing so much.

I’m sure the combination alcohol and too much sugar hasn’t helped, but I’ve been giggling so much my jaw aches.

“Hey there’s a packet of Lovehearts left, I say we do paper, rock, scissors to see who gets them.” Liv already has her hand hidden behind her back as she says this.

“I’m not sure I need any more goodies but if my title as paper, rock and scissors champion is up for challenge, you’re on. Bring it.”

She sways slightly, her inebriated mind not allowing her to focus, no matter how hard she tries.

“Okay, on…. one, two ….. three.”

Liv always,
always,
goes rock first. I’ve told her to mix it up but she swears she will catch me out in time.

We both stare into each others eyes, taking this challenge very seriously, as we sit cross legged on the super king size bed.