Page 70 of Hardcore Vanilla
Sharon couldn’t help but keep an ear and eye out for everything going on around them. She noticed that Courtney and Riley were sitting at a table with several other people, but that Joseph was nowhere to be seen. Melinda and Mark had reserved one of the other two-person tables, so they were present but so totally wrapped up in each other that they might as well have not been there. It didn’t stop people from stopping to talk to them for a moment, but no one stayed very long to keep chatting.
Her parents were at a table with several of her family members. More than once she saw them glancing over at her and Jake, her mother frowning when she saw Sharon and Jake holding hands, but that didn’t bother her. Honestly, her parents approving of a guy made her automatically wary.
As soon as they were done eating they stopped to say goodbye to her parents. Her mom gave them a hard look. “Would you like to sit down with us?”
It wasn’t really a question; the order was clear in her voice. Sharon just ignored it, smiling. She felt Jake’s hand gripping hers a little tighter and she could practically feel his worry she would say yes.
Fat chance.
While she was going to do her best not to embarrass him again this weekend, that didn’t mean sitting down for a breakfast lecture with her parents.
“No, sorry mom, we both have plans this afternoon we need to get back for.” Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jake shake his head, a small smile on his face at her claim. Her mother opened her mouth to protest, but Sharon was already leaning down to give her cheek a kiss. “Talk you later.”
Her mom’s mouth snapped shut, obviously realizing Sharon wasn’t going to be cooperative.
“Bye pops,” Sharon said, moving around her mom to give her dad a kiss too, dragging Jake behind her.
“It was nice to meet you,” her dad told Jake, shaking his hand.
Huh.Seemed like her dad might like Jake a little after all. Otherwise he would have just ignored him like her mom currently was.
“You too, sir,” Jake said seriously.
Then they made their escape.
They were still holding hands, all the way out to his car… and then the several hours all the way back to his place… Sharon could get used to this. Yeah, she and Jakehadbeen acting like they were in a relationship for the past few weeks, but they definitely hadn’t been holding hands like this the whole time.
In fact, now that things were ‘official,’ he was being much more tactile, period.
Sharon totally approved. Of course, coming home meant they were going to have to face the next difficult task – their friends.
Chapter 18
Jake and Sharon had just settled down on his couch with a tray full of snacks, a beer for him, and a hard root beer for her, when someone knocked on his door. Frowning, he raised his head and turned to look, even though he obviously wasn’t going to be able to see anything. He just couldn’t imagine who would be showing up right now.
“Who is it?” Sharon asked. She was tucked into his side with his arm around her shoulders.
“No id-” he started to say when the person knocked again and called out. He groaned as he immediately recognized his sister’s voice.
“Jake! Jakie-poo! Let me in, let me in!” Lexie called out, the words only slightly muffled by the door.
Sharon giggled, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Is our line ‘not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin’?”
"Shh," Jake whispered back. "Maybe if we're really quiet she'll go away." They hadn't turned on the television yet, so there was a chance.
More knocking, this time even louder than before and then she started pushing the doorbell.
"Open up, Jake, I saw your car in the parking lot, so I know you're in there!" Lexie said the words in a kind of sing-song voice. Then she rang the doorbell again.
And again.
And again.
With a low groan, Jake slid his arm away from Sharon and stood up. His sister was stubborn; there was every chance that she would just keep it up until he answered. Since he didn't want the neighbors complaining about the noise, the only solution on his end was clear.
At least Sharon didn't seem to mind. She had her hand over her mouth, muffling her giggles as she looked up at him, her dark eyes filled with amusement. She would think this was funny. With a growl, Jake stalked away from the couch and over to the door, yanking it open and glaring down at his sister.
Despite being petite, both in height and size, Lexie was not at all intimidated by his scowl.
