Jake pulls at his hair, a growl ripping through his throat, muttering words too low for me to hear.

“Aurora, can we please talk about this? I came out here with the intention of talking to you. To reason with you. Or atleast fix a time and place for that. I didn’t come out to the parking lot to exchange words and yell,” he says calmly, but his eyes tell another story, thunderstorms roiling beneath his beautiful dark eyes.

Ugh! Get a grip woman, this isn’t the time to think about his eyes and how beautiful they are.

I go quiet for a while, mulling over his words. He is right. Like it or not, we’re both involved with everything going on, and we have to decide what to do with it, especially the misunderstanding with his family about me being his girlfriend. I sigh and nod my head but realize that now is not the time. I need to go home and put an icepack over my face to keep it from bruising.

“Okay, Jake. But now is not a good time. I’m tired, confused, hungry, and agitated. And when you’re ready to talk, you know where to find me.”

“Where? Your bar, the pastry shop, or the coffee shop? Or a petting zoo?” he asks, with a silly grin on his face. I stomp on his foot. Hard. He jumps, laughing. Seriously, this guy needs a personality check.

“Be careful woman, this foot costs a lot.” I smile at his silliness, my anger going poof like a popped balloon. I push him to the side gently, so I can access the car door, opening it with easethis time.

“See you around, Jacob,” I say, as I jump into my car, laughing as he groans at the name. I roll down the windows as soon as I turn on the ignition. He closes the door and leans in through the window.

“See you later, Aurora,” he says softly and tucks in a strand of hair behind my ear. I feel myself turn red and he laughs,stepping back. I zoom off, ignoring the flip flops happening in my stomach.

I dial Brittney and Ryan on a conference call, my plan to have an alone time long forgotten.

Chapter twenty-two

Jake – Big Brother Love

When I walk back into the shop, it’s well past noon. I go back to the booth to ask mom if they want to sleep over at my place or head back to the city. As soon as Bella spots me coming, she breaks into a knowing grin while making kissy faces at me.

“Why are you smiling like that?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“You’ve got a stupid smile on your face, brother, and one can only guess where you got the smile from. Or the cause,” she giggles, pointing a hand to my face.

I wipe my mouth, imagining it wiping off the ‘stupid face’ as I do so. Mom faces me, a worried look etched on her kind face. I knew the question would come though, seeing as how I rushed outside after Aurora told her she had to go home to her cat.

And that was an obvious lie I know to be complete baloney. So did mom, I figure.

“Is everything okay? You practically rushed out to catch Aurora.”

“Judging by the smile on his face when he came in, I would boldly assume all went well with her,” Bella butts in.

She begins to sing the proverbial kissing song, and I tug at her hair to shut her up.

“So, why did you come out with Sophia? What were you discussing with her? Is that why Aurora came here looking sort of upset? You don’t engage your ex-girlfriend in a private conversation where your actual girlfriend is involved, Jacob,” mom fires in rapid succession, disappointment coloring her tone and nailing me with one of those ‘mom looks.’

“That wasn’t what happened, Mom. It was all a misunderstanding, and we’ve got it sorted out. I have nothing to do with Sophia,” I correct her immediately. “You guys have stayed long enough in one place. Do you maybe want to go sightseeing or back to my place? Or maybe just head back home to dad?”

“Let’s go sightseeing! I want to find some fantastic places. I have an idea in mind and want to see if I can involve it with my wedding plans. Ethan told me to go ahead and run crazy with ideas.” Bella giggles at her last statement.

“Oh, dear!” I say in mock shock, making Bella hit my shoulder softly.

She knows I’d damn well allow her to turn the whole wedding location into a zoo if she wanted to. Even if I wouldn’t, Ethan would. He’s so smitten, he’d get her the moon if she wished.

We flag over a lady at the counter to pay the bill and to order something to go for me. I haven’t had anything to eat all day, and my stomach is beginning to try to eat itself.

Another attendant comes jogging over to our booth. Noah probably finished his shift awhile ago.

I order a sandwich and ask her to bring the bill, but she tells me it has been taken care of by Aurora. “Really? No, she shouldn’t do that. I’ll settle the bill.” I refuse politely. The thought of not paying the bill is highly unsettling.

“No, sir. She said it’s on the house as a first-time customer.” She gently declines, giving me a small smile.

“Aw, she’s so nice. She wouldn’t even let us pay for anything? The cakes are too delicious to be eaten for free at least,” Bella says in surprise, her voice tinted with a little bit of worry.