16. Jake
Jake
Today feels like a dream. Like something out of a Lifetime movie, or a romance book. It just feels too good to be true, but every time I look to my side he is there, smiling back at me with that sparkle in his eyes that tells me he cares about me.
We did absolutely nothing, other than sleep and have sex. Amazing, mind blowing sex. All day was spent tangled up in the bed together, other than slipping away to the kitchen to eat some lunch. Fucking burns a lot of calories.
Around four o’clock reality starts creeping back in.
Victor is leaving tomorrow evening and needs to pack his bags.
I convinced him to stay with me again and let me take him to the airport.
And he said yes. The thought of him leaving still kills me, but I refuse to let him know.
We did get the message from Nellie and if she hasn’t delivered by the twenty-fifth, five days from now, then they’re going to induce her.
So looks like my best bet will be a shift swap, pulling a twenty-four hour day which can give me five days off.
Time to fly there, meet his family and then come back.
“We need to go, and I’m hungry.” He shifts closer, running his finger down my chest before kissing me.
“I know. Coffee’s calling my name, too.”
“Okay. So let’s get coffee, then go to my place and have food delivered there. I can pack while we eat,” Victor offers.
“Mmmm, sounds like a plan. Guess we need to get dressed and go then.”
“If we must,” Victor laughs, then rolls over and sits up on the edge of the bed.
He stands and heads toward the bathroom; my eyes stay glued to his naked body until he’s out of sight.
Only then do I get up. Somewhere around noon, we showered together so I bypass that and head straight to my dresser and put on some jeans and a shirt.
When Victor steps back in the room fully dressed, he finds me sitting on the edge of the bed putting my shoes on.
“Coffee is first on the list," I remind him.
It doesn’t take long to get downtown and luckily there’s an open spot on the street.
I park my truck and turn it off, wasting no time getting out.
I move around to the passenger side and open the door for Victor.
He’s messaging his sister who’s freaking out that he’s not going to make it.
Apparently she’s having some contractions but the doctor told her they were Braxton Hicks and nothing to worry about.
“Everything good?” I ask, taking his hand in mine, and shut the truck door when he gets out.
“Yeah, she’s just freaking out.”
“Well, you’ll be there soon to keep her calm. She just needs her brother.”
“Yeah.” We’ve taken a few steps toward Fifi’s when he starts looking around with a puzzled look on his face. “What are we doing here?”
"Getting coffee, silly. Did you forget? Does Nellie have you that out of sorts?"
"But we're going the wrong way. Our coffee place is a few blocks over. We can walk there. I’m okay with a little exercise.” He starts to turn around but I stop him.
I laugh. "No, we're heading to my favorite place. It's just a couple doors down. Fifi’s has the best coffee around and I want to introduce you to it." I start to walk, but he doesn’t budge so I pull on his hand. “Come on.” But he stays planted firmly in place.
"But I like our place. It’s where we first talked, and what started our relationship. I want to go there.”
I bite my lip, not understanding why he’s so insistent on not having coffee at Fifi’s. I’m not sure what the issue is, but if he wants to go to our place, as he calls it, then well, that’s okay with me.
“Okay, I’m okay with walking. But are you sure? Fifi’s coffee is so much better.”
He hesitates. “Yeah, I’m sure. What can I say, I like what I know.” He tries to brush it off, but something doesn’t feel right. He’s acting weird.
"Okay," I finally say, giving in. "We’ll go there."
We turn around and head in the opposite direction. We’ve barely made it a few steps before I hear someone calling my name.
"Jake! Jake!" she screams. “Where are you going?”
I stop, tugging on Victor’s hand, who suddenly tenses up, and turn around. Fifi’s standing there, a huge smile on her face.
"Hey," I say. “How are you?”
“I’m good. You’re not coming inside? And who is your friend?”
I don't want to lie to her. But I don’t exactly want to tell her the truth. ‘Sorry, but we’re going somewhere else to get coffee’. I’m sure she wouldn’t be upset, but I still don’t want to hurt her feelings.
“No, we have somewhere to be. This is Victor, my boyfriend.” I take hold of his arm, pulling him around so he can face her. I’m not sure why he’s being so weird today. Maybe leaving is affecting him as well.
When I glance back over at Fifi, her eyes are wide as she looks between the two of us. "Oh my God. It's about fucking time!"
I blink, confused at her reaction. Am I living in my very own version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers? Fifi and Victor are both acting weird.
"What? About time for what?”
She’s practically giddy with excitement as she rushes toward us, taking a second to hug us both.
“I’m so happy! See? I told you he'd fall for you," she tells Victor, grinning widely. "I'm so glad you finally told him.”
My smile disappears, and I focus my attention on Victor. All the happiness I had prior to seeing Fifi evaporates and all I feel is cold inside.
“What is Fifi talking about, Victor?”
Pure fear flashes across his face. His skin is so pale he looks like he’s seen a ghost.
“Jake,” he stammers.
"What the hell is going on?” I ask him again, then turn to Fifi. “What are you talking about? How do you know Victor?”
Fifi looks between me and Victor, pure panic on her face.
“Umm, I think I’m going to go and let the two of you handle this privately.
I’m really happy for the both of you." She pauses, apparently deciding whether she should say anything else.
"Just... have an open mind, Jake." She doesn’t even give me time to answer before she’s rushing back down the sidewalk to her shop.
"Told me what?" I ask Victor again. My heart’s pounding because I have a sinking feeling in my gut I’m not going to like what he has to say.
“Jake, fuck, please,” he whispers, stepping closer to me, taking my hands in his.
I feel like I’m going to throw up as I glance down at our entwined hands.
“Just tell me.” The words come out cold.
"I wanted to tell you. You have to believe me. But things were going so well with us, I decided, why ruin it?”
Victor, the man I trusted. Who I gave my heart to freely. The man I was going to tell I love him has been keeping something from me. He’s lied to me.
"Jake, please. Just let me explain,” he begs.
My throat tightens.
"No."
"Jake.” I pull out of his grasp and step back, shaking my head at him.
"You've had plenty of time to tell me everything." My voice trembles with how angry I am. "And you didn't. It was you this whole time. The person sending me gifts. Tell me I’m wrong.”
“You’re not wrong.”
He reaches toward me, and I take another step back.
“Please let me tell you everything.”
I can’t help but laugh. “That’s rich, Victor. You want to tell me now. How convenient since your secret was outed by Fifi. No wonder you didn’t want to go into the shop. You didn’t want to accidentally run into her.”
His face crumples and I see his eyes water and a tear runs down his cheek.
“It’s not like that. It’s just… please let’s go somewhere private so I can explain.”
“Were you following me that day? Is that how you knew where I was? Has this been one big joke to you?”
“No, it's not like that. That day in the café was a hundred percent natural. I didn’t even know you were going to be there. When I saw you I couldn’t help talking to you.”
I turn away from him, not even able to look at him anymore. His hand gently grasps my arm.
"Please, just let me—"
I yank my arm free.
"No." My anger with him is taking over. “You had your chance to talk to me. To tell me, but you didn’t. I don’t want to see you again.”
I don't wait for his response. I head straight to my truck and get in. I take a deep breath, then turn on the ignition and leave. When I look back up in the rearview mirror, I still see him standing on the sidewalk. He can find his own way home and right out of my life.
This morning, I thought I was living in heaven. Now, I'm watching it crash and burn right in front of me. And the worst part? I don't even know what the truth is anymore. The man I loved is my fucking admirer. And I’m a damn idiot.