9. Jake
CHAPTER NINE
jake
S leep last night was abysmal. After leaving the shop early, which I really couldn’t afford to do with my work piling up, I went to the gym like normal after work and was even more frustrated.
The crowd around ten is minimal, but at eight, it’s slammed, so I cut my workout short, which led to a restless night in bed.
My whole day was thrown off when Amber showed up being nice with lunch after I have repeatedly been a dick to her.
To make matters worse, I’m pretty sure I made her cry twice yesterday.
That doesn’t sit well with me, and the second time, I don’t even know what I said to set her off.
There’s a beauty in her anger, a fight inside her that feels like she could face off with me and walk away unscathed.
So why was she a shell of herself yesterday after our talk?
It didn’t escape my notice that she slunk up to her apartment and never left.
Needing to clear my mind since sleep isn’t happening, I load up my gym bag and grab my helmet.
The throaty rumble of my engine is like a balm to my fraying nerves.
As soon as I turn off the gravel lane and onto the road, I hit the throttle and let myself fly through the quiet mountain roads.
The cool morning air whips through my unzipped jacket, stinging my skin.
I love the low fog on mornings like this, misting my skin as I fly.
Leaning into the curves of the road, I let the rush clear every thought from my head.
When I bought this the day I left for college, my parents were horrified.
Eleven years later, they still aren’t thrilled that I won’t give it up, but they don’t understand.
Aside from the fact I’ve put years of work into this bike, it’s also the one thing that makes me feel alive.
The saying that you never feel more alive than when you brush death, rings true every time the power surges between my legs.
Pulling into the gym parking lot, the predawn sky lightens, a soft, pinkish hue replacing the inky blackness, and the fresh air feels invigorating.
My mind is clear when I remove my helmet and step into the bright gym.
The tension slides from my body at the sight of the nearly empty gym.
It’s exactly what I need this morning, so I slip into the locker room to change.
With my stretching complete, I move to the free weights, and someone catches my eye in the mirrors.
In the corner of the gym is none other than my new neighbor.
Amber’s dressed in tight little shorts and a loose top, too busy finishing her set of curls to notice my wandering gaze.
This must be one of her morning activities, and suddenly, I want to align my schedule to hers.
Snagging a bench, I grab my set of weights and keep my eyes trained on her in the mirror the whole time.
I knew she worked out, no one has her physique without hard work and dedication, but the weight she is throwing around is astounding.
It’s also a major turn-on apparently, because my dick is very interested.
Breathing heavily, I try to focus on the burn in my muscles through each set and not on how she moves effortlessly through this place.
I don’t know how she hasn’t noticed me, but that just won’t do.
Dying for a hit of her fiery remarks, after this set of shoulder presses, I’ll make sure she sees me .
Right as I’m putting away my weights, a douchey-looking guy approaches her.
She beams a pretty smile at him, and he not so subtly lets his gaze travel down her body.
My hackles rise as they make small talk, and she throws her head back in laughter.
It should be beautiful, the throaty yet silky sound radiating through the gym, but it pisses me off.
What did he do to earn her joy like that?
The moment she registers I’m here, her laughter dies, a scowl mars her face, and her cheeks turn red. I’m close enough to hear her whispered, “You’ve got to be shitting me.”
Douche guy turns around, flinching as he takes me in. He’s not a little man, but I still tower over them both. “What are the odds of this?”
“What are you doing here?”
“Probably the same thing as everyone else. You said no more late nights, so here I am.” I’m aware how that sounds, and clearly, so do they as Amber’s cheeks redden again and the guy’s eyes turn hard.
Putting my hand out, I face him. “I’m Jake, and you are?”
“Kyle,” he says, trying to squeeze my hand with a dominance that shows just how small his dick must be. He drops my hand, turning to Amber. “Are you okay here?”
“Yeah, thanks, Kyle.” She smiles shyly at him. “I’ll see you Monday.”
With one more glance between us, he sulks away, and Amber turns her furious gaze to me, arms crossed under her perky tits. “What the hell is your problem? Stalking me and now trying to put some sort of claim on me? I thought we cleared the slate yesterday.”
It’s clear she’s never been with a real man before.
If she thinks that was me staking a claim, she’s dead wrong.
When I want it known a woman is mine, there’s no question about it.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her she became mine the moment she bled for me.
How I wish I hadn’t used a condom—the thought of her blood on my cock as I took her virginity makes me feral.
Adjusting my stance to hide my hardening dick, draws her attention south where it snags on my left leg that is covered in tattoos. “Thinking about how high up they go? You probably didn’t get a good look in the bathroom.”
She scoffs as I lean closer, pushing a stray hair behind her ear.
When she opens her mouth with a, no doubt, snarky reply, I cut her off.
“I don’t have a problem, Whiskey, I was just preventing you from making a mistake with him.
We had a clear slate until you got angry at me being polite and changing my schedule for you.
Now, I’m not so sure. See you Monday.” I wink, heading to the locker room to grab my stuff.
Usually, I would get a little cardio in, but I’m behind on work, so I’ll shower at the gym before heading to the shop.
As I’m getting dressed, Kyle walks in, his shoulders straightening. “Hey, man.”
I nod in acknowledgment, pulling on my socks. He rustles around in a locker, taking out his things before turning to face me. “Can I ask what’s going on between you and Amber?”
Snorting, I pull on my boots and lace them, not bothering to look up. “You can, doesn’t mean I’ll tell you.”
I knew this was coming. His eyes were glued to her after he walked away, and his jaw tightened when I stepped in close and touched her hair. The desire for her was written all over his face.
“She’s a nice girl, and she’s been through a lot lately. She deserves a good man.”
His insinuation I’m not, pisses me off. What makes this prick better than me?
The fact he’s not covered in tats and is friendly to everyone?
While I wouldn’t change a single thing about my appearance, I hate that everyone assumes I’m some dangerous asshole because I walk around with a scowl on my face.
My fighting days are, mostly, behind me, and I can be a nice guy.
I don’t know why it matters, it’s not like I’m pursuing Amber. It registers then what else he said.
“What’s she been through?” I ask, standing and grabbing my backpack.
He huffs, shaking his head. “The fact you don’t know tells me enough. Leave her alone.”
Scowling, I storm from the locker room and out to my bike.
Part of me wanted to step into his space and throw him against the lockers for delivering his little threat.
The old me would have, but I’m trying to turn a new leaf.
I’m almost thirty, and I don’t need to be starting fights over nothing.
Something tugs in my gut, telling me Amber is far from nothing, but I ignore it and throw on my helmet.
The entire ride to the shop, I replay all my interactions with her.
First, watching her cry with Thoren’s mom at Lily’s party, then to the desolate and empty way she looked at the wedding before I stoked her fire.
Her odd reactions to things I say sometimes.
By the time I park and open my shop, I’m sure I missed something with her, I just don’t know what.
It bothers me I don’t know what’s going on with her, and even if I don’t want to ask, I want to know.
Trying to clear my mind, I focus on finishing the last table I need to have ready for pickup this weekend. This is my favorite part—putting on the final touches and ensuring every inch is perfect. Seeing my hard work and designs come to life is satisfying in a way that little else is.
By the time I have the table complete and wrapped up, my mom is waiting for me in the store. It smells nice when I walk in, a candle lit on a table in the center of the space catching my attention. My mom and Evelyn are measuring the walls and marking off spots with blue tape.
“What are you ladies up to?” I ask, stepping over to the table to get a better whiff of the candle and see what scent it is .
“Do you like that?” Evelyn asks, walking closer. “I picked it up from Amber next door. It’s cedar and bergamot. She thought it would be the perfect complement to all the wood furniture you’ll have in here. Plus, it’ll help get rid of the paint smell before you open Monday.”
I have to admit it’s nice. Not too sweet or overpowering, and it fits the feel of the store well.
That itch under my skin I always get around Amber makes my chest feel hot.
She seems to know how to affect me as well as she knows how to press my buttons.
“It was a good choice.” My throat suddenly feels like gravel.
“We’re measuring out where to hang your pictures.
” My mom joins our conversation. Her and Evelyn have been friends since Thoren, River, and I were kids.
While my mom is almost ten years younger, that has never stopped them from being close and helping raise all us wild boys.
“We’re marking where the nails need to go, but we need you to hang them.
Is this all the furniture you will have in here for now?
” She motions to the randomly piled tables, chairs, benches, couches, and other smaller pieces I had in storage.
My crew finished painting last night and offered to move all the stuff over for me today before counting the job complete.
“Yeah, looks like it. I’ll have to organize it this weekend, and hopefully, I will have a desk finished by Monday for you to use. Thanks for helping with the decorating part, it’s not really my strong suit.”
“Oh, we know,” Michele says, winking from the front door, Lily hot on her heels. “That’s why we’re here.”
I stare at the four of them, more than a little confused.
Lily, being the soft-hearted woman she is, comes and wraps her small arms around my waist. “You’re going to hang those pictures, and then you’re going to leave.
We are going to organize and decorate this place, and when you come in on Monday, you will have a beautiful store ready to make its mark on this town. ”
Emotion clogs my throat as I look between them all.
For all the times I felt cast aside in the past, these women are showing me there’s still good in those around me.
My time in college really messed with my head and caused me to retreat into a hardened shell.
In high school, I finally felt I had accepted that most friends weren’t genuine but people at least pretended to care.
The lack of care or even feigned emotions from my classmates back home during my dad’s accident brought it all back though.
I started fighting more in college, drunk fights with people who probably didn’t deserve it, because I was so angry at the world.
With my parents being some of the best people I know and all the shit that was talked about them because we weren’t as wealthy as others.
They didn’t deserve the hate, so I threw that hate at everyone else.
Then one major event kicked me down even further, and I’ve been a shell of a man ever since.
I moved back to this town with a chip on my shoulder that hasn’t lessened over time, and yet these four women all accept and love me anyway.
“Thanks,” I croak out, clearing my throat. I get to work, hammering anchors and nails while they bring in bags of items they won’t let me look at. When all the pictures are hung, I thank them again and make my escape to the shop out back.
To my surprise, Evelyn follows me out, grabbing my arm to stop me in the alley. “Hey, honey, I wanted to ask you a huge favor.” I would do anything for this woman. Not only did she help raise me, but she and her husband, David, played a large part in helping my parents after my dad’s accident.
“What can I do?”
She looks to the back door leading to Amber’s store.
“I was hoping you could keep an eye on Amber. She’s hiding it well, but I know she’s struggling with Jana’s death.
The girls are trying to spend time with her, but they can’t always be around, and I hate that she has no one left.
Can you pop in and say hi once in a while and call me if she seems to be having a bad day?
I know I’m not her aunt and can’t replace her, but I care for her deeply. ”
I try to hide the shock from my face that I didn’t know Amber’s aunt died. Is that what Kyle meant this morning? It makes sense, and I suddenly feel like even more of an ass for how I’ve been treating her. Does Amber have no parents or siblings? No family left at all, or just not around here?
I can’t imagine losing either of my parents.
For the short time my dad was in surgery, then in the medically induced coma where we weren’t sure if he would pull through, it was the most agonizing pain I had ever felt.
To be all alone is an excruciating feeling.
I’m glad Evelyn and the girls are checking in on her, and I know their intentions are pure, but how well do they really know her?
I hope they know her pain and see past the walls.
As much as she might annoy me, I don’t want anyone to feel the way I did for so long.
“No problem, I’ll watch out for her.”
“You’re a good man, Jake,” she says, wrapping me in a hug. “Now, no peeking until Monday, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I chuckle and wink, trying to hide the sea of emotions swirling around my mind.