Chapter 10
Ten
JAKE
After an exhausting hour talking to Alina, who agreed enthusiastically to help Marley with her insane rehabilitation program to re-socialize Gia to Willowbrook, they headed farther away from town toward the inn.
Alina was the new community events coordinator for the town.
She had lived in Willowbrook until graduation, when she ventured off to the city.
Based on the murmurs in town, Alina landed a cushy job with a prestigious company but returned to town this past spring.
Though the reason for her return was unknown, her presence was a welcome one.
Alina worked tirelessly to organize and revitalize the town’s summer carnival while also building a recreational baseball league for both children and adults.
Jake forgot Gia and Alina had been friendly during their time together at school. Though they never hung out outside of classes, Alina still remembered Gia fondly, which helped their case.
At Marley’s direction, he drove them from the community center to the Willowbrook Inn near the base of the popular hiking trails. When they pulled into the parking lot, they found Diem arguing with Silas, the town’s only handyman.
Despite Diem’s expressive and clearly irate gesticulating, Silas remained standing stoically as she pointed toward the inn. The parking lot was empty, which probably had to do with the Closed for Renovations sign hung haphazardly on the closed door.
When Diem saw Jake and Marley approaching, she puffed a breath, her sideswept bangs fluttering. She pasted a wide smile in greeting.
Silas acknowledged them with a small nod before trudging past them into the inn.
“Hey, Jake! Marley! What are you guys doing here?” Diem said enthusiastically.
“Actually, we wanted to talk—”
“Are you okay?” Marley interrupted.
Taken aback by the question, Diem turned her attention to Marley.
“Oh, that? Yeah, I’m fine. You know how stubborn Silas is.” Diem waved her hand in the air dismissively. “He’ll come around, eventually.”
Jake grimaced at her high-pitched laugh, not fully convinced. And judging by the lack of expression on Marley’s face, he was sure she didn’t believe it either.
“Anyway, what brings you folks around here? I don’t get a lot of visitors coming my way.
” Diem gestured at the inn behind her, which was looking a little rough around the edges with its overgrown hedges.
The inn had been owned by Victoria for as long as Jake could remember.
Diem, who turned out to be a distant niece, inherited the property when Victoria passed away a few months ago.
“Actually, we were wondering when the ballroom would be ready. I know you and Alina have partnered up to host the town’s fall event.” Jake tucked his hands in his back pocket and rocked back on his heels.
“Oh, yes. Um, well, here’s the thing. The ballroom isn’t quite up to code yet. So, we may need to change plans. I’ll know more once Silas gets his act together.” Diem ran a hand through her hair with a grimace.
“Gotcha. Actually, this might work out even better. Alina said the community center could host the town fundraiser. Maybe you could set up a booth, too!” Marley suggested, her eyes flicking to the building in need of repair.
“Right. I’ll think about it.” She crossed her arms.
“Oh, we also wanted to talk to you about something we’re working on and need some help with.” Marley wiggled her eyebrows comically.
Curious, Diem leaned in closer, eager to hear what Marley had in mind.
Jake stood nearby, hands tucked in his pants pockets, while Marley relayed her genius plan on how they needed trusted spies to help them keep an eye on Gia’s whereabouts around town so Jake could “pop” in.
“Oh! Like a happy accident!”
“Yes! Exactly!” Marley made finger guns and winked conspiratorially.
“I’ve always liked Gia. Never seen her movies, though.”
Marley and Diem exchanged numbers before she and Jake hopped in the car and headed back to town.
Instead of driving back to his house, Jake wanted to reward Marley for being so helpful.
He was feeling hopeful about the plan they had set into motion, or Operation Tuna Melt, as Marley kept insisting he call it.
As he parked in front of the bookstore across the street from the coffee shop, Marley glanced up from her phone in confusion. When she saw where they were, she turned to him with a wide grin that made his heart swell.
She practically skipped inside and ran to check out the newest releases. Jake was not much of a reader, unless you counted reading the law books stacked in his office, but he could admire her voracious appetite for books. It was a much healthier habit than what other kids her age were doing.
After roaming the latest young adult releases, Marley found the book she had been searching for.
He knew she would likely spend the rest of the afternoon holed up in her bedroom reading.
There were worse things she could do with her time.
It also made him feel less guilty about her being home alone for a couple of hours.
Jake drove Marley back to the house. Once parked, he waited until she went inside before backing out of the driveway. He had let Marley know about his next destination on the drive back. She’d nodded her head in understanding.
Gia’s return to town had awakened something deep inside of him. A slumbering beast had opened its eyes and could no longer be ignored. Things he’d buried years ago. Promises he’d made, and the ones he hadn’t fulfilled.
It was time he visited an old friend and kept his promises.
It was always so peaceful up here, sitting on the bench overlooking the mountainside with its snowcapped peaks while the lake glistened beneath.
It always took his breath away, no matter how many times he’d seen it.
The sun had already begun its descent over the horizon, casting its light in vibrant hues over the water.
Jake hadn’t been up here for a few weeks, a misstep he quickly apologized for when he arrived with snacks and beverages in his backpack after stopping at the grocery store. He’d offered them to Thao and placed them on the seat before updating him on what had been going on in town.
Thao used to love how the townspeople loved to gossip. After retelling an overly exaggerated story about how one of the residents’ chickens escaped and was causing havoc throughout town, Jake sat back against the seat. It was now or never.
“Your sister’s back.” Jake broke the news as gently as he could. A gale of wind rustled the leaves at his feet as if to answer his words. “I wish I could say she’s doing well, but I’d be lying.”
Grimacing at the hard truth, Jake heaved a sigh and rubbed at the nape of his neck.
“Truth is, I’m worried about her. Like, really worried about her.” He paused for reflection. “But I am so fucking glad she’s home.”
Pulling at the hair at the base of his neck, he turned his head toward the other side of the bench.
“I have to make amends for some things with Gia. I really fucked up when you left. Now it feels like I have another shot at it.” Gulping, Jake braced himself for his next words.
“You think you’ll be okay with that? I mean, Gia’s always been the one, you know what I mean?
I should have told you a long time ago, but I didn’t want to upset you. But now…”
Jake brought a hand up to gesture to the surrounding space.
“Now, I don’t know what’s holding me back except me.” Running his palm across his jaw, Jake chuckled as if he’d told a funny joke. The wind continued to blow leaves across his feet. Distantly, he heard the tinkling of wind chimes, which sounded like harmonious laughter.
“So, um, can I get your blessing on this? I really need your help with this one, man.” Jake smirked. “You know how stubborn Gia can be.”
Again, the sound of wind chimes echoed in the distance.
Finally, Jake tilted his head to confront his silent companion.
Though there was an empty space beside him, he could have sworn he saw an image of Thao’s smiling face seated beside him before vanishing. Jake blinked the image away, though it seared itself into his memory. His mind was surely playing tricks on him.
“I miss ya, buddy.” Leaning his head back against the bench, Jake closed his eyes and let the heat of the sun warm him. The sounds of the wind, birds chirping, and crunching leaves were relaxing. He felt the muscles in his body relax as he melted into his seat.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Jake’s eyes flew open to take in the sight of a red-faced and panting woman.
Gia.
While his eyes lazily scanned her from head to toe, she fumed. He could practically see the steam coming out of her ears. She stood with her feet planted shoulder-width apart and her hands braced against her hips. She looked ready to fight. She was magnificent.
It seemed Thao gave his blessing, after all.
Smirking, Jake gestured lazily to his surroundings.
“What does it look like I’m doing?”
Gia rolled her eyes at him in a show of defiance, which triggered his knee-jerk reaction of wanting to punish her. Their one night together had barely whetted his appetite or allowed him to test her boundaries.
How would Gia react if I bent her over my knee and spanked her? Would it make her turn feral and wild, or would she melt from being handled roughly?
His cock stirred to attention at his wayward thoughts.
Remembering where they were, Jake crossed his ankle over his knee, willing his stiff cock to calm down.
“It looks like you’re breathing the same air as me, and you need to leave.”
If Gia had fangs, she’d probably flash them at him. Animosity radiated from her every pore. Thank God it wasn’t deadly, or he’d be dead on the spot.
“I was here first.” Jake rolled his lips together to keep from laughing. The comeback was pretty lame, but it reminded him of their teenage spats.
“Yeah, well, you need to leave.”
“Why? There’s plenty of room here on this bench for both of us.”
“Where did this bench come from? It wasn’t here the last time I visited.”