10. Ten
Ten
Tessa
“ T eresa, baby. Time to get up,” my mother’s shrill voice comes from the other side of my bedroom door.
I give a sound of displeasure, draw the comforter up and over my head, and nestle closer to the warm body in front of me.
Breathing in the familiar scent, I can’t stop the slow smile from taking over my face as I remember last night’s events.
The way Jake touched me with such reverence, I felt like I was the most precious thing in the world.
The way his hands trembled ever so slightly as he ran them over my skin.
The utter adoration in his eyes the moment our bodies and souls connected.
It was everything I ever dreamed of and more.
I give a sleepy chuckle when I recall a particular conversation while we basked in the aftermath.
“Are you okay?” Jake runs the tips of his fingers over my back as I rest my cheek on his smooth chest and listen to his galloping heart.
“Never better. The girls told me their first time was horribly painful, and I won’t lie, I was kind of dreading it. It did hurt a bit at first, but then,” I trail off, remembering the delicious way the discomfort had given way to pleasure. “It was amazing, Jake. You were amazing.”
“Did you come?” He raises a questioning eyebrow as he glances down at me.
“I’m not sure,” I admit. I don’t want to hurt his feelings, but I refuse to cheapen the moment with lies. “It felt funny for a bit. Kind of a warm and tingly sensation. But I’m not sure if it was the real deal.”
“Probably not,” Jake says with a jaw-cracking yawn. Poor baby. He most likely hadn’t gotten a good night’s sleep in days. “Carter says some women don’t orgasm until they’re well into their thirties.”
“And how would he know that?” I ask curiously while my fingertips run lazy circles over his chest. Jake shrugs, his eyes growing heavy before they flutter shut.
“You know Carter,” he mumbles in a sleep-heavy voice. “He reads a lot of shit.”
A loud knock snaps me out of my memory and back into the here and now. “Teresa, this is your last warning. Get out of bed and come get some breakfast, or else you’ll start the day hungry.”
I listen to the retreating footsteps and bolt upright with a screech that jerks Jake out of his slumber. His eyes pop wide, and he sits up so fast that he almost goes over the side of the bed.
“What the fuck, Tessa?” he mutters in a gravelly voice, rubbing his palms over his face.
He looks utterly adorable with his wild hair and crease marks covering his left cheek.
I could spend an eternity staring at him if my heart wasn’t currently stuck in my throat.
“We fell asleep,” I whisper yell, clutching the bed sheet to my chest in the now sunlit room.
“What time is it?”
“It’s after seven in the morning, Jake. How am I going to explain you walking out of my room?”
Jake’s face takes on a panicked expression as realization strikes.
He jumps out of bed like his ass is on fire, spinning in a wide circle while his frantic gaze scans the room.
When he spots the pile of discarded clothing on the floor, he scoops up his boxer briefs and hastily begins dressing himself.
“Fuck, fuck, fuckity fuck,” he chants, hopping on one leg as he pulls on his jeans. “My dad’s going to kill me. I’m not even kidding. I’m a dead man walking. Should I jump out the window?”
I try not to get myself tangled in the bedding as I awkwardly fasten my bra without dropping the sheet and think of a way to get us out of this mess.
If my dad finds out Jake stayed the night, he’ll have a conniption.
I’m his little girl, and I don’t think he’s ready to find out that his sweet, innocent princess isn’t so innocent anymore.
I, Teresa Davidson, a virgin no more. My cheeks flush at the realization.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’ll break your neck.
Just let me think for a second.” I take a calming breath and rack my brain for a solution that will save us from being grounded for the rest of our lives while Jake just stands there wearing an expectant expression and looking so damn gorgeous my brain refuses to cooperate.
“Here’s the deal,” I say once I manage to get my raging hormones under control.
“My dad doesn’t get up until eight, so we should be safe there.
Mom’s in the kitchen preparing breakfast, so if I go down first and distract her, you should be able to slip out unnoticed.
No sweat,” I finish, flashing him a confident smile that doesn’t match the anxious feeling in my chest. Jake seems to think my plan is solid, for he visibly calms and falls back onto the bed to tie his shoes.
“Let’s get this show on the road then. If I’m lucky, my dad was too far gone to notice me not coming home on a weeknight. Even though it really shouldn’t matter. I wasn’t planning to go to school, anyway.”
“When are you thinking about coming back?” I ask out of curiosity as I slip into a pair of wedge sandals and finger-comb the tangled mess on my head.
“Probably Monday. I’m not looking forward to people staring at me with pity in their eyes, but I can’t hide forever. And it’s not like being home is enjoyable, so it might be good for Anna and Jude to get out of that house and back to a routine. ”
I give him a sympathetic smile before I crack the door open just wide enough to check the hallway. When everything seems clear, I motion Jake forward with a wave. Just as I’m about to squeeze through the opening, he pulls me back and presses me against the wall.
“Before I leave, I just want to make sure you’re doing okay. You know, just in case you’re having second thoughts about last night.”
“Do you?” I ask and hope to God he doesn’t regret what is most definitely going down as the most amazing encounter of my life. That would put a damper on things, wouldn’t it?
Jake looks at me so intently that I feel my cheeks heat. When he gives me his answer, he does so with a seriousness I’m not used to seeing from him.
“How could I ever regret you giving me something so special? No matter what happens down the road, I know I’ll treasure the memory of last night for the rest of my life.”
He follows this up by leaning in and kissing me with such tender care that I go weak in the knees. Then he pulls back and searches my hooded gaze.
“So, we’re good?”
“We’re good,” I reply once I trust myself to speak again. “Unless my dad murders you for having relations with his daughter right under his roof.”
“Gotcha. Let’s do this.” He gives a single, determined nod and pulls the door open before motioning for me to go ahead.
As quietly as two people can be on a set of stairs that should be grandfathered, we make our way down to the first floor, wincing every time our combined weight causes the aged wood to creak.
When we arrive at the bottom, I give him a parting nod and stride into the kitchen to greet my mother.
“Good morning. Beautiful day, isn’t it? Just look at that sky,” I say, walking straight to the big bay window overlooking the backyard. “Not a cloud in sight.” I turn and give my mother the biggest smile, trying not to squirm when she shoots me a suspicious look .
“Someone’s in a good mood this morning,” she states before popping a few slices of bread into the toaster.
The sizzling sound of cooking bacon fills the kitchen, and I bang the upper cabinets a little louder than usual while I hunt for my favorite coffee mug.
She stands with her back to the hallway, and I silently urge Jake to seize the opportunity and make his escape.
When he finally makes his move, I can only watch in horror as my mom chooses that exact moment to spin around.
“Jake? Is that you?” she calls out, surprise evident in her voice. Jake freezes mid-step, and his shoulders slump in resignation before he turns to face my mother with a tentative smile.
“Good morning, Mrs. Davidson.”
“Can I ask why you’re sneaking out of my house at the crack of dawn?” Her brows knit together, gaze pinballing back and forth between the two of us while she waits for an explanation. Jake is wearing a deer-in-the-headlights expression, but I have to give it to him. He recovers quickly.
“I came over last night needing a friend to talk to, and things got a little emotional. I haven’t been sleeping well these past few days, and I guess I was just so tired I must’ve fallen asleep.
We didn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea, so we tried covering it up.
It was a childish thing to do. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
Freaking genius . An array of emotions plays on my mother’s features. Her expression changes from disbelief and anger to sadness and genuine concern. That’s when I know he’s got her.
“Oh, you poor child. Such a terrible thing that happened to your dear mother. I always liked Sharon. How are you and your family holding up?”
Jake drops his gaze, and I know he’s no longer playing the part. The slight waver in his voice gives him away.
“Not too good, to tell you the truth. I still can’t quite believe she’s gone. Guess it takes time for something like this to truly sink in. I don’t mean to be rude, but I really have to go. My dad is probably worried sick. ”
“Of course. You go home and get some rest, love. Give your father my best, and if there’s anything we can do, you let us know, you hear me?”
“Thanks, Mrs. Davidson. I appreciate it.” My mother offers him a kind smile before she waves her hand in a shooing motion. “Go quick, before my husband catches you. He might not be so understanding.”
With her not-so-subtle warning hanging in the air, Jake bids us goodbye and all but stumbles through the front door in his haste to get away.