I laughed in agreement, the sound soon swallowed up in his hot, deep kiss.
“I told you, I’m not going.” I shook my head stubbornly and stared at the posters and street art lining the sidewalk.
Jake laughed. “It’s not in use. They don’t do that anymore.”
“I’m not going to La Monumental and that’s that.” I shot him a warning look and he gave a huff of incredulous laughter but shut up.
It was day five. Claudia had left us an hour ago to go see Dustin again and Beck had decided to give Jake and I some alone time. Honestly, I think he was just sick of our honeymoon phase. While Beck was happily wandering the streets of Barcelona by himself—or not by himself, as I knew how easy it was for him to pick up random girls on his travels—Jake and I wandered the streets of Barcelona in the opposite direction.
We’d wandered about half an hour northeast of the hotel and were closing in on the famous bullring, La Monumental. Jake was right. The bullring hadn’t been used as such since 2011 after Catalonia banned bullfighting, but still, I hated the idea of it all and wasn’t interested in seeing the place.
“You are so obstinate,” Jake said, throwing me a small smile so I’d know he wasn’t irritated.
“You bet your ass I am.” I flashed him a cheeky grin. “Good luck with that, by the way.”
“You’re lucky I like my women stubborn.”
“Your women?” I snorted. “Am I part of your harem?”
He pulled a face. “What? You thought you were the only one who appreciates all my fineness?”
“Are you taking lessons from Matt on how to talk to women now?” I chuckled, taking a hold of his hand to move him away from the touristy stuff for sale on the sidewalks.
“I think his technique is flawless,” Jake replied deadpan. “Every day my man crush grows stronger.”
Remembering Beck’s reaction to Matt’s “technique” with Claudia, I winced. “I think he might be in trouble with Beck when we get back to Edinburgh. That guy is… I have no words. He’s so overprotective and possessive. Such an oblivious tool.”
Jake cleared his throat. “Actually…”
I stopped in the middle of the street, tugging on his hand so he’d stop avoiding eye contact. “Actually?”
He shrugged. “Nothing. I just… I think Beck is more aware of how he feels for Claudia than you realize. He’s got his demons. But he cares about her and I think he’s maybe coming around.”
My eyes narrowed. “Do you know something, Jacob Caplin?”
“Charley, I love you, but there are some things I can’t tell you.”
Nosy and curious and desperate to give my friend what she wanted, it didn’t sit well with me that Jake may be holding the answers and the key to Claudia’s future happiness. However, I understood. “Girl code,” I grumbled, “but for boys.”
“Exactly.”
“Ah, I get it.” I snuggled into his side. “Maybe, just in case, though, we should set them up for dinner alone tonight? I know Claudia had a fantastic day with him yesterday.”
“Why don’t we just let them sort themselves out? They did that favor for us.”
I frowned. “Stop being right. It’s throwing me off balance.”
He laughed, pulling me close, and we walked back to the hotel in perfect contentment.
We were waiting for the elevator when I caught sight of a familiar figure out of the corner of my eye. I turned to see Claudia striding into reception and my breath was knocked out of me by her appearance.
Her eyes were bloodshot. She had no color in her cheeks. Worse… There was something so desolate in her expression that I felt panicked. “Claudia!” I called out, my voice trembling.
She glanced over at me in surprise, her feet abruptly stopping their momentum.
And then suddenly, she rushed toward me, her face crumpling as she impacted with me. I wrapped my arms around her as she sobbed into my neck. My arms tightened as I looked over her head at Jake. We exchanged worried looks and a silent message that we needed to get Claudia somewhere private.
I got her into the elevator, Jake shadowing us protectively. I tried to ask what was wrong but she just kept crying these deep, shuddering, heartbreaking sobs.