Chapter 43
forty-three
“I have nothing to wear,” I say to myself.
I aggressively slide hangers in my closet, as if the odd combination of clothes from my high school days and the limited attire I brought from Chicago might magically change at any moment.
“Why didn’t I consider what I was going to wear until the day before the wedding? ”
“Talking to yourself again?” Jake asks, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.
My heart skips a beat at the sight of him, decked out in a pair of loose-fitting gray sweats that hang dangerously low and a plain black T-shirt.
His hair is damp. Why does he have to look so damn delectable every time I see him?
“No. I mean, yes. Argh,” I reply, throwing my head back in frustration.
“I’m pissed at myself for not realizing I didn’t have a dress for the wedding until tonight.
How bad would it be if I wore the one from my engagement party to their wedding?
” I ask, pulling it out of the closet to remind him.
“Is it a bad omen to wear this dress to a friend’s wedding? ”
Jake chuckles, shaking his head and walking into my room.
“You can’t wear that, Kate. For starters, it’s white.
Even I know it’s poor taste for a guest to wear white to a wedding.
” He walks over to me, takes it out of my hand, and hangs it back in the closet.
“I also think it may hurt you to wear it again. Personally, I’m in favor of burning it. ”
I groan, collapsing onto my bed and covering my eyes with my arm. “Great. Looks like I’m wearing my high-school senior prom dress.”
“I can get on board with that option,” Jake answers, sitting next to me, close enough that our legs are touching. He gently removes my arm from my face and looks directly into my eyes when he says, “You did look beautiful in that dress.”
The butterflies in my stomach start fluttering again, ready to take flight at any moment. God. The way this man makes me feel with a single touch, look, or sentence. It’s all-consuming. Overpowering. And scary as hell.
“I guess it’s settled. You’ll look dashing in some custom suit you had just lying around, and I’ll be rocking a retro piece. Pretending the late 2000s are coming back in style.”
Jake chuckles again, patting my upper thigh and sending a wave of heat straight to my core.
And I’m wearing pants. What the hell would happen if he touched my bare leg?
I’d probably combust into a pile of ash.
“I might have another alternative for you. Assuming you’re not dead set on the throwback piece,” he teases, arching his eyebrows and smirking.
“If you suggest I check out my mom’s closet, I’m going to lose it. She’s already offered to loan me a dress for tomorrow. To be clear, I’d rather go naked.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize that was an option. I fully support that.” He leans over, his lips dangerously close to my ear, and whispers, “But to be very clear, I’m not okay with anyone but me seeing you naked. So, if you’re going with that one, expect to spend the evening in my bed.”
Oh. My. Fucking. God.
“Be right back,” he says with a wink, and then quickly leaves the room. Acting like he didn’t just mention wanting to see me naked and spending the night in his bed. I mean…that does sound rather delightful.
Damn it, Kate. Get yourself together. Stop letting your pussy think for you.
The previously small heatwave in my body has ignited. A full-on raging fire that apparently only he can put out. I’m leaning back on my elbows, chewing on my lower lip, trying to get the dirty thoughts about what an evening in Jake’s bed could entail when he walks in carrying a white dress bag.
“What’s that?”
“Open it and find out.” Jake stands in front of me, holding out the bag.
I’m dying to find out what’s inside. I stand, slowly unzipping the bag to see an absolutely gorgeous chiffon dress with a deep V-neck and cascading ruffles in vintage mauve.
It’s the perfect dress for a spring wedding.
Exactly what I would’ve picked if I’d had the time.
I glance at him, look at the dress, and back at him again.
Completely speechless. “Do you like it?” he asks, a hint of hesitation and nervousness in his voice.
I slide a finger along the neckline, touching the soft fabric and noticing it appears to be my size. How could he pick out such a perfect dress for me? When did he have the time? How does he keep finding ways to sweep me off my feet?
“It’s perfect, Jake,” I whisper, gazing into his steel-blue eyes. “Thank you for doing this for me. For everything you do for my mom and me.”
A slow grin spreads across his face, his eyes beaming at me.
“You’re worth it. I’d do anything to put a smile on your beautiful face.
Make your life a little bit easier. See your eyes sparkle with happiness.
” He holds the dress in one hand and runs his fingertips down my cheek, brushing over my lips.
“Katherine, where are you?” my mom calls out from somewhere inside the house, breaking the trance Jake has me in and causing me to take a few steps away from him.
There’s a flash of disappointment in his face at my sudden movement before it quickly disappears, and he moves to hang the dress in my closet.
“Be there in a minute, Mom,” I reply.
“I’m glad you like the dress, Kate. I’ll pick you up at 2 p.m. tomorrow,” Jake says solemnly before leaving my room.
“You look incredible, Kate,” Chelsi says as I curl another piece of my hair. We’ve been video chatting for the past thirty minutes while I’m getting ready. “Jake will go feral when he sees you in that dress.”
I grin. “I hope so. He did a great job picking it out. It fits me like a glove.”
“You seriously need to lock him down. A man who can pick out clothes is a rare find. Especially one who is that hot and worships the ground you walk on.” Chelsi adjusts her position on the couch, tucking her legs underneath her.
“When are you going to put him out of his misery and give him a chance?”
That’s the million-dollar question. He’s waited patiently for weeks, while I’ve attempted to sort through my complex feelings about him and agonized over the implications of dating him.
And I’ve sent him so many mixed signals.
My body clearly wants him, craving his touch and closeness, while my brain wants to pull back out of fear.
I exhale deeply, placing the curling iron on the bathroom counter. “Tonight. I’m going to tell him I’m ready after the wedding,” I reply confidently, a small grin growing across my face as warmth spreads throughout my body.
“Seriously? Oh my God!” Chelsi shouts, dancing on the couch. “How are you going to tell him? Why not do it before the wedding? Are you going to sleep with him tonight?”
“One question at a time. I’m waiting until after the wedding because I want us to have some private time to discuss it, rather than me dropping the news on him and being surrounded by other people for the following six hours.”
“That makes sense. It’s possible you might not make it to the wedding if you tell him beforehand.” Chelsi chuckles, waggling her eyebrows multiple times to make sure I’m getting her innuendo.
“I’m not going to sleep with him tonight. I want to take things slow. Make sure we’re building a strong foundation that can last long-term. I don’t want to screw this up.” I sigh, staring at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, knowing everything is about to change.
“You won’t. You’re so much stronger after everything that happened with Brian.
You know what you deserve and won’t take any less.
Plus, you’re getting better every day at standing up for yourself, instead of going along with what everyone else wants.
I’m so proud of the progress you’re making,” Chelsi says with a genuine smile.
“Jake has been a big catalyst in these changes for you, but you’ve put in the hard work.
And now you get to reap the benefits… And I get to live vicariously through you. ”
Laughing, I shake my head. Chelsi can express herself emotionally and sexually so easily. I envy that. She’s always her authentic self, not giving a damn about what anyone thinks. It’s exactly how I want to be, moving forward. And that starts tonight, by telling Jake how much I want to be with him.