Picture Perfect Love

by Jerry Cole

  We left the back door open but locked the front on the way out. We took my car, and I headed to our beach. “I hope being here helps. She looks so stressed.”

  “It’s been tough. She’ll be okay. They need some sleep, and we’ll have some fun.” I smiled and turned to park at the beach. We walked down to the water with our boards in hand, and I swam through the water.

  I was one step closer to having Ben here permanently. I didn’t know where Jamie was at with that, but she might not have anything in California now. She wouldn’t start her own bakery here but some places would hire her where she could gain experience. There was a variety of restaurants on the islands, not to mention cafes. The tourists ate that shit up.

  We surfed for a couple of hours and grabbed some breakfast on the way home. When we walked into the house, Jamie and Ben were drinking coffee at the table and glanced up. “We have breakfast.”

  “Good. I’m starving.” Jamie smiled and stood to get the bag from us and kiss Leo. “How was the water?”

  “Amazing as always.” I walked over to Ben, sitting down to eat with him. We talked about what to do that night after work, and I changed into some clean clothes for the shop. Jamie and Ben assured us they were just going to relax and sleep.

  “Want to take my car?” I asked Leo, and he nodded.

  “We’re coming back here. Why not?” I kissed Ben while he hugged Jamie, and we were off to work.

  “Did you talk to her last night?” I asked on the way.

  “Barely. She is exhausted. I think we’ll have time for that since they might be here a while.”

  “You care for her a lot.” I smiled as he nodded, seeing it from the corner of my eye.

  “I do.” We unlocked the store with lighter shoulders today and enjoyed the steady flow of customers. It was weird sharing this with Leo since he’d never been serious like this about someone. It was stranger because Jamie was my boyfriend’s best friend. It might be perfect.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Ben

  I got back into working while we were in Belize. Jamie helped me edit, and I trained her on it, smiling as she took to it. My best friend was smart, but her heart was with baking. She helped at the store after visiting as well and loved my photo wall.

  I watched her bounce back little by little over the next two weeks. In addition to her working with them and me, we got her to the beach a lot. Leo got her on a surfboard in the morning, and I let Ryan show me. It was fun to spend time together and go out to eat when we weren’t cooking at the house.

  She spoke to Kyle a lot, and he was there for a while. His family needed more help than he initially thought and told her to enjoy her time here. There was no reason for her to be back in California at this time, and he knew how much she loved Belize. He was talking to the insurance company and they were going to send a generous check for the destroyed business that he was going to split with Jamie. It was in a key location and they would be quickly rebuilding once everyone had worked things out with their companies.

  We sat on the deck with coffee two weeks into the trip when she knew what she’d be walking away with. It was going to set her up for the future no matter what she chose. “What do you think you’ll do?” I asked as she looked over the water.

  “I don’t know. I think Kyle might stay home. The health issues are worsening, and he realized how much he misses everyone.” She sighed. “I’ll miss him. We’ve been friends for a long time and worked so well together. That bakery was everything to us.” Jamie reached for my hand. “How do things change so quickly?”

  “I don’t know. It’s life. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, Jamie. You’ll have enough to make a new start.” I looked at her. “You’re a good assistant to me and great at the store. There’s a lot of possibility for you.”

  “I’ve been thinking about that. We have some friends in California that we love. I would miss them so much, but I’m happy here. I just feel content.” She smiled and looked around. “This house is incredible, Ben. You bought it after you met Ryan and you want to make a life here. You can make a life here.”

  “Jamie, we can make a life here. I got this house for everyone, in a way. You can live here and do whatever the hell you want.” I stared at her as she gave me a shy look.

  “Am I crazy for wanting to be here with you and with Leo? It’s so new and might fall apart in a month or less.” I shrugged.

  “That could happen to Ryan and me. We bought a house together, and it could happen. I just need to trust that everything will be fine and live in the moment. I love him.” I smiled at her. “All you can do is give it a go.”

  “Yeah. Oh, God. This is so weird and surreal.” She ran a hand through her faded hair and closed her eyes. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “We don’t need to decide. Let’s just enjoy this. I’m working and have money, and so do the guys. You can take your time to decide.” I knew we were getting closer to her, making a decision, and one that she was taking seriously. She had friends in Venice Beach that would open something with her but it wouldn’t be the same as before. She and Kyle ran everything perfectly together and worked well. It was a fair partnership and she knew that it wouldn’t be easy to replace.

  The guys got home after work, and we all decided to grill on the deck. There was shrimp and chicken in the fridge that Leo seasoned and prepped as Ryan decided what to fix with it. They asked about the latest information from Kyle, and she told them that she was getting money. Leo asked her to join him outside with her wine and she followed him, standing close to him as he set the plate of meat on the table. Leo took her hand and drew her close to him, resting his forehead against hers.

  “He’s going to ask her to stay here,” Ryan whispered as he watched them. “He’s never been serious like this. Holy shit.”

  I glanced over to see him kiss her, sliding his hand into her hair. “I told her that we’d take care of her until she decided what to do. There’s no pressure.”

  “Not at all. We all want her happy.” They pulled away so he could start cooking, but Jamie stayed there to watch the sunset on the horizon. Ryan began steaming the broccoli as the meat cooked and baked some potatoes in the microwave.

  “Could we all live here together?” I asked, and Leo seemed to consider that.

  “I think so. We’d need our space, but that isn’t hard. Date night.” Ryan smiled brightly. “It’s a big house.”

  Once the food was ready, we all sat at the table to eat. Jamie was planning to get her hair colored the following day and take a look around at some of the cafes, and Ryan smiled at me. The vibe on the island was relaxed, and she could easily have a good job and keep her appearance. I offered to go with her and take a few hours from working and she smiled at me.

  “Thank you.” Leo stared at her for a long moment. “I need to see what my options are before I decide anything, right?”

  “Absolutely,” Ryan said as he held up his beer. “A toast to the future.” She grinned as she lifted her bottle, and we clinked them together. We stayed up for a while, talking about places she should go. I saw how she felt with the idea of finding something here and a future.

  “Let’s get some sleep. Early morning.” Leo smiled at her as he grabbed the plates.

  “Leave those in the kitchen. I’ll wash them tomorrow,” I offered, and he nodded. The couple walked into the house, and Jamie smiled as she slid the screen closed. They took everything to the kitchen and he led her by the hand up the stairs. We already put the leftover food away on one of the trips inside and I stretched. “Tired?”

  “I get up early every day, so yes. We’re supposed to interview a couple of local guys to get some help. With you here, I don’t want to live at work.” I leaned in to kiss Ryan, and he closed his eyes.

  “Everything is falling into place.” Our lips crashed together, and we soon made our way inside, locking the door behind us. I followed Ryan to our room that was lit by the moon in the sky, smiling as he lifted his shirt
over his head. We got ready for bed and made love slowly, feeling hopeful for the future. I told Ryan I’d go to the beach with him in the morning as we cuddled together under the sheet.

  I went to the beach for my run in the morning and went back to the house once the guys left for work. I made coffee and got some work done until Jamie came downstairs. She enjoyed some coffee, and I made a light breakfast before she got ready to go. I showered after I got back with Ryan. Her appointment was at a salon a couple of blocks away that had great reviews. When we walked in, I grinned at the beachy yet classy decor, and she laughed as she walked to the counter. She told them her name and was whisked away to another part of the building, reaching out her hand for me to join her.

  I took a seat behind Jamie’s station and accepted a cup of coffee from one of the girls. She and Jamie chatted for a bit, and Jamie decided on pink this time. It had been purple for a few months, and she needed a change. They talked about what Jamie did for a living and the stylist grinned when she found out.

  “My best friend owns one of the restaurants here, and it is at one of the biggest resorts there is. They have a baking crew for the famous desserts and need someone. I can call her for you.” Jamie’s eyes widened, and she looked at me through the mirror.

  “That would be great.” She gave me the name when asked and I looked up the resort on my phone. It was large and offered every amenity there was, including a five-star restaurant. There was even a separate cafe that Jamie would be baking for in addition to the restaurant. It was an excellent opportunity for her, and I smiled at her.

  Her hair was trimmed but kept to a shoulder-length, layered into soft waves. The pink started light at the roots and deepened to a dark shade at the ends. It looked gorgeous, and I offered to pay when she finished. Jamie laughed and insisted on handling it herself. She gave Moira her information to pass along to her friends before we left.

  “Lunch and drinks. We need to celebrate,” I told her as soon as the door closed.

  “I don’t have a job yet. I don’t think there’s cause for that. What if she was just nice to me?” Jamie turned right and headed to the shops.

  “She didn’t have to do all of that. I know the difference between a friendly salon and an interest in helping someone.” I raised a brow at her as she walked to a bead store.

  “Dinner then. You won’t argue with Leo.” Jamie rolled her eyes. By the time the guys got home, Jamie had received a call from Jasmine, who owned the restaurant. She asked Jamie to meet her for an interview the following day and agreed to a time the next morning. I already showed her the resort on my phone, and she loved it on first sight.

  Ryan and Leo were happy for her when she returned home from work. They did insist on dinner and drinks, and she accepted. Leo touched her hair before kissing her, pulling her close. I squeezed Ryan’s hand, and we grinned at each other, knowing this was one step closer to always being together. When asked, Jamie picked The Reef for dinner and we knew she was happy about tomorrow. Lani made the big deal about the event that was called for and the meal turned into a small party. Jamie kept herself in check as far as drinking but she was laughing and having fun.

  I enjoyed seeing her happy and optimistic for a change. This was something that could allow her to make this change and earn money. It didn’t have to be permanent, but it could be for now.

  We headed home at a reasonable time, and Jamie and Leo went to bed. We spent some time out back talking about the day's events, and I expressed how happy it was making me to see these changes. I was slightly concerned that she and Leo could end badly if she was here permanently but I couldn’t overthink that. We went to bed a few hours after arriving home and Ryan told me that he was going to skip surfing for me in the morning. I kissed him at that news and he pushed me to my back, deepening it.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Ryan

  It was no surprise to me that Jamie got the job on the spot the following day. She had the sense to put together a portfolio, and the reviews on the destroyed bakery were stellar. She came back from her interview in tears, and I knew that Ben was there for her.

  From there, we started making plans.

  Ben was already working from our beach home and scheduling bookings as he would from his apartment. That wasn’t much of a change. Jamie would be uprooting to live here and not just be on vacation. It became clear that her partner wasn’t planning to return to California quickly, and that made her decision easier. Jamie owned a business and didn’t want to stay in Venice Beach, working the counter of a bakery. She loved Belize and knew that Ben loved being here. Jamie had a budding romance with my best friend and though she wouldn’t bank everything on that, it was the same incentive.

  I knew that Jamie was a strong girl. Ben told me all about her before we met, and I saw that in person. She was on her own at an early age, with only Ben to depend on. She wouldn’t base her future on any one guy but it was apparent that she cared for Leo. He was falling for her and that might be the most dangerous part.

  The pair decided to stay in Belize. They had the apartment, but Ben owned it and they didn’t have monthly rent to pay. Down the line, they could go back to get things that they needed but Ben was fine selling it with the furniture. He admitted that buying it was just stability for them as his career flourished. He didn’t have an attachment to the home or the furniture he bought to fill it. Jamie just used it when she was living there but never cared about what he bought.

  They did make plans to bring the cats to Belize within the next couple of weeks since they adored them. I had pets growing up and enjoyed the idea. Leo would put up with an elephant to live with Jamie.

  Jamie started her job the following week and ended up loving it. Ben felt comfortable enough to focus on his career and keep an eye on her at the same time, leaving much of that to Leo. He was an attentive boyfriend and took good care of Jamie as she built a life in Belize. My family visited as soon as they could, thrilled that we were all here together.

  Six months into her stay, Leo took Jamie to see his parents. His dad was still recovering and unable to travel, but she encouraged him to visit. She was doing well at the bakery and already promoted to the lead in the kitchen. They were well-staffed and urged their employees to spend time with their family and live a good life. There was just something different about Belize.

  I knew that Leo was serious about Jamie. He stopped seeing other women as soon as they met, and once she lived here, spent every moment away from the shop that he could with her. He lived in the beach house with all of us, and it was big enough to have our own space. Being close, we spent a lot of time together but also some apart to focus on our relationships. We gave up the apartments to make the beach house our permanent home as well as a place for the family to stay when they could take some time off.

  As for Ben and me, we were happy. We loved one another and were building a solid foundation on our island. He didn’t have an issue selling Belize to a lot of clients for their shoots, giving him more time home. His business was good and the shots he was selling through the store took off. The fact that he was a local artist impressed a lot of people in the already popular art crowd. That and his talent that I reminded him of daily.

  It was the following Thanksgiving that I took things to the next level. We had an agreement with my mom that we’d spend that holiday on the island and Christmas in New York. Mom couldn’t wait to cook dinner in our house, and it felt like more of a family than ever before. They came a week before the holiday, and we spent a fun, few days together. There were dinners out and time spent on the beach.

  I asked Ben to take a walk on the beach behind the house after a dinner of pizza and beer the night before Thanksgiving. He agreed, and we headed down the path hand in hand to watch the sunset. “I fucking live here. I can’t believe it. We’re celebrating Thanksgiving in Belize in our house with family.” He looked at me as we paused on the sand. His eyes filled with joy and love, and I swallowed the lump in my throat.
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  “It’s everything I wanted without knowing what I wanted. I always had my family, but never love.” I took a deep breath. “I want you to be my love forever, Ben. I want to live here and grow together. I never want to be without you. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”

  “It’s all I have ever wanted, Ryan. You make me so happy, and everything that we have together makes my life complete. I love you, and I would be honored to become your husband.” He cupped my face in his hands and stared into my eyes before kissing me.

  There were cheers to our left, and he pulled away just enough to see our family smiling as us. “Of course, you had an audience.”

  “Someone had to get it recorded for me,” I said as Ben shook his head and kissed me again.

  I wanted this man forever. I wanted to marry him on the beach. I wanted to build our businesses and our life together.

  We kissed for a while and embraced on the beach in the fading sunlight before going into the house to celebrate with everybody. There were tears of happiness and champagne that I hid in the back of the fridge, and everything about the holiday seemed better.