That reminded me, I needed to check my messages when I got home. Marsha’s frown didn’t lessen. If anything, she seemed more skeptical.
“I’ll keep an eye on you through the window. Just hit the car alarm if you want me out there.” That seemed a bit extreme, but also sweet.
“Thanks, Marsha. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Night, hon.” She followed me out front. Rachel wasn’t at the counter anymore and Jake waited by the door. He pushed it open at my approach, and the jingle seemed to signify that my ebbing energy could just falter completely now. I really was tired.
It had gotten dark, but the sun setting didn’t do much for the temperatures. If anything, it seemed even stickier out here now than it had earlier.
I made a face because not only was it unpleasant out here, I smelled like hamburgers and fries. Jake walked with me to where he’d parked his yellow SUV right next to my car. Once there, I opened the car up and got it started to get the a/c going then looked at him.
“Did you chase Rachel off?” I kept my tone even, but I did want to know. She’d hung out all evening.
“No,” he answered with a grimace. “Wish I could say I had, but she mentioned something about needing to finish homework or something.”
I nodded slowly. I could always message her later and figure it out. “Okay.” I folded my arms. “What’s up?”
He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he juststaredat me.
“Jake?”
“I hate this,” he said abruptly. “I hate that you’re pretending we’re not friends. I hate that you’re pushing us—pushingmeaway. I hate that you’re seeing some guy I don’t know and I definitely don’t like. I hate more than anything the way you’re looking at me right now.”
Every sentence landed like a bomb released in a strafing run. I swore, I could almost hear the whistle of air displacing as they plunged downwards to crash against me.
“How am I looking at you right now?” I couldn’t really address the rest. Not yet.
“Like I’m an asshole.”
Something moved in his pale blue eyes as the light seemed to catch them. It wasn’t anger or defiance. If it had been either of those, I’d have been able to handle it.
But what I saw there took me out at the knees.
What I saw was hurt.
Shit.
Chapter
Fifteen
JAKE
The last place I thought I would be was so far on the outs with Frankie that I didn’t even know what to say to her. Talking to Frankie waseasy. She’d always been easy. Ever since Rachel filled her head with that bullshit about us…
Fuck.
I raked a hand through my hair. “You look tired,” I said finally, staring at her. She did look tired. Even her hair which she’d pulled up in a high ponytail looked like it was sagging.
“I am tired,” she said with a shrug. “It’s been a long day. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. I still have some reading to do.”
A part of me reasoned I should let her go home, let her get some sleep. The rest of me dug in my heels. I wanted to see her, I wanted to spend time with her.
“Have you had dinner?” Because we had to start somewhere dammit. If she was looking at me like I was the bad guy then I needed to fix it. That startedrightnow.
“The idea of eating a burger is…” She made a gagging face.
“I bet.” The faint sway to how she stood there kicked me squarely in the ass. She was tired, so… “How about I go grab uspizza, you go and grab a shower?” I paused a beat. “Your mom gonna flip if i come by this late?”
