CHAPTER TEN
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They spent the rest of their first day together, but since they had arrived for lunch, it felt a little short.
After that, Jake and Sophia went to their room, and they all parted ways. Amy took the kids to their room, and Charles to his own. Jake hoped Sophia wouldn't wonder why Amy and Charles weren't sleeping in the same room, if they were supposed to be dating, but he left that explanation for later.
He almost forgot how many lies he'd told, because it was hard to concentrate. All he wanted was time alone with Sophia — he was dating a really pretty woman and all he wanted to do was a break, but he was both working and faking to be someone else. It was unfair. Maybe he deserved it, though. Maybe.
He only had a week to enjoy anyway, since they would fly back to New York, hopefully having succeeded with the Mark Wallace thing.
They told Amy and Charles they could all meet to have breakfast at one of the restaurants, so he and Sophia left their room early, even though Jake would have loved to sleep a little more. "Are Charles and Amy okay?" Sophia whispered to him once they spotted the couple at a table with the children.
"Yeah, why?" Jake asked.
"Well, they seem a little distant. Not that it's any of my business, I'm just thinking of the children."
"Oh. Nah, they're good. It's sweet of you to worry, but trust me, you don't have to. Charles is kind of... weird. Amy loves him, though. She's like, head over heels for him."
"Really?"
Jake smirked. "Yup," he said, and even though Amy wasn't there, he was only saying that to tease her.
They sat down with them to have breakfast, and then agreed to go to the pool again, maybe then go make sandcastles to the beach or something. Jake told Sophia to go with Amy, and that he would catch up in a few minutes, because he had other plans. The day before, when they'd arrived, a jewelry store had caught his attention.
Charles went behind him, and Jake made his way to the store. "Why are we going there?" Charles asked curiously.
"I'm going, you followed me."
"Are you buying something for Sophia?"
"Which wedding ring do you like the most?"
Charles's jaw dropped, and he dramatically clapped his hands against his mouth. "Are you proposing to Sophia?!"
"Yeah," Jake said proudly. He knew it was a little (okay, very) reckless. Perhaps he was rushing things.
"Jakey, are you sure that's the best decision?" Charles said, wincing, like he'd read Jake's mind. "What if you realize she's not actually the one? It seems a little... rash."
"Or romantic?" Jake countered, wiggling his eyebrows. "Both start with 'r'."
Charles shrugged. "I'll take that. I obviously support you anyway," he smiled. "Do you want me to plan something super romantic to impress Sophia so she will have to say yes no matter what and—"
"No, Charles. I'm good. I can do it myself."
"Then I can help you distract Amy!"
Jake frowned. "What? Why would you need to distract her?"
"Well, what if it makes you look a little insensitive to propose to another woman right in front of your ex-wife?"
"She's not my actual ex-wife, Charles."
"But Sophia doesn't know that."
Jake rolled his eyes. "I'm sure it won't make me look insensitive or whatever. Plus Sophia keeps saying we're all so mature, it's not like it would hurt Amy or make her jealous."
