Chapter 17

Summary:

At Lucy's birthday party, Alise finds out exactly what Lucy and Lachlan have been getting up to while Owen gives Alise another reason to worry about how personal his relationship has gotten with Claire.

After what I just saw happen between Owen and Claire earlier today, I knew I'd spend the rest of the day overthinking, so I went home and made brownies to distract myself. I ended up keeping them in the oven for a little bit too long because I got distracted (which rarely happens) and the whole kitchen started smoking up.

I quickly put the fan on and rushed to the sliding door to open it and get some airflow before the fire alarm went off. Whenever that damn thing goes off I can never figure out how to turn it off and maintenance has to come to do it for me.

The second I opened the door, I heard shooting sounds coming from Lachlan's apartment as well as him screaming nonsense, most likely at the video game he was playing on the TV. His porch door was wide open and I remembered he said he had off work and would most likely be spending the whole day sleeping and playing video games until we had to go to the boat for Lucy's party.

I thought that maybe he would be able to distract me, keep my mind off of things. I only had an hour before we had to leave for the boat and I could spend the whole hour mulling over the events of the day, or hanging out and playing a video game with Lachlan. I chose the latter.

I went next door and knocked on the door, anxiously biting the inside of my lip and spacing out. I needed to stop thinking about this crap. It was going to drive me crazy.

"Hey short stack!" Lachlan said when he opened the door and saw me.

I pulled a face, "I'm 5'6 and 5 inches shorter than you, why are you calling me short stack?"

"Just cuz, couldn't think of anything better ducksack."

"Ducksack?"

"Like a ducks nutsack. Thought you'd appreciate it more. Is it already time to go?"

I rolled my eyes, "No, just heard you playing some video games and wanted to see if I could come join." I shrugged.

"Well, come on in you sexy thing! I'd love to kick your ass in some friendly combat," he said, letting me in.

"Yeah right, you're going to kick my ass," I scoffed. "Oh, and don't call me ducksack, like ever again. Or anything that has to do with a nutsack for that matter, okay free willy?" I said, looking down and referring to the fact that he was only wearing those damn boxer briefs again.

"Okay, okay, fine. I'll put on a shirt."

"And pants. We have to leave in an hour." I reminded him.

"Will do!" he called back as he walked into his room. I shook my head and walked over to the couch. There were junk food wrappers everywhere as well as dirty paper plates with utensils. This boy needs to clean up after himself and I've told him that before when I've been here, but it goes in one ear and out the other.

"Sorry, wasn't expecting company," he said, picking up what looked to be a pair of boxers from the arm of the couch I had just sat on.

"You're a pig." I laughed.

"You just caught me on a bad day. If I knew you were coming I would have cleaned up a bit, I swear." he defended.

"Yeah, right you would have." I rolled my eyes, picking up a controller, knowing full-well that that probably would not be the case. "Now, what are we playing?"

"Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. Wanna do team deathmatch?"

"You're on," I said, putting my foot on the coffee table and leaning back into the couch. I knew he wouldn't mind if I made myself comfortable. He always told me to make myself right at home, besides, he does the same thing at my apartment anyway. I always have to kick his dirty feet off of my coffee table.

He went to the main menu and put on team deathmatch, then pointed the controller at me. "And don't try to shoot me this time, we're on the same team, remember that." he reminded, hinting about the last time we played together. I totally shot him. Multiple times.

"I just get excited. I see someone, I kill them." I said, shrugging. "Which is why I leave ACU and special forces to you. Otherwise, everyone on my team would be dead."

"Yeah, and thank you for that. You stick to poking the dinos, I'll stick to electrocuting them."

"Why does everyone always assume I poke dinosaurs? I help them!" I said, sighing. Lachlan just laughed as the game started.

x x x

We met Owen at the boat at 5 pm, which left at 5:15, so we got to the mainland at 6:15 and met Lucy and her family at El Hicaco, a restaurant in Jaco, which is right where the boat comes in. It sounded really upscale and it's right on the water, so of course, I had to look it up. I needed to make sure all of us dressed appropriately and I did not let Owen out in board shorts, even though he asked.

Reservations for here are taken months ahead of time and it's $15 (or 8994 in Costa Rican colon) for a margarita and I couldn't bring myself to even look at the price of the entrees. Normally, I'd skip out on something like this. I mean I'd barely be able to afford an appetizer at a place like this, but Lucy's stepdad insisted on treating all of us for her birthday and Lucy practically begged us to come. She said she only wanted to invite her closest friends, so it was just me, Lachlan and Owen.

Her stepdad, Tomas, is super friendly and welcoming. The first thing he did when we got there was give us each a big hug, ordered the most expensive wine on the menu for all of us then he asked each of us why we started working on the island and what we were doing. Lucy seemed a little nervous and I figured that's just because this lavish stuff isn't for her. She especially seemed nervous when he was talking to Lachlan, who of course, talked everyone's ears off with stories and what not.

At one point, I noticed Owen sneaking a glance at his phone and I raised my brows. He never checks his phone when we were out, unless if it was important. He answered a text and then looked back up and nodded his head to act like he was paying attention the whole time. I smiled a little, taking amusement in the way he attempted to play that off. I glanced down in his lap when I saw the screen light up again, I could barely read what the text had said, but I'm pretty sure it said it was from Claire. I blinked and tilted my head again, leaning forward slightly to get a better read on it, maybe it said it was from someone else and she was just on my mind so I was seeing things.

Nope, definitely says Claire.

Owen looked down in his lap and grabbed it quickly and I moved back so he wouldn't be able to tell I was looking. I accidentally knocked my napkin on the floor in the process. I sighed and leaned over to pick it up, thankful that it wasn't a utensil or something else that would make a loud noise.

I caught a glimpse of something and had to do a double take to make sure I was actually seeing what I thought I was seeing. Lachlan's hand was on Lucy's thigh and she grabbed his hand, entwining their fingers. My eyes widened as I sat up, knocking my head into Owen's shoulder as I sat up.

"You okay?" he asked quietly, not wanting to interrupt their conversation.

"Me? Are you okay?" I asked him.

He gave me a confused look, "Yeah, I'm fine…" he said, rubbing my back lightly before looking away and taking a sip of the wine I knew he hated and he was just drinking it because Tomas bought it for us.

I could read him easily. So that's how I knew he was nervous about something and that something was up with him. His finger was tapping against the bottom of the glass, his palm that was resting on my shoulder was getting sweaty, so he shook it out and grabbed his napkin. His phone went off again and he reached for it.

"Barry?" I whispered. Owen looked up at me, giving me a confused look. "Is that Barry texting you?" I asked again, glancing down at his phone.

"Just somethin' about work," he said, letting out a sigh before sticking his phone in his pocket. I bit my lip and nodded my head. He didn't say it was Barry, he just said it was about work. He also didn't mention Claire either. I didn't want to mention that I saw her name on his phone because we were out to eat with other people and didn't want to draw attention. Why the fuck are they be talking about work after work hours? And why was he trying to hide it from me?

I was not happy about this one bit.

x x x

While we were in the middle of our entrees, Lucy got a phone call and excused herself, then Lachlan excused himself to the bathroom shortly after. I was suspicious about what was going on with them and thinking about that distracted me from Owen and Claire talking before, so I was hyper-focused on them. Tomas and Lucy's mom, Jazmin, were talking to Owen and me about when they invested in the park, then Tomas went on to ask Owen about his job training the raptors.

I used that as my way out, excusing myself to the bathroom, not caring that Owen squeezed my hand a little bit tighter before I left. Lucy and Lachlan have been gone for too long and after what I just saw under the table, I don't think it for the reasons they said.

I found my way to the bathroom and wasn't surprised when I rounded the corner and saw both of them kissing with Lachlan's back against the wall and Lucy's arms wrapped around his neck.

"Damn, it took you two long enough," I said, causing Lucy to pull back and give an awkward smile as if she weren't just playing tonsil hockey with the star player.

"I know right," Lachlan laughed. "I had no idea Lucy felt the same way and now I'm getting laid like 3 times a week when she's on the island and even more if I come to visit."

"Lachlan!" Lucy smacked his arm.

"What?" Lachlan said, rubbing it, genuinely acting surprised.

"You're such a pig," she said, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest.

"A pig that you can't resist, right?" Lachlan smirked.

Lucy looked at him and sighed, "Oh shut up you jerk."

"Love you too, babycakes," he said, kissing her cheek before walking by me, ruffling my hair before making an exit. I just laughed, smoothing my hair down as I looked at Lucy.

"'Love you too'? Seriously, what the hell have I missed…"

"A lot, and he doesn't really mean it. He's said that in the past before we started dating." she shrugged. She was right, he says that to me too, but I wasn't so sure his was so platonic when it came to her.

I shrugged and shook my head, "I don't know… I think he might actually love you. You've been friends for what? A year? More than that?" I asked. Lucy shrugged and shook her head. "Well, how long have you two been dating?"

"Officially?"

I raised my brows, "How long was it "unofficial"?" I asked.

"Well, we slept together a few months ago. I mean, we kissed before that, but we were drunk and he said he didn't want to go any further because he didn't want our first time to be when we're drunk…" she explained. That was so sweet. Of course, Lachlan cares about her if he waited, normally he doesn't give a shit. "Anyway, I got super nervous after that and tried to avoid him but he was relentless. He told me he wanted me to be his girl and that no one else made him feel the way I do. It was sappy and really totally unlike him. I just fell for him. We've officially been dating 2 months."

"That's so cute!" I exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I just wanted to keep it to ourselves. Lachlan agreed too. I'm surprised he hasn't slipped up yet either." she laughed.

"Me too. Although I've noticed him being awfully chipper as of late. More so than usual." I said. Lucy smiled and looked down. "Well, I'm really happy for you two," I said, rubbing her arm comfortingly.

"Thanks." she smiled at me.

"Sorry for being a cockblock. I can get him if you want to continue…" I asked, being completely serious. I would have gone back to the table and gotten him and let them continue their little love fest.

Lucy laughed, "No, it's fine. Don't worry about it. It's probably for the better, we probably would have gotten carried away like in the past." she explained.

I raised my brows, "Huh, well, that's a story I wanna hear!" I smirked.

"Yeah, I'm keeping that one to myself, thanks." she laughed, walking with me towards the dining area.

I laughed, linking my arm with hers. "Wouldn't expect anything less." I smiled. At least one relationship is blossoming before my eyes, while mine is seeming to crumble.

x x x

The rest of the night I tried not to focus on the Claire and Owen thing, especially because Lachlan was there. Boy, was it hard to keep myself from going off on Owen when we got onto the boat. Heck, I almost threw him overboard when we were walking out on the deck.

I knew I was being slightly irrational. I didn't have all the facts… but I knew it was Claire he was texting. He also didn't lie and say it was Barry, so that was good. If only I could read the damn texts… but I wouldn't do that to him. I trust him. Then why am I having this fucking debate? Because I'm human and he's being a dickhead. He's obviously hiding something and he's terrible at it.

Lachlan and I parted ways with Owen at the dock and he went on his bike back to his bungalow while Lachlan and I caught the shuttle. It took everything in me to smile back at Owen and kiss him goodnight when we said our goodbyes. I wanted to knee him in the balls, or clock him in the side of his head… Okay, maybe this was the wine talking. Wine makes me aggressive and sleepy. I like my tequila buzz much better than my wine buzz, that's for sure.

"Alright, what's wrong with you?" Lachlan asked as we stopped at my apartment. He stood in between me and the door and I raised my brows at him.

"What's wrong with me? Get out of my way!"

"You've been quiet ever since we left the restaurant," I never thought Lachlan would be the one to pick up on this over Owen, who didn't even say a thing. Of course, I was being quiet and distant, I was all up in my head, thinking of ways to kill Owen without it being traced back to me… no, ugh, that's the wine talking. "Is this about Lucy and me? Listen, I told Lucy you had a crush on me but she said I was crazy, but it seems like-"

"No, you're definitely crazy," I said, taking my key out of my purse. "Now move."

"Not until you tell me what's up," Lachlan said, raising his eyebrows at me.

I sighed, "I think Owen's cheating on me…"

"What? With who?"

"Claire…" I looked down at my feet as Lachlan burst into laughter. I dropped my jaw and raised my brows. "Why are you laughing, you jerk? I'm being serious!" I said, hitting his arm.

"Because everyone knows they can't stand each other. All they do is bicker and fight. They can't be in the same room with each other without being at each other's throats."

"Yeah, well, turns out that's not true." I sighed.

"Did you see them together?" He asked, this time more seriously.

"Yes, on multiple occasions," I said.

"That fucker. Let me go get my gun…" he said, taking a step forward, but I grabbed his arm.

"Not in that way! And you have a gun?!" I asked in disbelief. I didn't know they let people have guns on the island apart from law enforcement.

"Yeah, in my locker. They won't let me keep one on me." He shrugged.

"And there's a good reason for that!" I said.

"Why?" he asked seriously.

"Because you just threatened to shoot my boyfriend!"

"You're the one that said you say them together!" He defended.

"I didn't mean I saw them together in that way, Lachlan. I've just seen them together and they aren't usually bickering, they're smiling and laughing. A little too friendly if you ask me." I said, rolling my eyes. I was annoyed at the thought of it.

"So, they don't hate each other anymore. That's a good thing. You don't want to be on Claire's bad side." He said.

I groaned, "What? That's not the point Lachlan." I was getting nowhere with him.

"Then what is the point?" He asked, completely serious.

I sighed, "You know what, forget it, I'm calling Lucy." I said, shaking my head as I opened the door.

"Just make it quick because Wednesday nights after 11 are our sext nights," he smirked.

"Of course they are." I rolled my eyes and walked inside.

"Night carebear!" He called.

"Night ballsack," I said, shutting the door and shaking my head. I sighed as I looked at my phone, seeing a text from Owen.

I didn't want to say it in front of Lachlan, but that dress you wore was incredible. You should wear dresses like that more often, hell, I'll take you out to one of those expensive ass places if it means I get to see you in a dress like that. Wish I could help take it off you right now ;)

How could I be mad at him when he says stuff like that? At this rate, Wednesday nights after 11 will be our sext nights.

I groaned, throwing my head back dramatically. I need a shot of tequila, stat.