I’m sitting across from Jake in Eleven Madison Park, a bustling popular restaurant, his current favorite place to eat and watching him mess with his cell while we wait on our food.
“Jake?” I interrupt gently.
“Emma?” He responds without looking up. He’s deliberately being evasive.
“The Hunter merger?” My curiosity has been niggling all the way here and I have been extremely patient. He sighs and looks down at his cell, puts it inside his jacket, bringing his steady green gaze back to me. His face unreadable.
“My father and Hunter are not what you would call the best of friends anymore,” he mumbles quietly. Sighing that he can’t avoid this any longer.
“Anymore?” I repeat flatly.
“Yes, Emma, anymore. They used to be as close as Daniel and I.” He leans back, sliding down into his chair a little and slides his feet to cage mine under the table on either side. Our upper ankles connecting slightly. Jake is a toucher; he always has to have some sort of contact it seems. It no longer bothers me given it was such a slow thing that I just got used to.
“What happened?” I watch his face carefully, he’s good at giving nothing away, amazing poker face.
“My father had an affair with Elsa Hunter.” Daniel’s mother, and Hunter’s wife.
Crap.
I wasn’t expecting that.
Is that the basis of his bond with Daniel, shared anger at their parents?
“It’s not exactly common knowledge.” He sighs and moves his water glass; he needs a point of focus. I can tell this is something he hates talking about. Jake only fidgets when he’s very uncomfortable and it’s his biggest tell, watching items he moves around, as though for distraction.
“When?” I know I shouldn’t pry, but Jake rarely denies me knowledge, on any subject. Weirdly.
twenties … My mother forgave him, but I didn’t, not for a long time … I’m not sure I’ve forgiven him, even now. He broke her heart.” Jake’s relationship with his mother is
for this? … To get at him?” I nudge his ankle gently with mine, so he’ll
hasn’t been the main reason. Jake’s also a “shrugger”; it has to be his most common mannerism, annoyingly so. It does, however, emphasize his
from his upper
Hunter caught them in bed together, in his own house.” He’s still focusing on his glass and turning it
atmosphere when he’s around?” I watch his every
so much more
ever forgive him for hurting my mom like that. She deserves better than him.” I know Jake’s close to his mother, he visits her often
A thoughtful son.
with him though? She could have left him if she wanted too.” I point out,
and loyal. Who
do about him. He’s a fucking control freak and all about his reputation.” The flash of anger surprises me.
to stay?” I understand
though trying to find his inner calm in the sea of
with no real input to give
else and I guess she still has feelings for him. She’s trapped in a loveless marriage.” He looks back at me, a
loveless marriage?” The thought is so sad, especially for someone
the facade. My father married her after a one-month romance.” He finally stops looking around evasively, his eyes coming to
you think Elsa was the only affair?” I ask, wondering why he’s
not, but it’s the only one I
what they excel at portraying in person. How odd that the truth is so very different. I know all about hiding true appearances. I am a master of deceit in my own
My father is all about appearances, my mother knows her place and how to play her part.” Jake looks angry again, but his demeanor is still
has interested me for a while, his teen wild days and then reform always seems at
looks anywhere but me, and I can tell he’s hiding something. Being evasive