Chapter 3
Mia
The sun is already blazing when I wake up, its rays searing through the thin curtains of the living room window where I've been sleeping on the couch. I groan, stretching my limbs as I sit up, the sheet tangled around my waist. It's going to be another scorcher today.
Sleeping on the couch sucks. It's terrible, but I can't sleep in my parents' bedroom. I was really hoping my bedroom would be available. I can't sleep in the guest room, even if Jake weren't here. Fuck. My life isn't so great right now.
The house is quiet, too quiet. Jake must still be asleep upstairs.
The thought sends a shiver down my spine, and not just because of the temperature.
I can't help but think about how close we came to.
.. something, that other day when he comforted me over my breakup.
His strong arms around me, his bare chest pressed against mine—it was almost too much to resist. But then he had to go and bring up Ryan, ruining the moment.
Fuck. He just can't stop thinking about my brother, can he? It's infuriating. I wish it were different. I wish he could think about anyone else.
I wish he would think more about me.
I shake my head, trying to clear the thoughts from my mind. It's too hot to be thinking about Jake like that right now. I need a shower. A cold one. It's the only way to get him out of my mind.
Dragging myself off the couch, I pad upstairs towards the bathroom, my bare feet sticking slightly to the warm hardwood floors.
As I pass by Jake's room, I can't help but notice that his door is slightly ajar, revealing a glimpse of the rumpled sheets on his bed.
My heart flutters traitorously in my chest, and I force myself to keep walking before I do something stupid like knock on his door.
The shower feels amazing—cold water pounding against my skin, washing away the remnants of sleep, the lingering heat from outside, and his face.
I stand under the spray for longer than necessary, letting it soothe my muscles and clear my mind.
The latter is the most important one. When I finally step out, wrapping myself in a towel, I feel more like myself.
As I'm drying off, I hear a soft knock at the bathroom door. "Mia?" Jake's voice filters through, tentative and slightly muffled. "You okay in there?"
I freeze, suddenly very aware of my state of undress. "Yeah," I call back, trying to keep my voice steady. "Just getting ready for the day."
There's a pause before he responds, "Okay. Well, if you're done in there soon, I was thinking we could go grab some iced coffee or something. Beat the heat together."
I smile despite myself, touched by his thoughtfulness. Maybe the tension we felt that day has finally dissipated. "Sure," I say, toweling off my hair. "Give me five minutes to get ready."
When I emerge from the bathroom, Jake is leaning against the wall across the hall, his arms crossed over his chest. He's wearing a simple black t-shirt and jeans that hug him in all the right places.
My heart skips a beat at the sight of him, but I push the thought away, focusing instead on his offer.
"Ready?" he asks, flashing me a small smile.
Ready? As if I could ever be ready for something like that. But to prove I'm not weak and that I'm not feeling things for him that I shouldn't, I pretend I am.
"So, which place do you prefer?" he asks warily, his eyes flicking over me before settling on my face.
I flash him a mischievous grin, aware he doesn't know that I've just changed my mind. We are not going anywhere together anymore. I don't want to go with him because I don't know what would happen.
I want to stay here, in my parents' house, where at least I know I can control myself and nothing weird will happen between us.
I just feel safer here than out there, with him, and his warmth is always around me, even though it's quieter here and I can see him more.
Well, can't have everything.
"Actually, I'm heading to the pool," I say, turning toward the stairs. "It's cooler in there, and honestly, it's way too hot to go out. Might as well enjoy what we've got right here."
Jake pauses for a moment, clearly unsure.
He's probably trying to figure out what's going through my head and why I changed my mind so suddenly.
Still, he follows me downstairs, his footsteps echoing softly behind mine.
When we step out into the sweltering heat, I can feel his eyes on my back, but I don't turn around.
I know that doing so would be a mistake.
The pool is nestled in the far corner of the backyard, surrounded by lush greenery and a few strategically placed patio chairs. It looks inviting, like the perfect escape from this oppressive heat.
As I walk towards the pool, I can feel Jake's eyes on me, but I refuse to look back at him. Instead, I focus on the cool water ahead, already imagining the relief it'll bring from this relentless heat. I know I just took a shower, but being in the pool is going to be a very different thing.
I reach the edge of the pool and pause for a moment, taking in the clear blue water. It's like it's calling out to me, beckoning me to dive in and escape the world for just a little while. And that's exactly what I plan to do.
But before I can make my move, Jake's voice stops me cold. "Mia, wait." Is he finally going to confront me about my sudden change of mind and address the elephant in the room? I wonder. If so, he's in for a surprise. I already have the answer ready.
I turn around slowly, raising an eyebrow at him. "What?"
He shifts uncomfortably from one foot to the other, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jeans. He looks like he has something on his mind, but whatever it is, he seems reluctant to spit it out.
"Um..." he starts, hesitating for a moment before continuing. That's odd. He's usually more composed than that. Do I really have that effect on him? "I just... I don't think you should go swimming right now."
Huh? What the hell is he going on about with that? I wonder.
I blink at him in surprise, taken aback by his order and the way he said it. "Why not?" I ask, genuinely confused. "It's hot as hell out here, and the pool looks perfect."
Jake runs a hand through his disheveled hair, looking more flustered by the second. "Yeah, but... it's still pretty early," he says lamely. That definitely didn't sound like a good answer. "The sun is really strong right now. You could burn, or get heatstroke or something."
That felt even lamer.
I cross my arms over my chest, studying him closely. He seems genuinely concerned about my well-being, though, but there's something else in his eyes, too. Something that looks almost like fear.
Is there something in the water that's going to kill me the moment I get in?
The thought almost makes me laugh.
"Jake," I say slowly, taking a step closer to him. "You're not making any sense. It's not even noon yet, and we've been out here for less than two minutes. What's really going on?"
He avoids my gaze, staring off into the distance as if searching for an answer there. When he finally looks back at me, his expression is guarded—almost closed off.
"Nothing," he says firmly. "I just don't want you to get hurt."
He looks nothing like the confident, striking man I know him to be. It's confusing, and I can't help but wonder what's gotten into him.
Either way, something about the way he said it sets my teeth on edge. It feels like there's more to this than he's letting on and I have a feeling it has something to do with whatever almost happened between us that day.
But before I can call him out on his bullshit, he turns and walks back towards the house, leaving me standing alone by the pool. I watch him go, feeling anger and frustration coursing through my veins.
He left, just like that. It's unbelievable!
"Fine," I mutter to myself, turning back towards the water. "If he doesn't want to swim with me, then fuck it. I'll do it alone."
I was already ready to do it alone, anyway. It's not like his absence is going to make a huge difference.
And so, inhaling deeply, I slip out of my cutoff shorts and pull off my band tee, revealing the bikini I put on earlier. I don't know why Jake is being such an asshole about this, but I refuse to let him ruin my plans for a relaxing afternoon in the sun.
Without hesitation, I dive into the pool, the cool water enveloping me like a long-lost friend.
It feels amazing, exactly what I needed after the past few days of stress and tension.
As I surface and wipe the water from my eyes, I can't help but smile at the thought of how Jake would react if he could see me now.
But maybe he is and I just can't see him. It's possible.
Still, maybe it's better he's doing something else.
Because as much as I hate to admit it, there's a part of me that wonders if maybe, no matter how small the chance is, his reluctance has something to do with the fact that he can't control himself around me, not when we're both half-dressed and alone by the pool.
The thought sends a shiver down my spine, despite the heat, and I push it aside, focusing instead on the sensation of the water against my skin. This is what I need right now, to clear my mind and find some semblance of peace in the chaos that has become my life.
I swim laps for what feels like hours, losing track of time as I move through the water with ease. The pool has always helped me think clearly and gain perspective, and today is no different.
Seconds later, I climb out of the pool and stand by the edge, wringing water from my hair with a towel. Just then, I hear the patio door slide open behind me. Turning around, I see Jake approaching, his expression serious.
"Mia," he says, his voice tight as he stops a few feet away from me. "We need to talk."
I raise an eyebrow at him, trying to ignore the butterflies fluttering nervously in my stomach. This feels so serious, like he's about to change my life forever.