Page 50 of Love Medley
I stiffen at his insincere words. “Thank you,” I say, my words coming out stilted.
“How about we meet up on Saturday when we can have…” His cold, blue eyes drift over Jake with unconcealed disdain before sliding away again. “More privacy.”
Weston’s arrogant disregard of Jake, this incredible man who no one seems to acknowledge or value, is what ultimately pushes me to speak up. “Jake and I have plans on Saturday. He’s a dueling pianist at Tunes and Tonic, and I plan to go see him play. In fact, I think my days and nights are booked for the foreseeable future. Come on, Jake.”
I don’t bother watching for Weston’s reaction as I tug Jake with me.
“Damn, Lucy. That was hot,” Jake says and pauses as if he is surprised the words made it out of his mouth. But then he rallies: “You’re, uh, getting the hang of this assertive thing, aren’t you?”
But I’m so glad Jake said those words—they make me glow inside. I grin, my heartbeat remaining at a quick clip, the elevatedrate no longer related to the confrontation with Weston. “Yeah, maybe.”
Glancing at Jake, I marvel that he's helped me see what I might be capable of. Here is a man who makes me wonder if sometimes risks are worth taking…for the chance of something bigger and better.
As I’m gazing into Jake’s eyes—is that admiration I see in them?—I think of something that I’ve wanted for ages but have been denying myself because of Weston.
I’m done with that.Fuck him, as Zoe so aptly put it.
The words are out before I can overthink them. “Want to get out of here? Maybe grab some burgers?”
For a second, I panic—was that the wrong thing to say? I’ve never managed to beat back that no-good impulsivity of mine.
Jake’s hesitant grin becomes a full-fledged wonder. At the sight, I feel a rush of fresh air, the sense of breathing freely for the first time in years.
And then, he says, “Thought you’d never ask.”
Fifteen minutes later, Jake parks in front of a freestanding restaurant with the neon sign “Bill’s.” The place looks like it could use a few repairs.
But when I get out of Jake’s car, none of that matters. I immediately close my eyes in bliss and inhale deeply. I haven’t had a burger in over a year. “Oh my, that smells so good.”
Jake laughs, looking incredibly relaxed. I had no idea how tense he was until just now.
“You’re in for a treat. You’ve seriously never been here before?”
“Never. This seems like a secret local place.” I’m betting Bill’s is more than just a restaurant to Jake, and the notion of seeing him in his comfort zone thrills me. I’m craving more insider info about this man.
“You’re probably right. In high school, I used to come here on a regular basis after playing video games with Trix.”
Yes, I knew it! And even though the mention of Trix jars me, I’m able to recover. “You're such a nerd.”
Jake shrugs. “I own it.”
That one motion of his shoulder, the casual but very real confidence that I’ve rarely seen in him, undoes me, and something warm seeps into my chest.
Then he holds out his hand to me, a question in his eyes, and the last bit of resistance in me falls away. I take it.
As we enter the restaurant, a sense of rightness overpowers me. The heat of his hand combined with the delicious smells feels like cuddling by a fireplace, wrapped in the most comfortable blanket. Bill’s is old-timey, familiar, and cozy, and I immediately feel at home.
No wonder Jake is completely at ease here.
To the left, several people sit on stools facing a long, white counter and a central grill where several cooks are flipping the sizzling meat. On the right side of the restaurant, there arebattered-looking wooden booths with cracked vinyl padding on the seats, some of the holes covered by duct tape.
“Hey, Bill,” Jake says, waving to a middle-aged man with graying hair at the grill.
“Jake, good to see you! It’s been a while,” Bill says with a twinkle in his eye, raising his eyebrows when he sees our interlocked hands. “And who is this?”
“This is Lucy,” Jake says. “She’s my girlfriend.” His eyes cut briefly to me, a furrow in his brow.
I almost stumble over my feet when he says that, but then I thrill at the word. Of course, he’s probably just continuing our facade just in case. But despite all my reservations, I wonder if…maybe?
