Chapter Ten
Jake
“ J esus, man. You look like shit.” From behind the bar, Ian sends me a concerned stare as I drag myself into his bar at the end of my long work day.
“Feel like it, too.” I sigh.
“Your usual?” he asks.
I nod before taking a seat on one of his stools and loosen the navy tie around my neck.
From the moment Mia told me she was seeing Vance, I haven’t felt like myself. I tossed and turned all night, which didn’t help. I’m a fucking mess, and I don’t know what to do.
A few moments later, Ian returns with a scotch in hand and places the glass in front of me. “Rough day?”
“‘Rough’ is an understatement.”
He pauses. “This have anything to do with Mia?”
I try to hide my surprise, but I’m pretty sure it’s all over my face. “What makes you ask that?”
“You kissed her on New Year’s Eve. Everyone saw. Also, Kami likes to talk.”
“I was drunk that night. And Kami, no offense, needs to mind her own business.”
He laughs. “If you’re afraid I’ll rat you out to Jonathan, don’t be. We may be friends, but I don’t owe him anything, especially information about you and Mia. And I operate under strict bartender-customer confidentiality.”
One of the best things about Ian? He listens, but he doesn’t involve himself in other people’s drama.
I sigh. “Be honest. Am I in over my head?”
“No. But it’s pretty reckless to pursue your best friend’s sister and not tell him.”
“Trust me, I’m well aware of it.” And sometimes, I feel like a shit.
“Based on the fact you’re here and not with her, I’d say things aren’t working out the way you planned.”
“Far from it.” I swallow my drink whole. “How about another?”
Ian refills my drink. “Are you really surprised?”
I shouldn’t be. Of course she’s in a relationship. Only a fidiot wouldn’t notice her. “Surprisingly, yes.”
“How so?”
I tell Ian everything that’s happened over the past two days.
When I finish, Ian frowns. “Huh. I didn’t think she was seeing anyone.”
“I didn’t, either.” And the news is fucking with my head.
“I’m willing to bet she has no idea how you feel.”
“Since she sees me living with her as an intrusion, I can’t exactly tell her.”
Ian shrugs. “Then you’ll need to convince her otherwise. Based on what Kami has told me, Mia has never liked Jonathan meddling in her life. Since you’re his bestie, you’re guilty by association.”
“Exactly. It doesn’t help that I moved in with Mia. As merely her roommate, but…”
“Does Jonathan know?”
I wince. “Not yet.”
“Oh, shit. Dude, when are you going to tell him?”
That’s another wrinkle I need to figure out. “Soon. Just…not now. Once I do, he’ll watch me like a hawk and never let me be alone with Mia again.”
I hate keeping Jonathan in the dark, but there’s no other way.
“Yeah. If I were Mia’s big brother, those are definitely things I’d do.”
I nod. “When Jonathan does find out, I’d rather be the one to tell him.”
“That’s noble, but it probably won’t stop him from wanting to rip your balls off.”
“Not gonna lie. I’m worried about that.”
“What do you plan to do about the boyfriend in the meantime?”
What can I do? I can’t get rid of him, especially if it means losing more of Mia’s trust. “Other than try to spend more time with her, I don’t know.”
“I have a suggestion…but this will take time.”
“I’m open to ideas.” I shrug, drinking more of the liquid goodness.
“Wine and dine her.”
I scowl. “I’m not following.”
“Obviously, with another guy in the picture, you can’t ask her out on a date.”
“Yeah,” I grouse.
“But you can offer her your time.”
“Isn’t that what I’m doing?”
He shakes his head. “Have you ever gone fishing?”
“Once. Not really my thing.”
“But you know that to catch fish you need bait, right?”
“What does this have to do with winning her heart?” I wish he’d get to the point.
“Make her breakfast, help her with her laundry, watch a chick-flick or two with Mia. Be there with and for her. Be friendly, but not too friendly. Show her what life would be like if you were her boyfriend, minus the horizontal tango.”
The more I think about this strategy, the more I’m not so keen. “But wouldn’t that give her more ammo to friend zone me?”
“Not necessarily. For her to be yours, you have to become the person she relies on—for anything and everything. And to get there, you have to prove you’re solid.”
“And if she knows she can rely on me, then I’ve gained her trust.” And maybe her heart. Why the fuck didn’t I think of that?
“Bingo!”
And all the while, she’ll learn more about me and feel how it would feel if there was an us. Ian is a genius. “Where should I start?”
“I know you, Jake. You have the innate ability to improvise and ultimately get what you want. You’ll figure it out.”
I slowly nod, wracking my brain for ideas. And then one hits me. “Know a good pizza place nearby?”