7. Jake
Chapter 7
Jake
I ’ve had to stop myself at least three times every day from sending a text to Dylan. I hated how we left the last conversation. I just have to make it to Saturday morning and then I have an excuse to see him again.
“Mr. Ellington, Cora is here to see you.” My secretary, Peggy, is the best I could ask for, totally competent and as sweet as they come, but she also doesn’t take any shit. I wish she would be a mentor for Cora. Hell, I wish she would be a mentor for me. No doubt I could use someone to teach me how to push back a little. Although my recent conversations with my father are encouraging.
Perhaps I’m finding my balls after all.
“Thanks, Peggy, send her in.”
A moment later, the electronic lock clicks and my bubbly girlfriend enters through the heavy double doors of my office. She’s wearing a tailored pantsuit and conservative heels, clutching her Hermès bag. Her bangs are pinned back and the rest of her stylish blonde hair bobs just above her shoulders.
I stand, greeting her with a kiss on her cheek.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I ask, thankful that even if I have to fake my attraction to her, I don’t have to fake my smile around Cora. She brings people up to her level of joy and light and I love her for it.
“I was just in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by. I’m going to meet Whitney for lunch at the club and wanted to say hello.”
I tilt her chin up and kiss her lips gently. I’m desperate to let this attraction to Dylan go and get my life — even the fake parts — back on track. Incessantly lusting after Dylan is going to distract me to the point that I start making careless errors with my clients’ money. It’s also making me wish for things I can’t have and if I don’t watch it, I’m afraid I’ll take my anger out on Cora.
But all I can think about is seeing him again.
Fuck.
I retrain my focus on the woman in front of me and what needs to be done. “Dinner tonight? Just you and me?”
The way her eyes light up causes another weight to drop to the pit of my stomach. I always feel like such an asshole when she looks at me with actual sparks of desire dancing in her irises.
My gut churns at the realization that everyone Cora trusts is playing her and I’m somehow both a victim and the perpetrator in this situation.
“Sounds wonderful,” she breathes as my self-loathing continues to beat me down.
“I’ll make reservations at Marietti’s.” And hopefully find my appetite before we go.
“Oh, I love Marietti’s!” Cora exclaims.
I grab her clasped hands and kiss her knuckles. “I know. Have a good lunch with Whitney. Do tell the delightful demon I said hello.” I chuckle as Cora shakes her head.
“She’s not that bad.”
Whitney is trouble with a capital T. She’s already unapologetically caused a scandal by sleeping with her family’s pool boy. Not afraid of clichés, she didn’t hide it at all. I give her shit, but truthfully, I respect the hell out of her for not only owning up to it, but for making sure everyone knew it was her that pursued him so he didn’t lose his job… or his other clients . Sadly, Whitney is another young debutante who won’t get much say in her future although I pity her father if he attempts to arrange her marriage like mine and Cora’s.
“I know, but teasing her is so much fun. Feel free to splurge at lunch. If you ladies need a ride home, I’ll send the car for you.”
Cora kisses my cheek.
“Thank you. What time should I be ready tonight?”
“I’ll pick you up at six-fifteen.”
I hit the gym after work, grab a quick shower, and I’m shrugging into my sport coat when I get a text.
My heart damn near falls out of my ass when I see Dylan’s name.
Dylan 5:56pm
Still on for Saturday drop off? Just trying to plan the order of these jobs.
I have to find a way to connect with him outside of the shop. Eventually, I’m going to run out of cars that need work…although at this point, I’m not above buying a total piece of shit that basically needs to be rebuilt just so I can see him.
The outlet he provides for me to remember who I am is too enticing and despite my guilt and the occasional rational thought about how dangerous this is, I’m not ready to give it up just yet.
And while actually buying a heap of junk might give my current feelings away, it’s funny how I’m starting to care less about that.
Jacob 5:57pm
Yes. But I don’t have to be first.
Dylan 5:57pm
Do you have a particular brand of clutch you want me to find? Obviously factory if I can, but that shit’s hard to come by any more.
Jacob 6:00pm
No preference.
I trust your judgment.
I want to keep texting Dylan all night. I want to know what he’s doing. Where he is. Who he’s with. Things I have no right to know about the man I manipulated into meeting me. But I’m out of time.
I owe this date to Cora.
And yet, I can’t help myself. I fire off one more text and silence my ringer before grabbing my keys and heading out the door.
Jacob 6:02pm
Any more trouble at the shop?
I feel the buzz of his incoming text simultaneously in my pocket and in my cock. Knowing I have something to look forward to when I get back home tonight sends my mind into overdrive.
With my mind reeling, I pull up outside Cora’s house at six-fifteen sharp. She lives in the guesthouse behind her parent’s mansion and why wouldn’t she? It’s fully furnished with top-of-the-line everything, the yard maintenance is taken care of, she has her own garage as well as her own driveway. And best of all, she doesn’t have to pay rent or utility bills. It’s a smart choice. Especially considering one day soon she’ll move in with me which means there’s no house to worry about selling.
My stomach lurches at the thought.
Cora graduated from Harvard like her mother and father before her. She’s armed with a degree in social innovation and philanthropy and she uses it to its full potential. She’s making quite a name for herself and is very selective about which projects she takes on. Considering people always seem to want what they can’t have, her limited openings fill up fast.
I knock on her door and hear her heels clicking on the hardwoods a second later.
“Oh, it really is a special occasion! You brought the Ferrari out for me!”
“Only the best for you.”
Cora loves this thing for some reason. I chose it tonight because of that, but a sick part of me is disappointed that she hasn’t yet realized it’s the Corvette I take out on truly special occasions. I love that car more than anything I own. I drive the Ferrari only when I’m trying to impress a client…or my girlfriend.
Dinner passes smoothly, although I find our conversation a bit more strained than usual. Outside of work, our parents, and drama at the club — which I’m not interested in — Cora and I don’t have much in common.
Plus, I’m distracted by the phone in my pocket. I’ve been dying to read Dylan’s message since I felt it buzz over an hour ago.
But it’s Cora’s phone that rings loudly in the quiet space, drawing annoyed glares from the diners. She silences the phone and flips it over, but not before I see the screen.
“Cor, why is my dad calling you?”
She rolls her eyes. “He wanted to discuss the upcoming gala,” she explains. “He’s requesting additional tables for clients and I don’t have room for them due to the size of the venue.”
“Is he giving you a hard time?” I ask, ready to throat punch my father for being the asshole he is.
“Not really. He’s just persistent in trying to figure out options.”
“I’ll talk to him,” I sigh, raising my martini glass to my mouth.
“Please don’t,” she says, patting my hand across the table. “I don’t want to look incompetent or like I can’t handle my own problems. He’ll be my father-in-law one day and I want to earn his respect.”
I can understand that.
Before I can nod or verbalize my agreement, the phone buzzes on the table instead of ringing this time.
“Would you mind if I take it? I’ll only be a minute.”
“Go ahead.”
She slides her finger across the screen to connect the call and whispers, “Hi, Steve. I’m at dinner with Jacob, could I give you a call later?”
She closes her eyes and sighs and I know he’s doing that thing where he completely disregards what’s being said and launches into his own agenda.
Cora holds up her finger to me and mouths sorry as she slides her chair back from the table.
I nod, already pulling my own phone from my pocket. My free hand reaches for my martini and I take another healthy sip.
Nothing can prepare me for the relief that washes through me as I unlock my phone, sweat quickly coating my neck. If I didn’t already know I was gay…this would be a pretty big sign . I laugh to myself — and at myself — for feeling so giddy over a text.
Dylan 6:03pm
Yeah, some. But it isn’t just us. Couple other places got hit too.
Rethinking leaving the Corvette with me?
Jacob: 7:16pm
Not at all.
An idea slams into me at full force as I read his message over and over. The guys and I are taking Knox’s boat out on Saturday. Cora’s going bridesmaid dress shopping with her older sister and my parents are flying to their house in the Keys for a few days. Which just leaves me and the guys to ourselves on a rare day when no one’s scheduled at the fire station.
Dylan admitted he doesn’t have any friends and he’s not great at making them.
Why not introduce him to mine? If I come right out and ask, I already know he’ll say no, using work as an excuse, so I go a different route.
Jacob 7:17pm
I’m still going to bring the Corvette by, but I’m definitely going to need that drop-off service.
Dylan 7:17pm
Yeah sure, no problem.
Jacob 7:18pm
Do you like surprises?
Dylan 7:18pm
???
Depends on what it is.
Jacob 7:18pm
Do you get seasick?
Dylan 7:19pm
Um, no?
Jacob 7:19pm
Great. Pack a towel.
Oh God…and a bathing suit.
Fuck. Maybe I didn’t think this through so well. I just asked my mechanic on a date. I just asked my mechanic…on a DATE! What am I thinking? But it’s out there now and I can’t take it back. Nor do I really want to.
I’m totally spiraling out of control when my phone dings in my hand.
Dylan 7:20pm
A towel? Aren’t I just dropping you off? I can’t be gone long. I have a lot of work to get done.
It’s not a no .
Looking up, I spot Cora at the bar, still on the phone, a small smile playing on her lips. She must be winning their argument.
Not wanting to leave Dylan waiting, I fire off a series of texts, deciding it’s now or never.
Jacob 7:20pm
You gotta find balance.
You said you don’t have many friends. Here’s your chance to make some.
Hang out with me and a couple of my buddies for the day. Work will still be there on Sunday.
I go one step further, trying to goad him into saying yes.
Jacob 7:21pm
Besides, maybe socializing a little will remind you how to not be such a judgmental asshole. ;)
I see the three little bubbles and I hold my breath while I grit my teeth, waiting for his response. I hope he knows I’m teasing him about his own fucked-up joke and self-admission of not being good at making friends.
Admittedly, the wink might have been a little much, but considering he did it first, I figure it’s safe.
I don’t realize how tightly my brows are knitted until I hear Cora’s voice.
“Everything okay?” she asks, causing me to look up.
“Yeah, just making some plans with the guys for Saturday. Did my father behave himself?”
She lets out a bark of laughter. “As much as Steve Ellington ever behaves himself. Not obtaining the results he wants isn’t an option and I have no doubt we’ll go round and round until one of us figures out how to get those three extra tables in there. But, he actually just called to let me know he has a client who wants to discuss hiring me for an event and Steve needed to get back to him tonight.” I stay silent, the topic of my father obviously annoying me. Cora picks up on my souring mood and changes the subject. “So, has Knox gotten any less grumpy?” she laughs, picking up her fork, resuming her meal.
“Of course not. I doubt he ever will.” I smile thinking about my older, calloused, friend.
Cora has met the guys a couple of times. She comes by the fire station occasionally to drop food off. Phoenix and Hudson, both, have already proposed to her and they can’t understand why I haven’t.
“And the others?” she asks, genuinely interested while my attention floats between the bubbles that keep appearing and disappearing on the phone screen in my lap and the woman sitting across from me.
“All fine.” Wanting to be as transparent as I can with her, mostly to ease my own guilt, I divulge a few more of the details. “I actually invited the guy who backed into me a few weeks ago to come out with us.”
She looks up from her fettuccini and rests an elbow on the table more interested in my words now than she has been all night. “The mechanic?”
I smile because it feels like he’s becoming an actual part of my life. Not in the way I want him to of course, but I’ll take what I can get. It’s been so long since I let these feelings out of their restraints. I’ve forgotten how much fun it is to flirt with someone you’re actually attracted to.
How their presence, a glance, or their scent can totally change the course of your day.
It’s a heady feeling.
Finally, Dylan’s message comes through on the screen in my lap. It’s short, but it’s more than enough.
Dylan 7:24pm
Sure. Why not?
I want to stand on our table and do the fucking jig. Instead, I get myself under control and answer Cora.
“Yeah, the mechanic.” I tell her how during our check-out ride in the Maserati, Dylan talked about how much he works and how he doesn’t have many friends.
Cora reaches for my hand across the table.
“You’re a good man, Jacob Ellington.”
I used to think I was, but these days, I’m pretty sure that’s not the case.