Page 44 of We're Just Friends
“Mommy, I made pancakes!”
"I see that! They are perfect." I kissed the top of her head and then made my way to the coffeemaker.
“Jakey spent the night, Mommy!” Caley told me as if I had no idea.
I sat down with a cup of coffee and watched them cooking. For some reason, even though my worst fear hadn’t come true, I still couldn’t bring myself to say anything.
“You okay?” Jake asked, giving me a slightly confused look.
I nodded at Jake while pointing to my coffee as a hint I wasn’t fully awake, hoping he’d buy the lie that I was telling. I didn’t want to admit my insecurities about our relationship, which I didn’t have up until I woke up this morning.
They flipped pancakes and stacked them up on the plate. As I watched them, the comfort sunk back in, and I realized without a doubt, I was falling in love with Jake. It definitely wasn’t a fling with some guy I went to school with. I was in love with this man.
Watching him with Caley made me realize how perfect we would all be together. I could see Jake, Caley, and me as a family, doing things that Caley rarely did with her father even when he was here.
Yet the more I watched the two of them interact, the more I realized how scared I was. What if it doesn’t work out? What if he goes back to San Diego and never returns, and once again, Caley is let down by a man? Could Jake really do that to me?
I told myself that I was crazy. Jake wouldn’t do that because we had a history. I knew him before the women and the money. He didn’t seem like the type of guy to do what he did for us just to leave.
At least I never read about it in any articles about him, and the tabloids soaked him up.
Still, I thought about his lifestyle back in San Diego and how most men wouldn’t want to give it up. Men were different than women. They wanted money, and fame and that life usually came with womanizing. No billionaire I remember reading about recently was tied down to just one woman, especially one with a kid from another marriage.
I didn’t want to tell Jake my fears, though, so I kept them to myself. He had been making so many changes from his bachelor's life in San Diego. I had heard stories of former playboys finally falling in love and settling down.
Mostly in fairytales, though.
They put the pancakes on the platter and slowly made their way over to the table. For a moment, I thought that maybe he planned on inviting Caley and me to follow him to San Diego. Then I realized there would be no way he’d even think of asking that of me. I’d made it very clear that Caley belonged in River Valley with her friends and family, even if it didn’t include Cam.
I was beginning to think I’d gotten myself in too deep with a wealthy sexy playboy. The sex was incredible, and our emotional connection only enhanced the physical part of our relationship.
Julianna, stop. Just enjoy the time in front of you.
That’s precisely what I tried to do as we all ate breakfast. Unfortunately, the idea of everything falling apart was becoming an even bigger fear for some reason.
“Jakey, can you pass the syrup?” Caley bounced around in her chair.
Jake held the syrup and gave her a look. “What do we say?”
Caley pouted and then looked up at Jake with her big, beautiful eyes. “Please?”
Jake laughed and then handed it to her before leaning over and kissing me on the lips. I put all the doubt on the back burner. I was happy, and that’s what mattered.
“You seem lost in thought,” he said, eating his pancakes.
“Just waking up,” I said, grabbing some pancakes for myself.
When Caley excused herself to go to the bathroom, Jake leaned into my ear. “I can see myself waking up here every day.”
I must have blushed from ear to ear, especially when he put his hand on my thigh and began to rub it.
“That would be wonderful,” I replied.
Jake began kissing my neck, and I rested my head on his, that is, until Caley returned.
“Ugh,” she said. “That’s gross!”
Jake and I burst out laughing.
