35. Jake
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
jake
Sausage Squad Group Chat
River :
I’m coming up next Friday and we’re having a boys weekend.
Thoren :
I’ll have to talk to Lily.
River :
Already did. We’re going camping.
Jake :
I’m in. We haven’t had one in years.
Thoren :
So the girls can’t come?
River :
You’re so pussy whipped.
Jake :
What girls?
Thoren :
I thought you got the girl. Are we pretending you and Amber aren’t fucking? Right, my bad.
River :
Oh they’re fucking alright.
Jake :
I’ll bring the tents.
River :
I thought people getting laid were supposed to be happy?
Thoren :
I’m happy. He must be bad at sex. The sparkly peen just isn’t cutting it.
Jake :
I’m not coming anymore.
River :
Maybe that’s his problem, bro. He can’t make her come either.
W orking on a custom project used to be the highlight of my week. Taking it from an idea to a beautiful piece of furniture that will be kept and cherished for years to come, is so fulfilling. Now, the highlight of my week is finding ways to see Amber.
I hated leaving her place Saturday morning, but I saw her starting to spiral again.
She has real feelings for me. Maybe not as deep as mine are for her, but there’s something big between us, and she just needs to be brave enough to accept it.
There must be something I’m doing right because she brought leftover lasagna down to me Saturday evening.
She didn’t stick around to eat it with me, but it’s a start.
Sunday, I saw her through her kitchen window.
Yes, I might be a little stalkerish now, but that’s not anything new. I’ve stalked my prey before .
Monday, I left a coffee and muffin on her doorstep when I beat her back from the gym.
Turns out, I don’t want to do that again because I couldn’t see her face when she found it.
Still worth it, though. It’s finally Tuesday, and I get to spend time with her again.
Since she hinted at Colby and Natasha hitting it off, I set myself up for a win-win.
I let Colby know I’m crazy about Amber, which at this point is probably obvious to everyone except Amber, and asked if he could wingman me by working with Natasha so I can work with my girl.
I press the buzzer on the back door at seven like we planned and am met with Amber’s beautiful face. Even though I saw her thirty minutes ago at the gym, seeing her again puts a stupid grin on my face. “Hi,” I sputter out like an idiot. “You look really nice today.”
She looks down at her leggings, floral Vans, and graphic tee, then back at me with a raised eyebrow. I nudge Colby forward. “He bought us all coffees, can he put them inside?”
Amber moves to the side and thanks him as he scoots past her with the tray. When he’s out of earshot, I lean down and whisper in her ear, “You look absolutely fuckable, just like always. But you also look really pretty, and I thought you should know.”
I leave her standing in the doorway and step into her shop where Natasha is pointing out where she wants the new tables placed. “If you guys can get them in here, we can take over,” she says.
“Actually, I was thinking Colby can help you organize and set up. Amber and I have to work on filling the holes from the old shelves, anyway.”
Natasha nods with a small smile and blushed cheeks as she eyes Colby. “Sounds good.”
Colby and I carry in the four tables I made and place them where Natasha and Amber instruct.
The old folding tables are easily broken down for me and Amber to carry over to her storage space.
Following her lead, I set them up against a side wall and move some boxes onto them.
When she bends to lift a box, I have to bite back a groan.
I slink up behind her, grabbing her hips and inhaling her lavender scent. Having her in my arms feels right.
“What are you doing?” she asks, trying to sound annoyed as she leans into me.
“Holding my girl. And don’t you dare say you aren’t mine.
” I feel her wanting to argue, but she sighs and lets me hold her.
Looking around, I see she has most of her inventory in big see-through bins, but they are still strewn around or stacked dangerously high.
“You still need better storage in here.”
“I know.” She sighs, pulling from my embrace. “Let’s go, I need that coffee.”
When we step back into her store, the sound of laughter rings out.
Amber whispers a “Told you” as we watch our associates flirting while organizing a display.
So there’s a romantic in Amber after all, she just hasn’t figured out how to fight for herself in that department.
I pull out the putty and scrapers from my pocket and teach her how to cover the holes in the wall.
“I’ll have to come back in two days to sand this down, then you can paint it,” I say, and we work in tandem.
“I can do that. Sanding is easy.” It’s obvious she can do it, anyone can grab a small sanding block and wipe it over a wall a few times.
The point is, I don’t want her to have to, I want to have an excuse to come back here and be in her space.
If she won’t let me help out here, there’s another project I can do for her.
When all the holes are filled—no pun intended because it has been way too long since I’ve filled Amber—Colby and I head over to the shop to get to work.
With his help, it’s becoming easier to get caught up on orders.
I was about three-to-five months behind on custom orders, but now I’m closer to two-to-three months, which isn’t terrible.
He’s asked for more hours, and I’ve happily given them.
My mom also asked to work at the store more to help save for their new car since she’s been using my truck and I’ve been riding my bike everywhere.
I don’t love my mom working more, even though I know it’s a little reprieve for her.
We compromised, and I decided to keep the store closed Monday and Tuesday, she works Wednesday through Saturday, and Colby is working Sunday.
It’s a win-win for all because it gives her time off and Colby more time in the workshop with me.
Colby and I have even gotten into a routine I never had before.
We work different machines on different days, and it seems to be flowing smoothly.
Best of all, the website Amber designed is working beautifully.
Everything is organized and I know exactly what projects are next and all their specifications.
She set up some marketing and advertising with it, and the amount of inquiries I’ve gotten has been wild.
This week has flown by between watching Amber, making changes to my business, and working longer hours so I can take the weekend off to camp with the boys.
Even with these things going right, I feel off.
It’s still not clear exactly where I stand with Amber.
She’s on my mind night and day but is still holding back. I’m not giving up, though.
When she held me as I ripped out my heart and handed it to her, I knew she was the one for me.
That girl is mine through and through, and slowly, I’ll make her see I can be her safe space.
The broken parts in her can find their home in the darkest parts of me.
I might not be the light she’s looking for, but I will burn myself to start her fire again.
Her fire is coming back, and I see the light returning to her eyes.
I’ve watched her smile in the gym every day this week, and it warms something in my chest every time I see it.
Her real smile, not the empty one she throws on to mask her pain.
She hums while working in the storeroom next door, and has been leaving her store doors open for the summer breeze.
Normally, I would be worried for her safety, but I can hear her warm laughter float out to my shop, and hell if it doesn’t make my day.
My girl deserves to be happy no matter what.
I want that happiness to be because of me.
With me . Thank God for having a weekend with the boys.
I know Thoren fell for Lily long before she was all in with him.
Hopefully, he can give me some advice on how to make her jump into this with me.
The boys will be waiting for me when I get home later, but I have things to take care of at work first.
I verified with Lauren that Amber was working in her store all day so I can put together the storage shelves I made for her.
The door between our two rooms is always unlocked, so when I arrive at work, I make sure Colby is fine, then sneak into her space and get to work.
By midday, I have shelving built for all of her tote boxes along one wall.
I replaced the table in the center of the room with a much larger one that has drawers and shelves underneath for her to store all her shipping material.
Despite my protests, Lauren even pops in to help me organize it, and she painted little chalkboard signs so all the shelves can be labeled by size and what’s in the totes on them.
It’s not perfect, but it’s better and much less of a hazard without boxes stored five-to-ten high.
I hated that safety risk, and I’ll do anything to protect Amber.
With the final boxes squared away, I thank Lauren for her help and check in with Colby one more time.
He’s almost complete, but I know the boys are waiting for me, so I hand him a spare key and entrust him to lock up when he’s done.
The look of pride and excitement on his face makes me chuckle.
With a slap on his shoulder, I grab my helmet, and climb on my bike, ready to get this boys’ weekend started.
Jake:
I need a favor.
Lily:
Anything.
Jake:
Make her see. Show her that she has a family here. That she has people who love her.
Lily:
People … or you?
Jake:
Both.