Chapter 14
Fourteen
JAKE
The universe must be in on his plans to get Gia alone.
Though he hadn’t talked to the Liens, he thought it was curious Minh left as quickly as she did when he’d arrived.
Even more puzzling was the way her parents abandoned the two of them.
He’d greeted them when he brought back a tray of dirty dishes.
They’d smiled and waved at him, and the next thing he knew, they were peeling out of the parking lot like the restaurant was on fire.
Whatever the reason, he was grateful to have time alone with Gia.
He’d known Gia was working at the restaurant since he’d seen her during his morning jog.
He certainly hadn’t missed the way her gaze roamed over his body, or the spark of interest in her eyes before she realized it was him.
If nothing else, Gia found him attractive, which would benefit him. He could use it to his advantage.
They certainly didn’t lack chemistry. Like lighter fluid near a flame, the two of them were extremely combustible. If she felt half of what he felt, no doubt they would set the whole town on fire when they got together.
When. Not if.
Failure was not an option. He’d spend the rest of his life proving to Gia they were meant to be together.
As Gia sidled up to him reluctantly, he smothered a smile behind his hand.
She approached him as if he were a dangerous animal.
Or more appropriately, like she was the dangerous animal, and he was the unknown stranger reaching out a hand to help her.
It was clear she didn’t know whether she could trust him.
A part of him deflated knowing he had caused her distrust.
Never again.
He’d be damned sure to gain her trust and never lose it again.
Teenage Jake was an idiot, but adult Jake was more mature and self-aware.
He was no longer riddled with misplaced guilt that they shouldn’t be together or Thao would have been unhappy about them.
If anything, the past had been creeping back into his subconscious and reminding him of all the times Thao seemed to give his blessing, but Jake had been too dumb to recognize it for what it was.
Hindsight is twenty-twenty.
“Come on. Let’s get you home.”
Jake waited patiently while Gia locked up the restaurant, purse slung over her shoulder like she’d use it as a weapon at a moment’s notice. He bet she would launch it at his face at the smallest provocation.
“I can’t believe they just left me behind,” Gia muttered under her breath as she headed to the sidewalk, not bothering to see if Jake was following behind her.
“It’s not like I’m a stranger.”
“You are a stranger.”
Her words cut him deep. No doubt she believed it.
“I never used to be.”
“Stop.” Gia whirled around, hair flying like a weapon as she met his eyes. Fire burned in her gaze as she stabbed him in the chest with a manicured finger. “Stop pretending we’re still friends. You are not my friend, Jake.”
Fists clenched at his sides, he resisted the urge to shake her until she understood what she meant to him.
“I don’t want to be your friend, Gia.” Voice low but determined, he let his eyes broadcast his intentions.
Flustered, pink staining her cheeks in the fading sunlight, she shook her head at him sharply, as if the entire idea were preposterous.
“Nothing is going to happen between us.” Her hand dropped back to her side limply. “I can walk home by myself.”
“Okay.” He agreed she could walk home by herself, but was he going to let her do that? Obviously not. He had some manners.
“Okay?” Her brows pinched in confusion.
Jake simply nodded before stepping forward and walking past her. This time, he didn’t hide the smile when he heard her footsteps as she chased after him.
“What do you think you’re doing?” She grabbed his bicep, fingers briefly digging into his skin before dropping her hand like she’d been scalded. The brief touch made his cock twitch with awareness, reminding him of how it felt when she’d gripped him in the throes of passion.
“I’m walking. What does it look like I’m doing?” He looked at her over his shoulder, eyebrow cocked.
“You don’t live this way.”
“How do you know where I live? Stalking me?” He curled his lips, fighting the urge to grin at how her cheeks darkened at his taunting. Anger? Embarrassment?
“I am definitely not stalking you!”
“Then how do you know where I live?” he volleyed back.
“You are so annoying.” Gia stomped away from him, once again leading the way.
For the few minutes it took Gia to calm down, he admired the view, trailing behind her at a short distance as if he had not a single care in the world.
From the way her dark hair glinted with the fading sunlight to the curve of her shoulders, slender hips, and pert behind.
The tight-fitting black leggings, ending right above her ankles, showcased her shapely legs.
She’d worn her shirt tied in a knot at the bottom in a stylish way, giving him glimpses of her toned stomach.
She looked good enough to eat. His jeans were getting snug, which made walking uncomfortable. When the tension finally left her tightly coiled body, he widened his steps so they were walking side by side. He kept his hands tucked in his pockets as they walked in silence.
Willowbrook was a beautiful town. Tonight, as the sun retreated over the mountains, it cast shades of pink, purple, and orange across the darkening sky.
The sun’s retreat brought the cooler temperatures of autumn.
Soon enough, the leaves would start to fall and make way for the cold winter. His least favorite season.
“For what it’s worth, I’m happy you’re back. I know your family is too.” Voice low, Jake kept his eyes in front of them. Gia didn’t respond. The only sign she gave that she heard him was the way her crossed arms tightened involuntarily around her.
“Me too,” Gia whispered, though he heard it as clearly as if she’d shouted it. His heartbeat quickened at her admission.
“Remember when Thao tried to learn how to skateboard off those side rails?” Jake pointed at the small park across the street.
Gia glanced at where he pointed, her eyes roaming the park as if she were seeing the memory as it replayed in her mind’s eye. The corners of her lips turned up in a small smile.
“Yeah. And went home crying about how the side rails came out of nowhere and attacked him.” Gia threw her head back and laughed, head shaking slightly from side to side.
“And your mom told him he was being a baby, so he asked her to hold him like one.” Jake chuckled.
“Remember that time he told us mushrooms grew wherever dogs peed, so none of us could look at mushrooms the same way afterward?”
“I never liked mushrooms.”
“Me neither.”
Silence fell between them as they rounded the corner to her parents’ house.
This time, things didn’t feel so taut between them.
Instead, it felt familiar. Like old friends catching up.
Their fingertips grazed each other, and he wrapped a pinky finger around hers.
The charge from the contact shot all the way to his cock, which made it increasingly difficult to walk normally.
Their steps slowed as her front steps loomed.
Feet dragging to the front door, Jake turned to Gia.
With the sun setting behind her, she looked ethereal.
Dark strands of her hair escaped her ponytail, framing her heart-shaped face, and his hands itched to pull her in for a kiss.
Instead, he studied her brown eyes as she stared up at him.
Gently, he brought a hand up to tuck a loose strand behind her ear, letting his fingers linger on her face.
Jake leaned his head down. Gia closed her eyes as if expecting his next move.
Does she want me to kiss her?
Her body language suggested it, but knowing he couldn’t rush things despite how badly he wanted a taste of her, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead instead. He leaned in close, breathing in her floral scent, then pulled away.
“Good night, Gia.” He shoved his fists into his pockets and rocked back on his heels, resisting the urge to yank her into his chest and kiss her the way he really wanted to.
Gia’s eyelids fluttered open, shock registered across her face.
“Oh. Um. Good night.” Gia cleared her throat. Opening the front door, she looked at him over her shoulder and offered him a small smile. “Thanks for walking me home.”
Jake nodded and waited until she was inside her house before making his way back to the sidewalk. He hoped it hadn’t been a mistake not to kiss her, but he was going to do things right this time.
Years ago, they had jumped right into sex and skipped all the dating stuff most couples did before that stage. This time, he was going to woo her before they did anything physical.
Even if his cock disagreed. He was in charge, not the angry appendage attached to him.
The winding road to Raven Rock was one of Jake’s favorite parts about Willowbrook.
Any opportunity he got to come out this way was an experience.
He drove with his windows down, relishing the way the wind moved through his car.
There was a crispness in the early mornings, which was refreshing.
By the time the sun was high in the sky, it chased the chill away to the perfect temperature.
And when the sun started its retreat, the cooler weather would return.
Fall in Willowbrook was perfect.
While Moonshadow Falls was located on the opposite end of town and boasted more family-friendly activities, Raven Rock was closer to the city side.
During his time spent at university, which was nestled in the center of a bustling city, he’d missed Willowbrook’s small-town charm.
City life, with its constant noises, bright lights, and stimulation, and lack of walkable parks or outdoor activities, was not for him.
It felt like a concrete prison with no sign of nature in sight.
Worse, he saw no evidence fall was approaching other than the shorter daylight hours.