Page 26 of Street of Dreams
Jake quietly played with the can, rolling it between his palms. After a long while, he said, “You know my old man. He taught us to be fucking bullies. If we didn’t rap someone in the head, we got rapped in the head.”
Mac flinched. He couldn’t imagine growing up with someone like Bruce King. “Wasn’t there someone else you could have lived with when your mother died? Don’t you have family?”
“Nah. I don’t know any of ‘em. The only people my father cares about are the ones making him money.” Sadness drew the corners of Jake’s mouth downward and wrinkled his brow.
The uncharacteristic emotion on his face, and the resignation in his voice, broke Mac’s heart. He wanted to comfort Jake, but uncertainty stopped him. Open displays of affection were off limits to Jake, so Mac just scooted closer on the bench so that their thighs and shoulders were touching. Jake looked over at him, almost sheepishly, and offered a small smile. Mac moved another inch closer, so they were now pressed against each other, and Jake did the unthinkable. He slipped his hand inside Mac’s and laced their fingers together. A hot tingle ran up the length of Mac’s spine at the small bit of shared intimacy and close contact, chasing away the night’s chill. He didn’t dare turn his head to meet Jake’s eyes. The moment was too fragile. Too new for Jake. Too new for the both of them.
Still looking straight ahead into the darkened park, Mac squeezed Jake’s hand a little tighter. When Jake returned the gesture, Mac’s heart pulsed faster. He held his breath for a moment as he struggled not to push Jake too far too fast. Very slowly, he rubbed his thumb back and forth over the back of Jake’s hand. And Jake let him. Jake didn’t pull away or stiffen or make a sarcastic remark. He allowed the tender caress and actually seemed to relax.
After a few moments, an exhausted breath left Jake’s lungs. He leaned into Mac and pressed his cheek into the ball of Mac’s shoulder. That’s when Mac turned his head. He needed to see it with his own eyes, or he’d never believe that he was snuggling on a park bench with Jake King.
Jake leisurely lifted his gaze until they were looking directly at one another. Their lips were inches apart and the cool night air created a soft breath of fog between them. Goosebumps rose on the back of Mac’s neck, but it had nothing to do with the temperature outside. It was because he knew what was about to happen. He licked his lips again and waited, because he knew the kiss had to be on Jake’s terms.
The hesitation dissipated. It melted away from the heat that transpired between them, and Jake leaned in with his lips. The tender kiss was barely a meeting of flesh, but it sparked a flame that felt like an explosion. Their kiss deepened and became needy. Their mouths pressed together hungrily, and they both reached for one another. Jake’s palm landed on the back of Mac’s neck, while Mac cupped Jake’s cheek in his hand. It was obvious that Jake wanted this kiss just as much as Mac did, and he knew it was a turning point for Jake. For them.
Jake pulled back slowly, his eyes swarming Mac’s face, and he presented a tiny smile. They kissed again, and, this time, Jake leaned into the kiss and rotated his mouth. His breaths deepened as he pressed his body closer. Mac had waited so long for this tender kiss. He didn’t want more. Or less. He wanted exactly what they were sharing right now. When he pulled back so he could see Jake clearly, there was a slight tinge of pink to Jake’s cheeks, and he wore a bashful smile.
“I told you I was gonna kiss you,” Mac said.
Jake nudged Mac in the shoulder and presented a crooked smile. “Shut up.” He glanced down for a moment. “If I’d known it was gonna be like that, I wouldn’t have fought you.”
“Why’d you have to fight me?” It still drove Mac crazy that Jake was so hesitant about everything. “It’s an act of affection.”
Jake fidgeted with the beer can between his knees and let out a deep breath. “My old man really did a fucking number on my head. It’s hard sometimes. Trying to ignore or block out the shit he’s said to me my whole life.”
Mac couldn’t imagine any part of what it must have been like for Jake to grow up with Bruce King as a parent. His own parents were nothing but loving and caring, and he loved them more than anything right now. He wrapped his arm around Jake’s shoulder and pulled him closer, trying to offer even a small bit of condolence. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that stuff.”
“Yeah. Me too. I swear, I wish he were dead.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Why not? He makes my life miserable. He’s corrupting my brothers. I try to set them straight, but it’s confusing for them when I act one way in public and another when we’re alone.”
“They look up to you. They trust you. You’re doing right by them. You didn’t have to, but you are. You’re taking on the role of a parent.”
“I know. But I gotta act a certain way in front of my old man. I can’t be soft. Do you know what my biggest fear is?”
Mac shook his head.
“That I’m gonna get so used to playing the part of a closed-minded thug, that it’s who I become.”
Mac shook his head vigorously. “No. That’s not who you are. Listen to everything you’re saying.Thisis who you are. You can’t hide it. You’re a good person, Jake.”
Jake slowly turned his head and presented sad, soulful eyes. “You’re the only person I trust, Mac. I still can’t believe it sometimes. That I had the courage to open up to you. That you understand me. That you get me. And that you like me. It all could have backfired on me that night in the alleyway. I really had no idea why I sent my brothers after that guy when I knew they’d never find him. I just knew that I wanted to talk to you alone. And then I saw this look in your eyes.” He gazed into the distance with a disbelieving smile and shook his head. “It was like you liked me.” He shrugged. “So I took a chance.”
“I always liked you, Jake. I was always attracted to you. When you’d get in my face, it set my whole body on fire and my heart sped up. I never thought you liked me, though. I thought you just liked teasing me.”
Jake nudged his shoulder into Mac’s. “I do like teasing you. It makes me smile. And not a lot of things make me smile.”
A rustling noise behind them made Jake jump and pull away, breaking the connection. He spun around and gripped the back of the bench. “What was that?”
Mac paused to listen, but it was quiet. “It was probably just a squirrel.”
“At night?” Jake jumped to his feet and marched several feet toward the bushes. “Who the fuck is in there? You spying on us? Get the fuck out here!”
“No one’s there,” Mac said softly. He placed his hand on Jake’s arm, but Jake pulled away sharply. “What’s wrong?”
“Don’t touch me,” Jake warned. The words were harsh and stinging, but they weren’t filled with hostility. It was fear.
