Megan catches my gaze and must see the silent plea in my eyes, because she gives me a secretive smile and orders another soda when Jackie stops by to drop off our bills.
“I’m not leaving until Carter admits the Patriots are by far the superior team.”
Carter gasps in mock outrage and reaches for the dessert menu, scanning its contents.
“I need sugar to get me through this conversation,” he states, and Megan giggles, nudging his shoulder with hers. She’s completely enamored with him, and Carter has no clue. Boys can be so oblivious. When I reach for my purse, Jake lays a gentle hand on my forearm to stop me.
“I got you covered.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t,” he says simply and leaves it at that before turning to Megan. “Go easy on him. He has a hard time admitting when he’s wrong. It’s not his fault. He’s an only child and used to getting his own way.”
“Why don’t you get going?” Carter snaps at us, leaving us in stitches as we make our way out of the diner.
“Haven’t seen you around much lately,” I say as we stroll down Main Street, passing the darkened storefronts as we go. The town center is eerily quiet at this time of day. Most of the small businesses shut down a couple of hours ago, and not many people are out past sunset on a weeknight.
Jake glances at me from the corner of his eye before his voice cuts through the crisp night air.
“It’s been a hectic few weeks. Between school, work, and Mom picking up extra shifts, there really wasn’t a lot of time for other things. I’m glad I made it tonight, though. I’ve missed you.”
My eyes whip to his, and I search his gaze, trying to determine whether his statement has some deeper meaning, but, as usual, his expression is hard to read.
“I missed you, too. It’s not the same without you. It screws with our group dynamics, and I always end up feeling like the third wheel.”
Jake drapes an arm around my shoulders, and I huddle closer, soaking up his body heat. It’s a chilly evening, and I didn’t think to bring a sweater in my haste to get to the diner. I give a contented sigh, breathing in his familiar scent—a mixture of pine and cinnamon—a pleasant side effect of the Big Red gum he’s always chewing.
“Well, we can’t have that now,” Jake drawls, smiling down at me. “My favorite girl shouldn’t ever feel anything but special.” Gah, why does he always have tosay things that make me want to fist the front of his shirt and kiss him senseless? Why does he have to be so freaking perfect and sweet? It makes me want to throw caution to the wind. Grab the bull by the horns and damn the consequences. Haven’t I pined after him like some pathetic loser long enough? Standing idly by while he flirts with every other girl in his vicinity, wishing it was me?
Jake is mine, damn it, and it’s past time I grow a pair and lay claim to him before someone else beats me to it. I can’t even fathom the thought of him falling in love with someone who isn’t me. Why can’t I be as confident as the girls he hooks up with and simply go after what I want? But deep down, I know why I don’t act on my impulses. Deep down, I want to be the girl that gets swept off her feet. The romantic in me desperately wants Jake to make the first move. Why won’t he? The whole thing is just so frustrating.
“I’ll be around more soon,” he goes on, totally oblivious to my internal struggle. “I heard Mom and Dad argue about putting too much pressure on me. She said I’m a teenage boy and should be allowed to act like one. That it isn’t my responsibility to look after the children they chose to bring into this world, and my focus should be on school. As you can imagine, my dad didn’t agree. He never misses an opportunity to let everyone know what a big, fat disappointment I am. How he was so much more driven at my age,” he adds, annoyance rolling off him in waves. “Anyway, my mom can be very persuasive when she wants to be, so I’m confident she’ll get her way in the end. As soon as her colleague is back, you’ll see me so much you’ll be sick of me.”
I doubt that’s even possible, but I keep that thought to myself. Flashing him a weak smile, I say, “If you ever need help looking after Anna and Jude, I don’t mind hanging out at your house. There’s no need for you to sit at home, dealing with them on your own when we’re all willing to pitch in.”
I’d turn into a regular Mary Poppins, do his homework, and strap on a tool belt if it meant spending more time with him. Between his busy schedule, my commitment to the school newspaper club as the new Editor-in-Chief, and helping my dad restock the shelves at the store a couple of days a week, seeinghim outside of school sometimes seems impossible. But it doesn’t keep me from trying.
“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t want to be a burden. I know they’re a handful and can be super annoying.”
I pull to a stop and step around him, craning my neck back to look up at the boy who’s held my heart for as long as I can remember.
“Jake,” I breathe, waiting for him to meet my eye. “You’re not a burden. We all love Anna and Jude. They’re adorable and fun, and I’d much rather you bring them along than not see you at all. I’m sure Carter and Megan feel the same way. We’re friends, right?”
“Yeah, I guess,” he mutters, clearly uncomfortable as he toes at a piece of loose pavement.
“Friends help each other out. So, don't hesitate to reach out next time you’re on babysitting duty and want some company. Never feel like you’re a bother to us because you’re not.”
Jake gives me a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Thanks, Tessa. What the hell would I ever do without you?” he asks before pulling me up against his hard chest. I melt when he places a soft kiss on the top of my head and find myself wishing this moment would never end. It feels so good—so right—to be wrapped up in his powerful arms.
Pressing the side of my face to his chest, I close my eyes and listen to the steady beat of his heart. Simply hanging on and drawing out this moment in time so I can remember it forever. But all too soon, Jake releases me and resumes walking, breaking the spell and leaving me to stare after him. I swallow my disappointment and force my heavy feet to move, falling into step beside him.
“Anyway,” he continues, clearing his throat and looking anywhere but at me. “As I said, I don’t think it’ll be an issue for much longer. Mom said she wanted me to enjoy my summer and made it clear she would talk to Mrs. Harris to ask her if she’d be interested in looking after Jude and Anna twice a week, whichmeans I’ll be free to hang out without an entourage. I’ll still be working a few days a week during summer break, but other than that, I’m all yours.”
If only that were true.
Not for the first time tonight, I realize that I am the only thing standing in the way of making his offhand remark a reality. I have an entire summer to convince Jake that we belong together. No school, no siblings tagging along and diverting his attention, and no more rushed conversations between school and work. Plenty of time to flirt and banter and show him how much fun I can be. Hopefully, the coming weeks will serve as a turning point for us. An opportunity to finally take our friendship and catapult it to the next level.
