67: 𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬

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„God, I felt so stupid" Alice giggled and covered her face with her hands.

Standing less than an arm's length apart from each other, she and Jacob stood by the railing of the balcony that offered a direct view down to the large outdoor area of the Island Club. But the many people walking around down there in their pretty dresses and suits hardly got any attention from the two of them.

„Guess how I felt after you didn't come back" He laughed with her, recalling the night of Kelce's party. „I thought I did something wrong"

„Oh no, you didn't" She shock her head, but her laughter faded as she thought. „but well, Rafe and I...we had something at the time that made me feel like it wasn't right to dance with you"

Alice remembered very well how they had danced that night. It was one of the strongest memories she had of Jacob.

How his big hands had roamed over her body without touching her where she didn't want them to. How his body had pressed against her back without making her feel pressured. He had been gentle with her and a good dancer at the same time, maybe that had put him in a good light.

„It's okay, I understood when Rafe talked to me after you left" He said, causing her brows to furrow in confusion.

„What do you mean he talked to you?"

„He warned me" He chuckled a little. „told me not to think of approaching you again"

It was the very first time she heard about that.

All she remembered from that night was walking home alone after leaving Jacob to get a drink - which she didn't do - and then getting a call from a drunk Rafe looking for comfort later that night.

„You look surprised" Jacob noticed.

„I mean, yeah..." Alice shrugged and let her eyes drift down to the garden for a split second, where she spotted the crowded bar that Jada and Sofia were standing at with Ian and Kelce at their sides. „...Rafe never told me about it"

„Well, he's not exactly the most honest person, is he?"

As quickly as the words had reached her ears, Alice looked back at Jacob. His words carried a tone that hit her on the wrong nerve and not only because of their meaning.

What?" She tilted her head to the side.

„Come on, you can't tell me you don't know he's a liar"

„I don't see what makes you think he is"

„Everyone knows he is." Jacob said, almost as if he was speaking nothing but facts.

Slightly provoked by him, she crossed her arms over her chest. „I don't give a shit about what other people think they know"

„Yeah, I figured. You wouldn't be with him if you did"

Alice was still angry with Rafe. As angry as she had ever been with him. But whatever he was hiding was probably bad enough if he couldn't just tell her and yet it wasn't enough for her to just listen to others talk badly about him.

After all it was her Rafe. Even with all his...flaws.

„Big talk for someone who doesn't even really know him" She scoffed as the good light she saw Jacob in slowly faded.

He ran his fingertips along the wooden railing, as if to distract her from the fact that he was moving a little closer to her. „if you really see him as a good person, then you're probably the one who doesn't know him, Alice."

„Sorry to break it to you, but he must be doing something damn right if he's the one I'd rather spend my time with than someone like you" She shot back, not just slightly annoyed anymore.

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