Chapter 49
49
“ C laire,” I hear Jake’s voice and turn, spotting him a few steps away from us in the aisle.
I should have known this would happen eventually, running into him.
Lake Geneva is small.
Why does he have to look so good in this green polo and black shorts?
I hold back a smile, thinking about how he is always put together.
I feel terrible about ghosting him.
Hiding felt safe—until now.
“How are you?” he asks.
“Fine,” I say quickly.
I’m not hashing this out in a grocery store aisle with Gabby next to me.
If Jake wasn’t so attractive, if he wasn’t perfect, maybe this would be easier.
“Which cookies are your favorite?” he asks Gabby.
“These!” she squeals and points to the animal sugar cookies.
Jake reaches for a pack, tossing it into his cart.
“Those look good. I’m hoping they will make me feel better.”
I fight back a smirk.
I guess we’ve both been eating our feelings, then.
I’ve been doing it with frozen chocolate-covered strawberries.
Gabby pulls a package from the shelf and drops it in our cart.
I groan.
We already have too much junk food.
“Let me get them,” Jake says, reaching for his back pocket and opening his wallet.
“No,” I snap.
Then scold myself for the reaction.
He is being nice.
He is being the perfect fucking gentleman that he always is.
Your bullshit is keeping you from having this great guy.
Jake steps closer, taking the cookies out of our cart.
He looks down at Gabby, then at me.
“I’d love to have you both over before these expire. I can make dinner, and we can have these for dessert.”
I could groan again at how perfect he’s being, even though I’ve been an asshole to him.
Gabby’s eyes are looking up at me, smiling.
“Maybe,” I breathe.
Jake’s eyes slowly rake down my body.
My mind flashes back to him taking me, absolutely railing me.
It was so fucking good.
“If you ever need help completing a mission, call me.”
I nearly flinch, my mind replaying him teasing me with the toy.
I force myself not to smile.
And I fight back the urge to jump into his arms and make out with him.
I need to start up therapy again.
I don’t want to fuck this up, and I’m not ready for the love he is offering me.