Chapter 12
Mia
“It takes both sunshine and rain to nourish my soil.”
-The Forest –
N ervously, I head toward my room. I pause at the door, half expecting to see a bear. The room is just as I left it, thankfully bear-free. Inside, my thoughts swirl, a tangled mess of fear from the night’s events and the unexpected, intense moments with Jake.
I lean against the wall, my mind replaying every look and every touch. My body burns at the memories. He is clearly not the relationship type, and I’m not into casual flings. But there’s something about him, a connection that’s hard to ignore. I let my head hit softly against the wall and groan. Damn him. Every time I think I’ve got him figured out, he throws me off balance.
Sinking onto the bed, I gaze at the ceiling, my stomach still doing somersaults as I think of him. The mixed signals, the laughter, the shared vulnerability; it’s all too much. I let out a long, conflicted sigh, my emotions a chaotic storm. How am I supposed to deal with this? The last thing I need is to fall for a guy like Jake, but pushing him away seems equally impossible.
My phone rings, and I jump.
“Hey girl, how’s it going?” I smile as I answer, knowing Rylee has a sixth sense for detecting even the slightest change in my tone the moment I say hello.
“My boss is such an ass,” she says without missing a beat.
“What did he do?” I ask, playing with my curls.
“He’s piling on all this extra work on me, and he’s been super grumpy,” she complains.
“Hot and grumpy?” I tease, hoping to lighten the mood.
“Oh, absolutely. Sexy as hell, and he totally knows it. He’s also smart, which just adds to it.” I can almost see her rolling her eyes. “This is one of the best fashion companies in New York, and I’ve worked my ass off for this internship. I won’t allow someone with a small dick to ruin that for me,” she says and we both laugh.
“He’s messing with the wrong girl,” I tell her confidently. “Do you want me to come down there and kick his ass?”
She laughs at that. “Girl, you can’t throw a punch to save your life. You’re like a chihuahua, all bark and no bite.” And we both laugh harder because she’s right.
A comfortable silence falls between us, the kind we always share. She’s probably applying her eyelashes.
“So, any update on your Mr. Hot and asshole?” She breaks the silence.
I was hoping we wouldn’t talk about me. “He’s not mine, and not much. Still hate him.” But my voice comes a little too high pitched, betraying me.
“Myara Cherie, are you lying to me?” Damn it. “Spill the beans,” she demands. I roll my eyes and sigh before I tell her everything.
“OMG, you want to fuck him, don’t you?” she blurts out the second I’m done filling her in.
I lay back on the bed and exhale deeply, my cheeks heating up like a teenager’s. “No, I don’t want to fuck him.” I don’t know how she came to that conclusion from what I said.
“Ahem.” Someone clears their throat. My soul literally leaves my body as I turn to find Jake standing at my door, eating an apple, looking annoyingly sexy.
Damn it, Rylee.
“You’re a terrible liar,” Rylee says over the phone speaker, oblivious to what’s happening.
“Shit. I gotta go.” I quickly hang up before she says anything else.
I get off the bed and stand up, facing him. “How long have you been standing there?” My words come out flustered. How much of that conversation did he hear?
He takes a bite of his apple, chewing slowly. His eyes lock on mine. Why is it hot in here?
“Not long.” But the smirk on his face tells me he’s lying. He probably heard everything.
I need an alien to abduct me right now. Please, I’m begging.
Obviously, no aliens. Plan B. “I need a shower,” I blurt out, desperate for an excuse to escape the tension that’s building between us.
I make my way toward the bathroom, but his long legs catch up to me, closing the distance in a heartbeat, pinning me against the bathroom door. The cool wood seeps through my thin shirt, chilling me despite the heat coming from his body.
“Why does your friend think you want to fuck me?” His mouth twists into a mysterious smile.
I gasp, his words and his closeness make my throat parched, like a desert desperately needing rain. Every swallow feels like sandpaper.
I knew he heard it.
Where are those aliens? Now will be a good time.
“Who says I was talking about you?” I try to keep my composure under his intense gaze but fail miserably.
“So, you were not talking about me?” He tilts his head to the side, still with that smirk on his face.
“No, I was talking about my boyfriend.” I bite down on my lip to keep them from trembling. His eyes drop to my lips as his pupils dilate before he gently frees them with his thumb. His finger lingers there.
I close my eyes as his finger moves against my lips. Shivers trail through my body, starting at the nape of my neck and trickling down like tiny raindrops. The sensation deepens into a gentle surge that gathers and intensifies in the pit of my stomach.
He leans closer, his other arm over my head. A hurricane brewing in his eyes. For a second, I want to be caught up in it, to be consumed by the tension between us.
“Fuck,” he groans, hitting above my head with his fist before stepping back, shoving his hands into his pocket. I immediately miss the warmth of his proximity. “I came to say they’re here to fix your window. Let me know when they can come up.”
I nod, my words caught in my throat.
I watch as he walks away, closing the door behind him. I bang my head against the bathroom door. What just happened and why didn’t he kiss me? Did I want him to kiss me? Of course not.
I step into the bathroom, ignoring the frustration and maybe something else he so easily evoked in me. After I take a quick shower, I change into high waisted shorts and a crop top that says buy me books and tell me I’m pretty before heading downstairs.
Alex is chatting away with the two guys that’s here to fix my broken window from when the tree fell last night.
Alex is wearing a black polo with short sleeves that reveal his tattoo, adding an edge to his clean-cut appearance. His hair is just as tousled as Jake's, but it has a rich black shade. His gray eyes complement his olive skin complexion beautifully.
His eyes meet mine and he smiles, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “Hey, Mia.”
“Hey, Alex,” I smile back at him.
“I want to apologize for the last time,” his eyes flick to Jake before turning to mine, “showing up like that… We didn’t know you rented the cabin. You should have kicked us out.” He chuckles lightly, but he sounds sincere. “Hell, you should’ve kicked this asshole out, too.” He points his thumb towards Jake. “You rented this place, so it should have stayed yours. You didn’t have to share it with him, and we didn’t have to invade your privacy.”
“Thanks, and trust me, I tried, but Jake doesn’t take no for an answer.” I glance at Jake, who’s leaning against the counter, watching us. His eyes narrow, and he shoves his hand into his pocket, looking amused but also tense. His stare sends ripples through my chest like pebbles tossed into a tranquil lake. Disturbing my emotions, drawing me in against my better judgment.
Why is he wearing gray sweatpants? I turn my attention back to Alex before I look down at something I shouldn't.
“Do you want me to kick him out for you?”
I glance at Jake again, whose eyes are challenging me to say yes. “It’s okay, he can stay. I might need him next time there’s a storm or a bear breaks in again.”
My words are light, but inside, the thought of not having him around suddenly is less appealing than I would have expected.
“I don’t want to be alone,” I add. I don’t want him to leave, even though admitting that to myself is unsettling. I turn my attention to the other two guys. “How long is it going to take?”
“Give us an hour or two.” One of them let me know.
“Okay, I’ll make us lunch, then.” I tie my hair up into a ponytail, and throw an apron around my waist. I open the fridge to grab the chicken I bought last time.
The open concept of the place means I can still see Jake and Alex in the living room. Sometimes, I catch him stealing glances at me.
“Hey, Mia,” Alex calls out. “Do you mind if Sarah and I hang out here again this weekend?” He really doesn’t need my permission, but it’s nice that he thought to ask.
“Of course, no problem at all.” I smile at him. I like Sarah. She’s the kind of person who fills the room with conversation, making everyone feel included. I look forward to spending more time with them.
I watch Jake as he steps away to take a call. His brows are furrowed, and the hand not holding the phone is raking through his hair.
When he ends the call, he pauses, taking a moment to collect himself before taking a few attempted steps towards me, his shoulders slumping.
“You okay?” My eyes search for him.
“I’m fine,” he says too quickly.
I arch an eyebrow, calling his bluff. His green eyes meet mine, darker than usual. “I was just talking to my mom,” he says, forcing a smile, but I can see the pain and anger in his eyes.
I reach out and squeeze his hand, a sharp ache piercing my heart. He glances at our hands, and his eyes soften as he looks up at me. They linger there for a few seconds. “Do you need help with anything?” He changes the subject.
“I’m done, but you can bring the salad to the table.”
I carry the chicken to the table where Jake already set the salad. The timing couldn’t be more perfect as the guys descend the stairs. “All done. We’ve installed your new window.”
“Great, thank you. Right on time for lunch.” I clap my hands together. I love cooking for other people.
Everyone takes a seat, serving themselves the chicken tenders with salad.
“This is so good, Mia,” Alex says, his mouth full.
One of the guys, I think his name is Lucas, turns to me with a grin. “Please tell me you’re single. I’d marry you right now for this cooking.”
Everyone bursts out laughing, except Jake. His jaw clenches, the muscles in his arm tensing as he forcefully stabs at his salad like they personally offended him.
Poor vegetables.
“She got a boyfriend.” Jake’s tone is sharp, slicing through the laughter. His eyes lock with mine, dark and stormy, like the idea bothers him.
Once everyone finishes eating, Jake steps in to help me with the dishes. His silence is palpable, creating an invisible barrier that wasn’t there before. I steal glances at him while we work side by side, wondering if his quiet mood is because of the tense phone call he had earlier, or Lucas’ playful marriage proposal.
I finish wiping down the counters and head toward the stairs to catch up on some writing. “Hey, Mia?” Jake stops me, and I turn to face him.
He’s leaning against the counter, his fingers tapping lightly. “Want to join me for a run later?”
I pause, his eyes linger on mine. “Sure, sounds good. Let me know when you’re heading out.” His eyes gentle and warm, the corners crinkling slightly. A genuine smile spreads across his face.
I like that smile.