4. Cherry
I woke up early this morning, nervous excitement swirling in my belly. It’s my first shift at the Mocha Bar today. I’d emailed my class schedule over to my boss, Stewart, and he’d got back to me the same day with my shift roster.
I’ve been here almost a week now, and my classes and lectures start next week, but I can’t deny I feel a little homesick. But new friends like Marianna and Lucy, my dorm sisters, have made it easier. Marianna had banged on my door the night after the party at her house absolutely mortified by her stepsister’s behavior and begging my forgiveness.
I’d laughed it off, telling her she wasn’t responsible for her sister, and I’d meant it. Lorelei might be a prize bitch, but Marianna is nice, sweet. She quizzed me about Jake, asking how we knew each other. I’d played it down, saying we hardly knew each other and had literally just run into each other at a coffee shop on my first day. She’d divulged that he and his friend were like gods around campus. Everyone knew them, and either wanted to be their friends, fuck them, or were scared by the amount of power and influence they had. F rom what she said, they didn’t seek people out or go to a lot of parties, and that untouchability just made their stock soar higher.
To say I’d been shocked was an understatement. I hadn’t got the vibe off Jake at all. Yes, I could see by the way Marcus and his friends reacted that Jake wasn’t to be messed with but this almost god-like status hadn’t been obvious to me by his behavior towards me at all, but then maybe I wasn’t looking too hard.
I haven’t heard from him since Saturday night when he dropped me home, and I haven’t seen him around but that’s okay. I’ve battled a little disappointment before deciding it’s probably for the best. He’d asked for my number and I’d refused, saying if he wanted it enough he’d find it. Clearly, he hadn’t wanted to put the work in and that’s okay.
As I dry my hair and style it into soft waves before pulling it into a ponytail for work, my phone buzzes.
Unknown number: Want to make out….
I blink in surprise, a grin pulling at my lips as I guess Lexi is messing with me. She does that sometimes, or she used too. Pranks are kind of our thing. I can see the dots jumping as the person types again and I wait to see what they’d say next.
Unknown number: Oops! That was meant to say do you want to hang out, but I’m happy with either ??
Cherry: Who is this?
Unknown number: Gif
The gif was of a cartoon man with an arrow through his heart. I smile, daring to hope that it’s Jake but also trying to play down how much this sends a thrill through my blood.
Unknown number: Wow, Blossom, You forgot me already, you sure know how to wound a guy.
My grin widens as my fingers fly over the screen, prickles of excitement making my skin tingle.
Cherry: How did you get my number, Jake?
Jake: Aww, so you do remember me. You said if I wanted it enough, I’d find it, and I really wanted it. Now, about that making out…
Jake: I mean hanging out. ??
A laugh burst from me at his flirty comment and I let my body fall back on the bed as I quickly type out a response.
Cherry: Much as I’d love to HANG out, I have to work today.
I place my phone down on the bed, not wanting to be one of those girls who watches her phone like a maniac waiting for a boy to text her, even if he is only a friend. I apply some mascara as the text message alert dings. With more restraint than I thought I possessed, I finish my make-up with some cherry lip gloss because I’m not above that particular cliché and cherry is the bomb.
Picking up the phone, I read the text.
Jake: How about later?
Cherry: What would we do?
Jake: Well, as you shut making out down, and we’re friends, I thought we could go play crazy golf? As long as you don’t get upset with losing. I’m not one to brag but I am pretty amazing, if I do say so myself.
Cherry: Crazy golf?
Jake: Hey, don’t judge my little quirks.
Cherry: I’d never and that sounds fun. I get off at five, does that work?
Jake: ?? I’d love to get you off before but since you shut me down, five works. I’ll pick you up from work.
Cherry: How about I meet you there? You can send me the address.
I don’t want this to feel like a date and him picking me up feels too much like a date.
Jake: It’s a THIRTY-MINUTE drive and you don’t have a car.
Cherry: I can Uber.
Jake: Fuck me, you’re stubborn.
Cherry: ?
Jake: Just let me pick you up. I promise I’ll let you choose the music
Cherry: Even if it’s the Spice Girls?
Jake: Fuck me. Yes, even if it’s the spice girls.
Cherry: I don’t like the Spice Girls.
Jake: You done being sassy?
Cherry: Never
Jake: Good, it’s cute
Cherry: ….
Jake: I’ll pick you up at five. DO NOT ARGUE WITH ME ON THIS.
Cherry: Okay.
Jake: Have a great first shift, Cherry Blossom.
Cherry: Stop calling me Blossom.
Jake: Neveeerrr.
Okay, that’s kind of hot. I like a man who takes charge and is sweet at the same time and he’s allowing me to be me. I finish getting ready with a smile on my face and then head for the Mocha Bar.
The next few weeks are crazy busy with classes and work as I get my head around work, living away from home, and the demands of my course, but I love it. I’m thriving here and that is in no small part down to Jake. He’s been true to his word and hasn’t tried anything with me, and I’m kinda bummed over it.
I’d drawn the line in the sand and he’s stuck to it, but now I’m wondering if I’ve been too hasty in friend-zoning him. He’s sweet, thoughtful, hot as fucking lava, and he pays attention to me.
Every morning I wake up to a text from him wishing me a good day, but they say more than good morning, they let me know he’s thinking about me.
This morning’s text had been Good morning Blossom. I hope your day is as lovely as you.
It wasn’t too flirty but it was sweet and made the walls I’d erected tremble as each brick began to fall. Lately, he’d even begun to wait for me after my shift and wa lk me back to my dorm even though it was less than a block away.
“Hey, you. How was your shift?”
I look up as I exit the Mocha Bar and see Jake leaning against a shiny black Yamaha, his arms crossed over his broad chest. My eyes on the bike, I walk towards him and run my hand reverently over the paintwork. “This is a Yamaha R3.”
“It is.”
I look up to find him watching me, surprise flickering on his face. “You like bikes, Blossom?”
“My dad loved them so I grew up around them.”
“Wanna go for a ride?”
Jake holds up the spare helmet in his hand and I grin, a thrill like no other rushing through me at the thought. “Yes.”
Jake bends to put the helmet on my head, and buckles it at my throat, his fingers brushing my skin as he does. “If I’d known it would put a smile like this on your face, I would’ve brought out the bike sooner. I’m about to put her away for the winter and wanted one last ride and thought you might enjoy it too.”
“I haven’t been on a bike in ages.”
His knuckles brush my cheek and I blush at the tender touch and the way he’s looking at me. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Cherry Blossom.”
Our gazes lock and it’s like the world falls away, and I believe him when he says it. I trust Jake not to hurt me, or at least I was starting to. He hadn’t just given up when I said I could only offer him my friendship. He’s shown up every day in one way or another. Even if we don’t see each other, we talk or text.
My heart skitters behind my breastbone as I watch his strong throat bob on a swallow. Blinking away the fog as somebody whistles across the street, I look back at the bike. “She’s beautiful.”
“Yes, she is.” The reverence in his tone makes me look up but his eyes are on me, not the bike. How easy it would be to give in and risk it for this boy, to follow my heart instead of my head ?
“Okay, let’s go before it gets too dark.”
Jake swings his leg over the bike, his jeans pulling tight around his powerful thighs. He reaches his hand up and I take it, using him to balance as I swing my leg over behind him. I take a second to settle myself on the seat as he waits patiently. My hands fall to my sides as I hesitate, not knowing where to put them. What I want to do is cuddle up to him, to lay my cheek on his back and wrap my arms around him but I’m not sure he wants that. I turn, looking for the handles at the back as he sits up and reaches back. Taking my hands, he hauls me forward, my chest falling against his back, his heat seeping through my jacket into my skin.
“Put your arms around me, Cherry Blossom.”
His fingers thread through mine as he links my hands at his waist and then puts his palm over the top, the other smoothing down my thigh. Awareness prickles my skin, my nipples beading against the cotton of my bra at the way he makes me feel precious.
The bike roars to life, and I feel the power of it thrum between my legs.
“You good?”
“Yes.”
“Hold on to me, baby.”
I know his calling me that crosses the line of our friendship but I don’t have it in me to care as the thrill of being this close to him on my dream bike takes over all thoughts. I grip his shirt, his abs hard beneath my touch as we begin to move.
The rush of the wind is cool on my skin, lifting my hair from my shoulders as we weave through traffic and then we’re on the open road. Riding a bike is as close to true freedom as you can get. It’s exhilarating, my blood pumps through my veins like liquid ecstasy.
I’ve only ever been on the back of one bike before this. It was an ex from school and he was so busy showing off he almost wrecked us on a corner. It left me feeling angry and afraid, thinking he’d ruined my most precious connection to my dad. Jake is giving me that back with each mile and he has no clue he’s even doing it. I feel safe, like no matter what, he won ’t let anything happen to me and that’s huge because trust isn’t a commodity I trade in very often.
After about an hour, he pulls into a rest stop where a food truck is serving. I move to get off, but he places a hand on my leg to stop me. Swinging his leg over the front of the bike, he strides behind me and lifts me off, setting me on my feet, but holding me around the waist as he waits for me to get my legs under me.
“You good?”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak in case my voice comes out husky.
“Okay, you wanna grab some food or just a hot chocolate?”
“I could eat.”
We walk side by side to the line at the food truck and I eye the menu. Tacos, burgers, and hot dogs mainly.
“These are the best tacos in the State.”
I cock my head, looking up at Jake as he scans the menu. “Wow, that’s a powerful statement.”
“Try them and you’ll see.”
“Well okay, then.”
We both order tacos and Jake orders some fries to share, and I get a hot chocolate and he grabs a coffee. I reach for my purse, ready to pay my share and he pushes it away.
“Don’t even think about it.”
The look he’s giving me brooks no argument, but I wouldn’t be me if I just let it go, so I place my hand on my hip and raise my brows. “This isn’t a date, Jake.”
He hands some cash to the guy behind the counter who’s smirking at us and motions at the bench where we’ll wait for our food to be called.
“I’m well aware of that, but that doesn’t mean you pay when we’re out. I asked you to come here, so I pay.”
“So if I ask, I can pay?”
Jake hesitates, before shaking his head. “No.”
“That’s hypocritical. ”
“It’s not. It’s how I’ve been taught to treat a woman.”
“Like a prize?”
He smirks and huffs a laugh. “Do you just like to argue, Blossom?”
“No, I just want to know. I’m your equal. I don’t need you to pay for my stuff.”
Jake leans in, and I find myself doing the same, his gaze hints that he knows things I don’t.
“We ain’t equal, babe.”
I sit back, stunned, a gasp falling from my lips ready to rip into him when he continues.
“We ain’t equal because you’re so much better than me in every way. You work your ass off, you’re smart, funny, sweet, you are unapologetically you in every way and you’re hot as fuck. You are the prize in every way, and if all I can do is pay for a cheap taco dinner, then that’s what I’ll do.”
My entire body softens at his sweet words. Nobody has ever said something so sweet to me before and I want to wrap my arms around him and never let go. “Jake.”
He grins and holds his hand up as he pulls back. “Now, don’t go soft and fall in love with me. I told you we can only be friends.”
I smile, my pulse beating faster, laughter bubbling inside me. “I’m pretty sure I said that.”
“Tomato, tomahto.”
I shake my head feeling happier and more carefree than I ever have before as he stands to collect our food. Jake gets me, he gets my need for control, my desire for someone to make the effort and show me I matter.
I’m falling for my new friend and it’s fucking terrifying and exhilarating.