only a snatched ankle away from being in the drink himself.
A roar and a lunge from a dripping Stu rising out of hip deep water brought Roley undone. The two men grappled, but Stu was enraged and Roley was fish food. He splashed in head first and came up with a splutter of laughter, his hair in his eyes and his t-shirt wound around his chest.
A leggy brunette in a flame red mini dress promptly jumped in beside him. She said, “You’re cute,” and surprised him with a chlorinated kiss.
“Hear that Stu, I’m cute,” Roley called.
The rage washed off Stu but not the jackass. He reached a hand up to the brunette’s friend. “Care to come for a swim?” Without waiting for her response, he grabbed her wrist and yanked her into the pool.
Rielle watched as Jake went to Ceedee. He was trying to get her to turn away, not to watch as Stu mauled his new wet playmate, kissing her neck, making her giggle theatrically. She left her drink and went to them, though maybe Jake would be able to break through to Ceedee, where she’d long failed to.
Ceedee was shaking. She grabbed Rielle’s arm. “He’s a bastard.”
“Yeah, so walk away,” she said, like she’d said a hundred times before.
“I can’t.” Ceedee couldn’t even look away.
Rielle looked at Jake. He’d moved to try to block Ceedee’s view. “You can if you don’t want him to keep treating you like this,” she said.
“He doesn’t mean it. He’s always sorry afterwards.”
“Then he does it again. He always does it again.”
Ceedee nodded imperceptibly, but Jake caught the quick dip of her head. “Then he’s not sorry and every time you forgive him, you let him get away with treating you like this. It’s abuse, Ceedee,” he said.
She gasped and spun to him “It’s not! I don’t! It’s not my fault. You can’t blame me for his behaviour.”
“Not your fault, but you aren’t helping if you give him a free pass,” he said.
“I don’t. I’ll give him hell.”
Jake jerked a thumb over his shoulder to where Stu was still frolicking. “Will you let him crawl into your bed tonight?” He knew as well as Rielle did they shared a room. He was pushing her hard.
Ceedee snapped. “The right answer is no isn’t it, Jake?” She said it bitterly, resentfully, as if it was all Jake’s fault Stu was a two-timing sleaze.
“The answer is what’s right for you and letting him do this to you—I’m not sure that can be good,” he said
“Well what am I supposed to do? I love him.”
Jake lifted both hands, palms up. “Hey, it’s not my call. You have to solve this one yourself.”
“Rand will…”
“Really, Ceedee? You need Rand to sort this for you? Have you noticed he’s a little busy right now?” Jake gestured to Rand laughing with Harry. How, sensibly, still his wingman.
Ceedee followed Jake’s arm, recognition broke on her face. “Oh, I didn’t know.” Her eyes came back to Jake. “Would you talk to Stu for me?”
“And say what?” Jake’s hands came up in a flash of frustration. “‘Mate, you’re an idiot, you’ve got this gorgeous talented girlfriend and you keep screwing it up.’”
Ceedee bit on a fingernail. “He might listen if it came from you.”
“He doesn’t listen to Rand and they’re like brothers. He won’t listen to me. The only person he might listen to is you. But you have to say the right things, different things, Ceedee, if you want a different response.”
She frowned, shifting on her feet—not stamping but close enough. “You won’t help me then?”
Jake sighed. “I am helping you—you’re not listening.”
Ceedee glared at him. “I need a drink.” She pushed past them both, her six inch heels stabbing the tiles as she headed for the bar.
Jake watched Ceedee go. He simply wasn’t used to a job that demanded he referee fights, baby-sit drunk musos, be a lifeguard, and relationship counsellor. He’d had enough of Ice Queen for one day. He wanted to check in with Glen about the stage strike and sleep til the alarm forced him to grab a taxi for the airport. Rielle had other plans.
“You tried. She won’t change, but at least you tried,” she said. “I think she’s in love with the drama of it.”
Jake snorted and the words, “And you’re not?” punched out of his mouth.
Rielle’s painted eyes narrowed. “Oh yeah, I live for it,” she said, dripping sarcasm. She wheeled around to leave him, but he grabbed her arm. “I’m sorry. It’s been a long