Trapped Together (Complete)

~ Chapter 13 - 3:37pm~

Jake sat up as well, his brows pulled together in confusion. He wasn't sure how she got into her head, but she did and he could feel the moment she pulled away. He wanted to pull her back in his arms, but he knew her well enough, she would just refuse and it would lead to an argument. And as he watched her pull his shirt on, he wanted to comment on how sexy she looked in his clothes, but he knew that wouldn't work either. So, with quite the effort, he wrapped the blanket around his bottom half and crossed his arms.

"Okay, you have my shirt, what am I going to wear?" She jumped at the sound of his voice and he knew right away she was far into her head and her thoughts and pulling her out was about impossible, at least at the moment. He was going to have to give her time and that was the one thing he didn't want to do. The time between them without talking never led to anything good. "Hey," he softly said as he grabbed her arm lightly and drew her near. "Talk to me, Rachel." She blinked a couple of times before she looked at him and shook her head.

"Jake, we shouldn't have done this."

"Based upon what?" He pulled her between his legs but didn't try to move her anymore. He knew he was in a bad position like this, but he didn't mind; his only thought was to comfort her and to get her out of that head space as fast as he could.

"Based upon a lot of things." She didn't think as she sat down on his leg and looked at him. "There's always friction between us, isn't there?"

"I'm not sure I'd call it friction, but there's attraction. And I think we do pretty well at ignoring it." She sighed and ran her hands over her face, which only brought the urge out to grab her hands and hold them. "I don't think ignoring it is the answer though," he said and she sighed again and turned to look at him.

"I think it is. I think things like this shouldn't happen again. I think the first go was a mistake and so was this." He cocked his brow as he looked at her. He knew her too damn well to buy that shit and he knew she didn't buy it either.

"Why was it a mistake?" he asked and she groaned.

"You said it was! I'm just agreeing with that statement now."

"Rachel," he said, resting his forehead on her arm, "I think we really need to talk." He knew this wasn't going to be easy but he had no choice. He didn't want her to hate herself because they both gave into what they were feeling. It wasn't a bad thing, but it wasn't a smart thing.

"Talk about what?" His eyes lifted and he looked at her. His hand came up and his thumb brushed along her cheek. God damn, she was so gorgeous to him, she really was.

"That first time wasn't a mistake." There was the confession. "We both knew what we were doing, we were both well aware, and we both wanted it, right?" he asked and she nodded. "Attraction isn't a bad thing, there are no mistakes about it. Giving into the attraction isn't a bad thing either. What I said that was night was stupid on my part, but I never viewed it, really viewed it, as a mistake."

"Why would you say it was, Jake? Why do I feel like it was?"

"Because you know that wanting your brother's best friend isn't a good thing. I may have done something stupid when I was younger, but you didn't. You do, however, feel like it's wrong because I'm Jay's best friend. I know this and rather than let you feel horrible about it, I claimed it as a mistake and one I said we shouldn't repeat; only because I can feel the sizzle between us. Sometimes I wonder if he can too." She licked her lips and turned her head to look outside. With the sun having long since dipped far below the clouds, it was quite dark out now, almost like nighttime. The wind was still howling and the snow was still falling hard, really giving them no chance to escape.

"Is it so bad? Is it really that horrible if Jay knew about us?" He chuckled and lightly cupped her chin, turning her head to look at him.

"It's Jay, you've known him your whole life, do I need to answer that question?" he countered.

"Would Jay think you wouldn't want to hang with him anymore if I was in the picture?"

"No, Rachel, that's not it. Jay would want better for you and he would tell you I'm not it. Jay loves me, we are the best of friends, however, he knows all my faults, which you don't. Jay only wants what's best for you." He wasn't sure what exactly about that statement set her off, but something did. Her eyes grew darker like they were almost black, and he had never seen that before. It fascinated him all over again; he really did adore her eyes!

"Who the fuck does he think he is?!" Wait, what? She climbed off his lap and crossed her arms before he could process what she was doing. "I love my brother, but he can't always butt his nose into my business! And he sure can't fucking tell me who to see, who to date, or who to fuck!" Well, technically she wasn't wrong, but Jay had a lot more power over her life than she thought. There were a lot of guys who might have tried something, but Jay quickly ran them off. Granted, in her anger right now, he wasn't about to say shit though!

"Rachel..." he started but she turned and glared at him.

"No, don't you fucking defend him. You also don't get to hurt me just because your friends with him. That isn't right! You aren't my brother either, so you don't need to protect me." Was that why he was doing it; because, in some odd way, he saw himself as her protector as well? He never sided with Jay when he pulled the shit stunts with the guys who had an interest in her. In fact, he would often tell Jay to back off, that she needed to make her own mistakes.

"I wasn't going to." She raised her brow and shook her head.

"You weren't? So, what were you going to say?" Yeah, what was he going to say exactly? "Yeah, that's what I thought." And with that, she left the room. He let out a breath as he heard the door slam and figured she went into her room, which he assumed was a lot colder at the moment. Great, just fucking ass great! He didn't expect things to go like that, but they had and now he had no clue how to fix it. It wasn't a mistake, none of it was, but he was going to struggle to make her see that.

He climbed off the couch and at least pulled his pants on. It wasn't too freezing yet that he needed a shirt, so he'd wait to go grab one from Jay's room. He crossed his arms and stared out the window as his thoughts swarmed, drifting from her to Jay and his stupid promise. Sure, they were all adults now and that promise should be forgotten, but Jake knew Jay and Jay wouldn't just turn a blind eye, no matter how much Jake changed.

The question that bothered Jake more than anything, though, was could Jay get over it if something happened with Rachel? Really and truly? And if he couldn't, was Jake willing to risk a lifetime friendship for a chick? Granted, Rachel wasn't any chick; this was a woman he cared deeply for and he was sure that no one knew that, especially Jay.

Jake sighed as that thought tumbled around in his head. Which was completely fucked up because he shouldn't even have to worry about it. But he did, sadly. What was even worse was that these two guys were best friends, you would think Jay would be happy for Jake if Jake found a good woman for him. Jay would be too, but not at the expense of his sister.

Jake shook his head and walked back to Jay's room to change into some sweats. And as he did, memories came to his mind of him and Jay playing or talking. Deep confessions of shit that was going on with them and plans they made for the future. And as Jake tugged on the gray sweatpants and stared at a picture on the wall of the two of them, he decided. Rachel was an amazing woman, and one he cared for, sure, but he couldn't risk the chance of losing his best friend, so he had to pull back on his feelings for Rachel. No matter how fucking hard it was going to be. And he knew, without a doubt, that it would take balls of steal and he was going to find some massive strength for it.