Chapter 24
Words Were Said
Is there trouble in Paradise? Jake was looking everywhere on campus for his Queen yesterday. Was he worried that she was with Benji? I can tell you she wasn't, but Janet sure was.
Sasha's not a morning person, but I'm hungry, and I'm not going anywhere by myself after what I witnessed yesterday so I poke her to wake her up.
She doesn't move a muscle. As much as I love my new best friend, I proceed with caution. This could get ugly! I take my phone out, and YouTube most annoying sounds. I make sure that my Bluetooth is working on Jake’s Bose speaker.
I'm either really brave or really foolish.
I'm that kind of friend! I also make sure the volume is at maximum capacity on both devices.
I give my best Grinch smile and hit the play button.
Sasha jumps up, slapping my phone and the remote to the speaker out of my hand.
They go flying across the room. Sasha looks around, confused, not knowing what is going on—making me laugh.
Realizing what I've done, she slaps me with her pillow.
That makes me laugh even harder. These sounds are so annoying, but I can't find where my phone or the remote is because when she flung them, they must have landed in outer space.
There is so much chaos. We laugh until we can't breathe while still attempting to hunt down the missing devices.
Finally! She finds my phone, and I close the app.
She shouts, "VICTORY," making us both laugh hysterically.
After we calm down, I beg Sasha to go out to eat with me.
I still don't know where the remote to his speaker is, but I'll act like I don't know what happened to it.
Then I'll "help" him find it later tonight. I'm that kind of girlfriend.
We head to our favorite diner. I order the pancakes, and my bestie gets the patty melt. We're in hog heaven. "Has Jake told you about the plan to bring Benji down yet?"
What the what? "No. Did Dallas say something to you?"
She rolls her eyes because he hasn't told me yet.
"Yesterday, when you were napping, Jake called a team meeting with the whole starting line.
No one can stand Benji, apparently. Roderick from the O-Line said that his uncle was a cop and that he'd get advice from him about how we could take Benji down.
Then another guy said Benji sells drugs at that cool new club on riverside, McCarthy's.
Jake was thinking about doing surveillance there on a Friday night. "
"Jake acted like me seeing Benji was no big deal.
I realize he only did that to make me feel better, but that still pisses me off.
He should tell me what he honestly thinks about situations if he wants this to work between us.
I'm not some delicate female over here. I can handle way more than he is giving me credit for. "
"I'm sorry, Dani. I thought he would have told you last night. He's just worried, is all. He's trying to protect you."
"I get that, Sash, and I find that endearing, I truly do, but I need to know that I can count on him to tell me the truth at all times, even when challenged with a terrible situation. I need to know that he trusts me as much as I trust him."
She nods her head in understanding. "And that is only fair. You need to talk to him tonight."
"I will, and I promise to leave your name out of it."
“You don't have to leave my name out of it.
I don't care if he knows I told you. He should have last night.
" I laugh. I love that Sasha doesn't care if I tell him.
What you see is what you get with her. She grins at me, then rolls her eyes.
"Dallas tried to keep me out of that meeting yesterday, and I was like, nope...
if it concerns her, then it concerns me.
You should have seen the way Jake stared me down!
All I'll say is he turned his head first! "
I laugh so loud. I bring my pinky finger up, and we interlock our pinkies vigorously—sisters before misters. I am in no hurry to return to the football house, but I don't know what else we can do. "Okay. So what do we do now? Study? Watch a movie?"
"I vote that we get some exercise. Let's go to Mount Bonnell. I hear the view of the city from the top is breathtaking."
"That's two for exercise then! I can't believe I just voted for exercise."
She chuckles. "Girl, I know I had you at the breathtaking view."
"I can't argue with that."
We catch the bus and head for Mount Bonnell. Shoot! I forgot my phone! Who even does that nowadays?! Jake will be worried about me if he doesn't know where I am, and it gets late.
"Sasha, please text Jake and let him know where we’re going. I forgot my phone."
She looks at me like I've sprouted horns. "Who in God's green earth are you? I don't trust people who forget their phones."
I laugh and shrug. I'm only eighteen. I don't know who I am. Sasha shows me the text she sent him. I laugh when I see she started the text with, Hey Douche Canoe!
I share her air pods, and we start watching "Younger" on Hulu!
We're on Season 5. I'm half in love with Josh but see the appeal of Charles.
I think I'm #TeamJosh for Liza, though. The feelings they have for each other are on a whole different level.
Their connection is deep, just like Jake and me. He's my person.
We make it to Mount Bonnell, and it's just a short hike to see the view. "We will have to come back here when it's nighttime! What a gorgeous view of the Colorado River!"
"It is beautiful."
We sit and talk for hours about life, love, and everything else.
We lose track of time. Before we know it, the sun is gently lowering into the horizon.
Sasha finally looks down at her phone. Our conversation was seriously that great.
"Let's take a selfie right quick. Then we need to be on our way.
I have like 17 missed calls from Jake and a million from Dallas. "
We take our selfie to commemorate our wonderful day and then start trekking to the bus stop as she texts letting them both know that we are coming. As we are about to load up on the bus, Jake turns me around and gives me the biggest bear hug. I love his hugs, but this one is a little too tight.
"Jake. I'm fine. It's okay." I don't add, and you can let me go now because he's cute and smells nice. He looks me up and down, making sure I'm okay. I see the worry in his eyes. I feel instantly guilty. "I forgot my phone, and I'm so sorry to have made you worry. Baby, I'm sorry."
He looks relieved. He takes my hand and leads me to his truck while Sasha gets in the back. "We need to talk, Dani."
"We will, as soon as you drop Sasha off."
The whole car is silent until we get back to the Fearless Five house.
Dallas hugs Sasha about as tight as Jake did me.
We didn't mean to make them worry. Jake waits until they make it into the house, then drives away.
He turns on some tunes. We leave the city and ride down a dirt road until he eventually parks by a pond.
"Do you trust me?" I ask.
He looks at me in shock. "What kind of question is that?"
"When you don't tell me the whole truth that makes me feel like you don't trust me."
"I didn't lie to you."
"Did liar come out of my mouth?"
"No."
"Okay then. I know you didn't want to make me worried about the Benji situation because you wanted to protect me. I love that, but I also need to be told the truth because I can handle anything thrown my way. I need to know we're partners in this relationship. If we're not, we won't make it."
"No need to be dramatic, Dani."
Dramatic? I'll show this boy dramatic. "If telling you how I feel is being dramatic, then we will definitely NOT make it."
I get out of the car and start walking toward the dirt road. He jumps out of the truck. "Dani, get back in the truck."
I keep walking.
"Dani, get in the DAMN truck!!"
I flip him off and keep walking.
"Dani! Please."
I turn around, and his long arms engulf me. "I'm sorry, baby, and I know you're right. I promise to be 100% honest with you from here on out. Yesterday scared me to death. I can't lose you, Dani. I love you! There, I said it. I love you. Please, don't leave me."
I start crying. I can't help it. Jake loves me, too. I'm an emotional wreck. Yesterday took so much out of me. I rub his cheek with my palm and say, "Baby, I love you, and I'm not going anywhere, but you can't shield me from everything."
"I promise, I won't. Not anymore. You'll know everything. And Dani..."
"What, my love?"
"I love you."
Awe. "love you, too."