Page 76 of The Rookie's Second Chance

Jake’s phone buzzed suddenly, slicing through the hum of focused silence in the room. I watched him glance at it, his expression shifting from concentration to annoyance. His fingers hovered over the screen before he set the phone down, face-up, without responding.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, my curiosity piqued by his reaction.

“It’s nothing,” he muttered, but the crease between his brows deepened.

I waited, watching him as he chewed the inside of his cheek, a clear sign he was wrestling with something. Finally, he sighed. “Okay, fine. I didn’t want to show you because I didn’t want you to worry or get jealous or anything.”

My heart thudded in my chest, a mix of nervousness and anticipation. “Show me what?”

He hesitated, then slid the phone across the desk to me. I picked it up, my eyes scanning the screen. Texts from Mandy flooded his inbox, each one more forward than the last. Pictures of food, messages like “Missed you last night” and “Can’t wait until you get home,” all adorned with heart emojis. My stomach knotted.

“What the hell is going on, Jake?” I asked, unable to keep the edge out of my voice.

He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of frustration. “I was just trying to be nice, you know? But I didn’t realize how much she didn’t seem to understand that I just want to be friends. Not until Chris pointed it out.”

I scrolled through the messages, noting he hadn’t responded to any of them. Relief and discomfort swirled inside me. “Chris pointed what out?”

“At lunch,” he explained, “Chris noticed how she acted when she showed up unannounced. He said she seemed... clingy. Like she thought there was something more between us.”

I handed the phone back to him, feeling a tightness in my chest. “And is there?”

“No!” he said immediately, his eyes meeting mine with a sincerity that I felt deep in my bones. “Absolutely not. I mean, I’ve been friendly, but I never led her on or anything. I swear.”

I believed him, but the situation was messy. “Jake, you’re going to have to say something to her. She clearly thinks there’s more to your relationship than there is.”

He nodded, his jaw set. “I know. I’ll talk to her. I just... I didn’t want to upset her. She’s been through a lot with all this stuff with Lexi.”

I reached across the desk, touching his hand. “I trust you, Jake. I do. But this isn’t fair to any of us. Not to you, not to Mandy, and not to me.”

“You’re right,” he agreed, his voice firm. “I’ll handle it.”

We sat in silence for a moment, the conversation settling around us. Then, almost as an afterthought, Jake added, “I’m sorry, Kayla. For all of this. I never wanted to make things complicated.”

I squeezed his hand. “I know. And I appreciate you being honest with me. Let’s just... let’s focus on the case for now. We’ll deal with the rest later.”

He nodded, and we turned back to our screens. We were in this together, no matter what. And together, we’d see it through to the end.

Chapter Thirty-Five

MANDY

Isat at the dining room table, my fingers drumming a restless rhythm on the polished wood. My phone lay before me, its screen a litany of my unreturned messages to Jake. I tried not to let frustration and anger boil over. This was Kayla's doing. She'd come back into Jake's life and just swept him off his feet, like some sort of femme fatale. But I wasn't going to let her win. Not this time.

I sighed, standing up to clear the dinner plates. It was just me tonight. Jake was out somewhere, probably with her. The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth, but I pushed it aside. I had to focus on the bigger picture. Jake and I had a connection; I could feel it every time he looked at me and was kind enough to let me stay.

As I rinsed the dishes, I found myself lost in thought. I had been in this situation before with someone else, and I knew how to turn things around. It was all about patience and understanding, showing Jake that I was the one who truly cared for him, who really understood him.

I wiped my hands on a towel and went upstairs, my steps light. I hesitated in front of my room, then, with a determined breath, I turned toward Jake's door. He might not be home yet, but I wanted to feel closer to him, to be surrounded by his presence.

I opened the door quietly, almost reverently, and stepped inside. His room was a reflection of him - orderly, strong, and safe. I walked over to his dresser, running my fingers over the objects there. A watch, a rodeo belt buckle, some loose change. Each item felt like a small piece of him.

I sat on the edge of his bed, the fabric of the sheets cool under my fingers. It wasn't the first time I'd been in here, but tonight, it felt different, like a statement of intent. I lay back, staring at the ceiling, imagining Jake beside me. The room felt comforting, filled with his essence. It was as if he was there with me, telling me everything would be alright.

My thoughts drifted to Kayla. She was a thorn in my side, but I was convinced she was just a phase, a fleeting moment in Jake's life. He needed stability, someone who could be there for him, who could take care of him. And that person was me.

I closed my eyes, breathing in the faint scent of his cologne that lingered in the room. A small smile curved my lips. Kayla might have won this round, but the game was far from over. I had played this game before, and I knew patience was key.

I'd wait, bide my time. Jake would come around; he had to. We were meant to be together. I just had to remind him of that, gently, subtly. It was only a matter of time.

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