23. Jake
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
jake
T he annoying, overly cheerful jingle of my phone alarm shatters the peace of my dream, a painful awakening for my overtired body.
I thought this week would be easier because Colby started, but that has not been the case.
He’s a hard worker and picks up things quickly, but there’s so much I need to teach him.
I’ve been working later into the evenings again to catch up on work after he leaves.
At least it’s Friday and I have the weekend to focus on orders.
That, and what’s wrong with Amber. We’ve both been busy with work this week training new associates, but something’s going on with her.
Monday and Thursday she left the gym before me, and like previous weeks, I beat her back to our stores.
I’ve debated following her to see where she goes, except my motorcycle is obnoxiously loud and my truck can’t blend in with the three other cars driving around town that early in the morning.
Something is bothering her though. I see it in the way she walks with her shoulders slumped and how her eyes never quite meet mine when we see each other.
I’ve racked my brain for things I could’ve done or said and came up empty.
Everything was fine on Sunday between us, and I was a well-behaved gentleman since Lauren was watching our every interaction.
It shouldn’t bother me this much when her mood changes, it shouldn’t bother me at all.
Learning about her past has made me hyperaware and worried about her.
She’s been through things no one should have to, and I’m sure we’ve only scratched the surface.
Our friends seemed so surprised when she mentioned she never wanted children, but it made all the sense in the world to me.
Despite how tired I feel, I grab my gym bag and truck keys and head out for the morning.
It’s the perfect breezy day to take my bike, but I need to bring the wood for the porch swing home.
All the pieces are cut, but I can’t have them in my workshop for Amber to stumble upon if she walks in.
The drive into town passes quickly, with the windows down and the warm summer breeze flowing through the cab.
I’ve always loved the smell of the woods, an earthy scent with fresh flowers and crisp trees.
I can point out most trees blindfolded by their scent alone.
It’s one of the many reasons I love living here and will never leave.
Amber’s little Honda is parked out front, so I park next to it and walk inside.
A gravitational pull draws my eyes to her.
She’s in the corner splayed out on a mat doing stretches and ab work, and unsurprisingly, Kyle is sidled up with her again.
He gives me bad vibes, and not because I’m jealous.
There’s something about the way he carries himself with an air of importance and superiority that sets my nerves on edge.
I knew someone who acted the same way in college, and that didn’t end well.
The longer I watch them in their own little world, the more agitated I feel. After such a busy week, a light stretching routine sounds perfect. Grabbing an extra mat, I plop it on Amber’s other side. They startle as I settle on it and lean forward to stretch out my hamstrings.
“Hey, man,” Kyle says with a sneer .
Ignoring him completely, I keep my gaze on Amber. “How’s the training going this week?”
“It’s going. How’s Colby? Frank has been gushing about how proud he is of him.”
It’s interesting that Amber is always saying she’s alone and an outsider here when that is so far from the truth.
I’ve been watching her at the gym for weeks now, and aside from Kyle, the other members all make a point of saying hello and giving her encouragement or spotting her when needed.
When in her store, I’ve seen her customers seek her out to chat.
All the parents in our friend group are in love with her.
Hell, she even has Frank half in love with her.
A whole community of people are wanting the best for her.
“He’s a quick study. I actually have him working on your shelves this week, and he’s doing great.
I almost have your tables done, probably can come install it all next week.
” I switch the leg I’m stretching and look around Amber to the douche canoe still sitting there.
“You’re still here? You’re never going to be a big boy like me when you grow up by sitting around.
And I am a big boy, isn’t that right, Amber? ”
The flush is so pretty as it travels up her neck …
until it reaches her face and I see the anger there.
If she actually cares what this guy thinks, she has bigger problems than being embarrassed at knowing how big my dick is.
Kyle sneers at me but makes the smart choice and gets up to leave us, smiling at Amber as he goes.
“Every fucking time I think things are good between us, you go and ruin it.”
“Please, that guy is the worst. I wanted him gone so I could ask how you’re doing.”
She huffs an indignant laugh and continues with her workout. I stay by her side, going through it with her silently. Asking her isn’t going to get her to open up to me, but I know one thing that worked to get her to open up before.
“Come over tonight,” I say between sets.
“No.”
“Oh, come on. You’re clearly wound up over something, and you know what I can do for you. How good I can make you feel. Hell, I’ll even cook you dinner first.”
She stares at me, and the longer she does, the more her walls drop and the easier I can see the pain etched into her very soul. With a blink, the moment is broken, and her eyes are blank again. “No thanks.” Standing, she cleans her mat and puts it away before moving to the treadmills.
I don’t want her to open up to me, I need it, and she needs it just as bad. After finishing a set of pushups, I clean my mat but get stopped on my way to putting it back. A small hand wraps around my bicep, but the lack of spark tells me it’s not the hands I want on me.
“Excuse me,” a shrill voice says, and I turn to the girl touching me. “I could really use a spot, and since you’re the biggest man in here, I was hoping you could help.”
The woman is dressed in the smallest shorts I have ever seen.
She points to the squat rack she has set up with only a bar, and I try not to laugh.
Anyone in this gym could spot that bar, but I’m not one to judge someone trying to better their health or fitness, so I agree.
Her long pointy nails stay wrapped around my arm as she leads me over, and I repress a shiver.
The Jake of a few years ago would have loved this and would nail this woman in my truck within the hour, but looking down at my crotch, there’s not an ounce of interest. It seems my dick is as stuck on Amber as I seem to be.
The girl, Becky, as she made sure to tell me, sets herself up at the rack before looking over her shoulder. “Would you mind putting your hands on my hips while I do this?” The look she gives is meant to be flirty but misses the mark.
I feel eyes on me and know Amber’s watching my every movement. Jealousy might be a good thing, or maybe it will bite me in the ass. “How about you do one, and I’ll check your form first?”
She does, and her form is awful. There’s no way she’s ever squatted with a bar before.
Her stance is wrong, her back is bowed, and she’s placed the bar on her neck instead of her shoulders.
Reluctantly, I fix all her mistakes before leaving my hands on her hips while she goes through her “set.” Three …
she does three squats. Nothing compared to my beautiful and strong woman.
With a quick glance over my shoulder, I see Amber still watching, and the look on her face catches me off guard. She doesn’t look upset or jealous, she looks resigned. Like this is what she expected of me. Even worse, Kyle is on the treadmill next to her, vying for her attention.
Becky pulls my attention again, thanking me with a hand on my chest this time.
I tell her she needs to work on her form before she hurts herself, which she laughs off and makes a joke about her form never having been a problem before.
It falls flat, and I stare at her until she removes her hand and stalks away.
When I look back to Amber, she’s focused on Kyle again. As I make my way over to them, I can just make out parts of their conversation.
“I’m busy this weekend, but maybe next?” Amber says.
“Saturday, next weekend? It’s a date.” He winks at her before smirking at me and walking away.
“What’s that about?” I growl in a low voice.
She looks at me with empty eyes, her features schooled into indifference. “It’s called a date, Jake. Surely, you’ve heard of it.”
A date? She’s going on a fucking date with this guy?
God, I’m so stupid for thinking that something was happening between us.
Is this my fault for how things started between us?
I like our fighting and how we feel safe enough together to express every part of ourselves.
Across the gym, Kyle is watching us through the mirrors with a smarmy grin on his face.
By the time I turn around, Amber is gone and I feel like I just sealed my fate.
–
I don’t see Amber the rest of the day, and since she refused my offer of dinner, I grill a steak alone and work on the porch swing in the garage.
I’m not sure what’s more pathetic, me making a sentimental item for a woman who seems to hate me most of the time, or the fact that I’m beyond used to spending my weekends working and alone.
Sleep is rough, so I rise with the sun and go to the shop to start another project.
The feeling of watching Amber accept a date with that prick sits heavy in my stomach, and I need to do something to make it better.
Something to show her I’m not a bad guy and if she gives us a chance, I can be the man for her.
She has captivated me, making me crave her body as much as her soul.
It grates on me that she’s willing to give me her body but still won’t fully open up to me.
The more I get to know her, the more I can see something really blossoming between us.
We have the same drive and desires, the same fire in our bones and hurt in our heart.
My skills lie in making things beautiful, so that’s what I rely on to make her see there’s more to me than meets the eye. That I’m a man worthy of her trust. The planter boxes come together easily, and I decide to stain them a dark mocha color to really help the flowers stand out.
They are all completed before it’s even time to open the store.
I gave my mom the day off to spend time with my dad.
Turns out, he’s having a good day, so they stopped by the store on their way to the farmers’ market.
When I told them about the planter boxes for outside Amber’s store, they took over for me.
Four hours later, they show back up with a trunk full of little pink flowers and bags of dirt.
With one look at Dad, I know he’s done for the day, so I send them home and promise to video call my mom after I plant them so she can ensure I did it correctly. We made a plan for me to work on it after the store closed so I can do it when Amber won’t see.
I really hate working in the store when I have fun projects I could be working on.
Colby has been doing so well in the workshop that I’m not sure I want to spare him for the store too, which means I need to hire another part-time associate.
When I text Amber to ask how she hired someone so quickly, she only sends me a screenshot of her Facebook post and nothing more.
I guess she’s still upset about the gym thing, but that’s what the planters are for.
I make a similar post and move on to printing a sign for tomorrow.
I kind of forgot it was a holiday until the mass text came through from Evelyn saying Sunday dinner was turning into Sunday barbeque and everyone is expected at three.
Fourth of July has never been my favorite holiday, but I won’t complain about good friends and free food.
My simple sign that says “Closed Sunday the 4 th ” looks a little sad, but it gets the point across.
I’m sure Cedar and Sage has some flowery shit that looks nice stating the same, and I’m half tempted to check, but I don’t want to push Amber.
Finding the balance of pushing her enough to get a reaction and bring out her feisty fun side but not pushing too much and pissing her off, is hard.
I still haven’t found that sweet spot. After closing up the store and having dinner at the local burger joint, I bring all the planters to the front of Amber’s store.
Being only upstairs, I’m not sure how she doesn’t catch me as I drill them underneath her windows, or how she doesn’t hear my video chat with my mom as my meaty fingers try not to crush the delicate petals.
It’s almost nine by the time I get home, happy with my secret mission. Spending a few more hours working on her swing gives me something to do with my hands besides stroking my cock to thoughts of the beautiful blonde with golden eyes.
All the pieces of the swing have been sanded, and the first layer of stain is on when I decide to call it a night.
The little projects I have going on for Amber are at the forefront of my mind as I shower.
If this isn’t the way to get her to truly see me, I’m not sure what is.
Climbing into bed, I drift off easily, dreaming of seeing my girl tomorrow.