Falling Again

Chapter 24

Tears pricked my eyes as I slipped on a black bikini, blue booty shorts, and a shawl. Running a shaky hand through my hair, I take a few deep breathes, forcing myself to calm down. The anxiety is behind me, I remind myself. I only take my medication when I absolutely have to, and now is not one of those situations. I needed to focus on the present instead of burdening myself with the past. Jacob is my present and my future, and I need to focus on him. Nothing else.

So, I wiped away my tears, took a deep breath, and left my room, closing the door behind me. Jacob walked out of his room at the same time, a flowery shirt on. His eyes land on me, and they drag down my body. I felt my cheeks heat. "Woah." He breathes, his mouth parting.

"You like?" I asked, biting my bottom lip, a grin on my face. I tilted my head at him, and Jacob slowly nods his head before hlding his hand out. I quickly take it, and he pulls me in, his arms curling around my waist. My eyes flicker all over his face, and I suddenly realise that Amelia has to see him look this good. Jealousy bubbled inside me. "Promise me you won't speak to Amelia?" I asked him, staring up at him hopefully.

Jacob rolled his eyes, laughing a little. "Only if you stay away from Duke." He gives me a pointed look, and I wiggled my eyebrows at him.

"Easy." I grin, and he nods his head before I quickly give him a kiss and he releases me, taking my hand into his own. "Ready, boyfriend?" I sighed, and Jacob blinked at me, his eyes widening a little. I smile a little.

"Boyfriend?" He takes a breath, his lips twitching a little. "Is that who I am?"

I try to fight the smile on my face. "If that's what you want." I say, and it doesn't take him long to pull me back and kiss me softly, cupping my face with both his hands. I grin against his lips.

"Of course it is, girlfriend." He laughed, and I hug him. Jacob is picking me up and carrying me down the stairs. I squealed a little, wrapping my arms around his neck tightly. Then, he's carefully lowering me to the floor, taking my hand.

Laura, Rose, Charlie and Daniel were stood near the door with a picnic basket, and we all set off together, chatting and laughing with each other. Jacob had his arm slung around my shoulders and I nestled into his side, my arm around his back.

Then, when we got to the beach, Duke and Amelia were already there, laid next to each other. Amelia laughed at something her friend had said, and they both look up, catching sight of us. Amelia's eyebrows shoot up, and she jumped to her feet, a wide grin on her face. Her eyes stuck to Jacob with no regard of me, the woman who's arm he had around him. I pulled him closer to me, and I hear Jacob's soft chuckle.

"Hi." Duke smiled, and I smiled back at him. Both me and Jacob sat on the sand, and I leaned into him as he rested his arm on my shoulders. Duke and I are friends, and despite Jacob's jealousy towards him, I had made it abundantly clear that I'm not into him. Amelia, however... she couldn't make it more obvious that she wanted to jump Jacob's bones, and it pissed me off.

I take a deep breath as she grinned at my boyfriend, completely ignoring me. "Hey, Jacob." She smiled, and Jacob's arm tightened around me. I feel him nod at her, and it doesn't take me long to squint my eyes at her. She only blinked at me, tilting her head to the side. I sighed heavily before gettimg to my feet and pullng my shawl off, followed by my shorts.

"Wanna go for a swim?" I asked Jacob, holding my hand out towards him. He grinned up at me before reaching out, and I puleld him to his feet. I gave everyone a quick wave before leading Jacob towards the ocean. His hand is on my back, and I hear him chuckle.

"Totally not jealous, right?" He snickered, and I rolled my eyes as the waves of the water splash against our ankles.

"I'm not." I huffed, looking across at him. Jacob raised an eyebrow. I shrugged my shoulders, and it doesn't take long for him to wrap his arms around me and lift me up. I squealed just as he walks further forward and dips into the water. I gasped, my hair and face soaked, and as soon as I'm on my feet, I'm kicking out and splashing him.

Jacob runs his hands over his face and his fingers through his hair, grinning at me. Then, his skin is skimming my waist, and a rush of adrenaline courses through me as the waters splashes agaisnt my stomach, and he's pulling me closer. My body is stuck to his and his skin is on mine, and I could barely breathe.

I lifted my head and pressed my lips to his, arching my back slightly as my arms go around his neck. His tongue slips into my mouth, and shivers run through my body, travelling down my spine. That's when I felt it. Love. It's the same feeling that I've felt whenever I'm around him, and I hate that it's taken me so long to realise. I had to hurt him because my heart couldn't keep up with my head, and he's suffered for two years.

Jacob's arms wrap around my waist, and I pressed my body against his. I love him. I've loved him for years, but I was so unfamiliar with the feeling that I had no idea how to process it. I had no idea how to deal with it, and I ended up pushing away the one light in my life to save myself. To put myself first, and this is where it lands me. Back in Jacob's arms. Right where I belong.

He loved me through all the hard times. He loved me hard enough for the both of us, and I couldn't be more grateful. No wonder it's killing me to see how he's treating himself, using drugs and alcohol to fill the hole that Aiden and I left in his heart. I don't blame him, but the guilt that pressed agaisnt my chest was too much. He was a beautiful man that was dealt the wrong cards in life, and I hate that I played a part in it.

But, from now on, all I'll do is make it up to him. I'll show him how much I love him and how sorry I am and how much he deserves every good thing this wretched world has to offer him.