Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Avery! Finally,” Jenna calls as she lets me in her front door. She takes the plate of cookies from my hands, peels up the plastic covering, and takes a deep inhale. “Oh yeah,” she murmurs, like it’s a prayer. "Take off your coat! We’re in the den!”
Jenna walks deeper into the house while I pause to pull my lightweight jacket off and hang it on the hooks in the entryway. I also toe off my shoes.
“Hey, Rapunzel.”
It’s Jake—of course—one dimple popping with a crooked grin. Heat creeps up my neck. Was Braden right, or is the universe messing with me? Coincidences happen.
I shove the thought away. His bet was absurd.
“Jenna already took the cookies, so you will have to track her down if you want some. They’re espresso flavored.”
“Cookies can wait,” Jake says with a shrug. “I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
My mind immediately starts whirling, trying to figure out why he wouldn’t think I’d be ok. We’ve seen each other here and there when I’m hanging out with Jenna, but there’s been no discussion of anything heavy since the day he went with me to talk to Mrs. Patel a few weeks ago.
“Why would I not be ok?”
He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly. “Well, Jenna and I went shopping yesterday for the party, and we saw Braden with his mom….” He trails off like he’s leaving me space to fill in the gaps. I don’t.
“So I thought, you know, that maybe you guys have talked since he’s obviously back? Or maybe I’m assuming things I shouldn’t. I know how stressed you were about all of that and I was worried…”
Something in my chest loosens. Jake was thinking about me and worrying about me, and for some reason that warms my heart.
My own boyfriend of several years let his mom break up with me and then waited two whole weeks after he returned home to come over and confess what he’s been up to.
Jake’s been a truer friend than Braden has been in a long time.
I tug him into a hug before my brain can overthink it. I step back and stare at him for half a second, confused. Jake’s been steady this year, in a way that makes my chest feel… less tight. Who would’ve thought Jenna’s little brother would be the one who doesn’t leave?
He’s looking at me, amusement and confusion both lining his features. “So are you guys still together or…”
I don’t have to answer his question, but it feels like he deserves to know the answer. He helped me solve the mystery of Braden, and if nothing else, his curiosity is likely genuine. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s because he’s interested in dating me, like Braden suggested.
“I actually talked to him right before I came here.”
Jake’s eyebrows lift, but he also still looks concerned.
“But I’m good,” I continue. “I think I got the closure I needed. We’re over though.”
“Over over? For good?”
“I guess? Honestly, I don’t think I can get over what he did. And then on top of that, apparently he’s been home for two weeks and didn’t bother to come talk to me until today. So no—we’re done.”
Jake’s whole face shifts, like he’s been holding his breath and finally lets it out. “That’s good.”
He hooks an arm around me and steers me towards the back of the house where their den is. His elbow presses against my side, sending little sparks through me. “Let’s go play some twister and eat some red vines.”
My head snaps up at the mention of red vines.
“Red vines?”
“Yeah. And M I only watch him and let that truth settle over me.
He reaches to hand me one of the cookies, then claims the other. He gently “toasts” our cookies before tossing his into his mouth, never breaking eye contact. I should look away. Create some space.
I don’t.
Our eyes remain locked as we finish them in the quiet kitchen. The hum of people leaving or situating themselves for the night has dulled, leaving only the low whirring of the refrigerator and the occasional burst of a voice muffled through shut doors.
This moment shouldn’t be anything—we’re eating cookies in a kitchen. But it’s also more.
“Happy New Year, Avery Marie James.”
“Happy New Year, Jake Reid Taylor.”
He looks pleased—like this quiet little moment is everything. His joy is infectious, and I can’t repress the urge to smile back.
“Well, I should head home. Thanks for saving me a cookie.”
He puts his hand lightly on my lower back as we walk towards the front door, sending shivers through my spine. “Anytime. And hey—maybe we should hang out sometime. Not just for calculus.”
I pause on the front doorstep and glance up at him.
His eyes are adorably nervous. In the past, I wouldn't have noticed or would have written it off as something else, but now I see it—all of it—the eagerness in his eyes, the nervous energy radiating lightly from his body language, the fear that I might reject him. He wants this, and he’s putting himself out there to try to make it happen.
He knows Braden and I are over and he’s shooting his shot.
The question is—do I want this? Honestly, I don’t know.
I enjoy Jake, and we’ve grown closer this year.
He’s been a faithful friend and brought light to my life during some dark times.
I let out a small breath. “Yeah, maybe.”
His face falls slightly.
“Let’s talk about it when school starts again,” I add quickly. “I’m going to my dad’s tomorrow for a couple days.”
His face perks up, and he nods. “Yeah, great. I mean I know you’re busy and everything. I’ll text you?”
“Sure,” I say, and it comes out softer than I mean it to. It makes me happy to see Jake happy. I won’t promise him anything, but I’m sure we can find a time to hang out at some point. That seems like an acceptable compromise for now.