Page 45 of Thirst Trap
18
Whitley
“How didyou know I saw it?”
I don’t know why that’s my first question after watching that. Somehow it just spilled out of my mouth.
“Your phone was off. I had a sneaking suspicion it was because you were pissed at me.”
I mean, he’s not wrong, but I’m not about to admit that to him.
“Maybe I forgot to charge it.”
This makes him laugh. “You carry four portable batteries with you at all times.”
I hand his phone back to him in mock anger. The more I sit here, the more I realize that I can’t stay mad at him.
Now that I’ve had time to think about it, I don’t know if it was him I was ever mad at. I could tell from the video that she kissed him. Did he pull away in my liking of time? No. But it makes sense that he was shocked. Hell, I probably would be too.
No, what I’m mad about is that I wasn’t there. For the fact that I didn’t know I had a jealous streak until a few months ago, and it sure is strong.
And right now, all it wants to do is lay claim on this man.
He’s mine. And like hell if another woman is ever going to think otherwise.
“Did you mean it?”
“Yes.”
I can’t help but let out a small laugh. “You don’t even know my question.”
He puts down the phone and takes my hands in his. “If it has anything to do with what you just watched, the answer is yes. Did I mean it when I said that I was done with that app ’cause I won’t let it come between us? Yes. Did I mean it when I said I love you? With all of my heart. Did I mean it when I said I wanted to one day marry you? Whitley, I would marry you tomorrow if you’d have me. I am so sorry, and if you will let me, I’ll make it my mission for the rest of my days to make sure you never cry again.”
Oh hell, how am I supposed to stay mad at that? Though there are a few things I need to say, and if I don’t now, I don’t know when I’ll have another chance to.
“I hate that another woman kissed you.”
“I hate that she did too. Please know she got an earful from me. Of course, that part didn’t make it onto video.”
“Want to know what I also hate?”
“What’s that, sweetness?”
I look down at our hands, taking a second to lace my fingers through his. “I hate that I wasn’t there.”
That takes him by surprise. “You what?”
Now it’s my turn for the speech.
“I love you, but I hate being apart from you,” I say, inching a little closer. “I hate that I only get to see you a few days a month. I hate that I feel like our lives are so separate. I hate that when I watched that video tonight, I had even an inkling of doubt that you would cheat on me. I hate that people only know you because you take your shirt off on the Internet. I hate not waking up next to you each morning. I hate only getting to see your face on a screen at night.”
“Tell me what to do,” he says, kissing each of my hands. “Tell me what to do to make this right and I will.”
“Do you have a closet free for me?”
I didn’t know I was about to say those words, but now that they are out there, I don’t hate that I did. I want to be near him. I want to see him every day. I want our lives to be together, not just when it’s convenient for our work schedules.
Not to mention I want every woman in Rolling Hills, Birmingham, and on social media to know that Jake Evans is a taken man.
