Chapter 68 Chapter 68
Adele
“What are you doing here?” I asked, staring at Jake as he casually walked into my living room. He stopped in front of me and scratched the back of his head, a habit he always had when he was nervous or pretending not to be. “I think I need to get my keys back from you,” I said.
I folded my arms. “You can’t just keep showing up in my house unannounced, Jake.” My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I was already irritated.
“Calm down, girl,” he said easily as he dropped down on the couch beside me. Before I could react, he reached for the bowl of popcorn on my lap, grabbed a handful, and popped it into his mouth.
I was scrolling through Netflix, trying to find something to distract me from the chaos my life had become. He glanced at me sideways.
“You look like you’re going through hell,” he said. “So… who broke your heart?”
I smacked his hand away and snatched my popcorn back. “Don’t touch my food,” I snapped. Then I looked at him. “Why are you here, Jake?” I asked, clearly not in the mood for his jokes.
He sighed and scratched his hair again. “I need your help,” he said. “Thalia is at my house right now, and I can’t go home.”
I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to the TV, continuing to scroll through Netflix.
“And how exactly is that my problem?” I asked flatly.
“I didn’t invite her,” he said quickly. “She just showed up. And I stupidly gave her the keys to my house a while ago.” He paused, then continued, lowering his voice like he was confessing a crime. “I met this girl tonight at the club, Tonia. She’s really beautiful. I mean, really beautiful. She agreed to come home with me, and she’s in my car right now.”
I slowly turned to look at him, already annoyed. “So…” he said, giving me a hopeful look. “Can we stay here for the night? Please?”
I shook my head slowly. “You can’t keep living like this, Jake. This is wrong on so many levels,” I said. “What if Thalia decides to come here looking for you?”
He waved it off like it was nothing. “She hates you. She won’t come here,” he said confidently. “Besides, I already told her you moved out of this place.”
Before I could respond, he leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Thanks for letting me stay,” he added quickly. “Please, just be nice to Tonia.” And with that, he rushed out the door before I could say a single word.
A few minutes later, he walked back in with Tonia. I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for her, she was unlucky to have crossed paths with a player like Jake.
“Tonia, meet my beautiful cousin, Adele,” Jake said proudly as he introduced us.
We exchanged polite greetings, and I gave her a small smile. Feeling like I was intruding, I decided to excuse myself and head upstairs to give them some privacy.
Just as I turned away, there was a knock on the door. Jake immediately stiffened and looked at me, his face tense. “Are you expecting anyone?” he asked nervously.
I shook my head slowly. He shot me a worried look. I knew exactly what he was thinking, Thalia. Even I felt my chest tighten at the thought of the drama that would follow if she was standing on the other side of that door.
I walked over and opened it. Rafe stood there, he was holding a bouquet of flowers and a couple of gift bags. “What are you doing here?” I asked sharply. “I told you to reach out to me through your PA.”
The moment he smiled, I knew it wasn’t Rafe. It was Rowan. “Can I come in, please?” he asked, already trying to step forward.
I quickly blocked the doorway with my body. “Who’s there?” Jake called from inside. “I hear a man’s voice.”
Rowan’s eyes widened. “You moved on already?” he asked, shocked. “That was fast.”
He tried to look past me into the house, but before I could stop him, Jake came up behind me. His arm wrapped around my shoulders instinctively, his shirt nowhere in sight.
Of course. Thank you, fucking Jake.
Rowan’s expression darkened immediately.
“So you are already sleeping with someone else,” he said coldly. “Your ex was right about you that night.”
He laughed bitterly. “Fuck. I really thought you were worth fighting my brother for.” His eyes flicked over Jake with disgust. “Turns out you are just another whore.”
“I know him,” Jake said suddenly, his tone cocky. “You’re one of Maxwell Sinclair’s biker boys.”
Rowan’s eyes narrowed slightly. Jake smirked. “First time seeing a powerful man who’s also dumb,” he added. “Such a shame.”
I couldn’t help it, I snorted softly. Rowan’s jaw clenched immediately, I could tell he was about to fire back when another figure walked up to the door.
Rafe, he was holding a bouquet of my favorite flowers and a gift bag. He stopped short when he saw Rowan standing there, surprise flashing across his face. But that surprise quickly turned into something darker when his eyes dropped to Jake’s arm still wrapped around my shoulders.
Rowan let out a cruel laugh. “Look at this,” he said bitterly. “This is what you were tumbling the world for. This is who you fought me over.”
He turned sharply to Rafe. “You broke up with Jenna for this bitch,” he said, pointing at me.
“And barely a minute later, she’s already found another fool.”
Rafe didn’t respond immediately. He just stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he cleared his throat.
“I guess you have moved on,” he said quietly. “I wish you all the best.”
But his eyes betrayed him. There was pain there, deep unmistakable pain.
Rowan scoffed, with a hiss of anger, he threw the flowers he was holding onto the floor and stepped on them hard.
“A bitch like you doesn’t deserve something this beautiful,” he spat.
Then he turned away.
“Babe, what’s going on outside?” Tonia’s voice rang out as she walked up behind us. The moment her eyes landed on Rafe, she screamed. “Oh my God!”
She grabbed Jake’s arm excitedly. “Jake, how do you have the famous biker twins standing in front of your cousin’s doorstep?” she exclaimed. “Holy shit!”
Before anyone could stop her, she pushed Jake and me aside and ran straight toward Rafe, practically glowing with excitement.
Rowan turned sharply. “Cousin?” he repeated, his eyes darting between Jake and me. He scratched the back of his head, realization hitting him hard. He knew immediately that he had fucked up.
“Hi! I’m Tonia,” she said cheerfully, completely unaware of the tension. “Nice to meet you. I’m a really big fan of you guys, especially Maxwell. It’s so nice to finally meet you.” She rambled on excitedly.
Jake and I exchanged a look. “Babe, it’s fine,”
Jake said quickly, stepping forward and taking Tonia’s hand. “They are here for Adele.”
Almost immediately, Tonia pulled her hand away from his. “Actually,” she said awkwardly, “I’m single. We just met tonight. He only brought me here to meet his cousin.” She pointed at me.
Jake’s face fell instantly. For once, the player had been played. “I’m not single,” Rafe said flatly, gently pushing Tonia aside so he could step forward.
She didn’t even feel embarrassed. Instead, she turned toward Rowan with a hopeful smile, but he shoved her aside immediately.
“Get the fuck out, you desperate slut,” Rowan snapped.
Then he turned back to me, his tone changing. “I’m really sorry, Adele. I didn’t know he was your cousin,” he said as he stepped closer.
Jake immediately moved in front of me. Even though Rowan was bigger and more intimidating, Jake stood his ground, chest to chest with him.
“Get out. Now,” Jake said firmly.
“And don’t ever show your disgusting face in front of me again,” I added, my voice shaking with anger.
Rowan nodded slowly, like a man who had completely lost the battle. Without another word, he turned and walked away.
“I’m sorry,” Rafe said quietly. “I only came to give this to you.” He stretched the gift bag toward me.
I didn’t take it. I just stood there, staring at him, my mind a mess. “I shouldn’t have assumed he was your boyfriend,” Rafe added softly.
Jake reached out and took the gift from him instead. “I will see you on Monday,” Rafe said.
Then he turned and walked away as well.
Silence fell over us. Jake glared at Tonia, who stood with her head bowed in shame.
“I shouldn’t have fucking lied to Thalia for you,” he muttered angrily.
Tonia looked up at him, confused. “What do you mean?”
Suddenly, slow clapping echoed from behind us.
We all turned. Jake gasped, Thalia stood there, her back leaned casually against the wall, her arms folded across her chest.
“So this,” she said coldly, “is the sick Adele you came here to take care of?”
I said nothing, I took the bouquet of flowers and the gift bag from Jake, turned around quietly, and walked back inside the house without a word.