Page 9 of Winter's Surprise
She burst into a fit of giggles as her sex-deprived mind considered tackling him in other ways.
Michelle Harper: I make no promises Jake Smith.
Jake Smith: I can’t stop thinking of you Michelle Harper…
Joy filled her at his confession. She jumped up and down on the inside, away from prying eyes.
Michelle Harper: Where should I meet you?
Jake Smith: I can pick you up if you’d like. How does A Hoppy Place sound? They have food and it’s a local brewery?
Michelle Harper: Oh, they make a mean burger! If it’s okay with you, I will meet you there… this time.
Jake Smith: Oh, I like the way that sounds. See you at 6!
Michelle Harper: See you later!
Janey waved her hand in Michelle’s direction. “Earth to Chelle!”
Michelle felt her face flush at being caught off guard while texting Jake.
“What’s going on?” Janey squinted her eyes and waddled a few feet closer. “Did you meet someone?”
The phone in Michelle’s hand vibrated once again. Ignoring her friend, she looked down and noted the text’s preview on her lock screen.
Jake Smith: Is it 6 yet?
“Oh my God! Youdidmeet someone! Tell me all about him!” Janey squealed, causing the couple of patrons that entered after her to turn and stare.
“No. First you need to tell me what the hell is going on. I thought you decided you would stay home and finish putting the nursery together?” Michelle asked, evading the interrogation.
Janey narrowed her eyes on her. “I was kicked out of the nursery. Now tell me who he is.”
“What do you mean, ‘I was kicked out of the nursery’?”
Janey rubbed her belly and sighed. “Remember I told you my brother was coming into town? Well, he’s here, and an old friend of ours has been hanging out with us too. All three of them keep making me sit on the couch. Going on and on about how I need to rest. It’s been twenty-four hours with them, and I’ve lost my mind. Finally, Eric conceded to letting me out of jail. I figured if I was with you, I could walk Bobby out, get my girl time, and not hear any more of their shit.”
Michelle couldn’t stop the smile. “Honey, you do need to rest.”
“Not you too!” Janey whined. “Anyway, spill the damn beans!”
She smiled. “Nope. How about I promise I won’t nag you about resting if you won’t interrogate me about this guy.”
Janey smiled triumphantly. “So thereisa man?”
Michelle sighed and decided to give her a bone. “Yes, there is. I’ll tell you later all about him. I’m not ready now. I don’t even know if there will still be a man by tomorrow.”
Janey attempted to cross her arms before realizing it was nearly impossible over her large belly and mom-to-be boobs. “You. Suck.”
“Yup, I do. But… you get to shop with me today, and I won’t nag you about resting!” Michelle chuckled and linked arms with her. “Let’s shop!”
“Fine. You win this round,” Janey pouted.
They moved from store to store at Janey’s pace. A few times, Michelle noted her friend in more pain than she let on. Since she promised to let it be, she kept her observations to herself. Eric texted her a time or two to check up on Janey, and she let him know about it.
Around lunch, Janey tried persuading her to have lunch with the men and her, but Michelle managed to wiggle her way out. Her friend was hell-bent on hooking her up with Scott, Janie’s brother, but Michelle had not been interested. Especially not now that she’d met Jake.
Michelle dropped Janey off and drove home to make herself lunch. She hadn’t lied to Jake. She really did enjoy cooking and preferred it to going out. Sure, there were certain things she craved from other places, but some things tasted better at her hands than another’s.
The burger at Hoppy’s was one thing she didn’t mind eating out for. She could make a tasty burger herself, but they served a special beer sauce that she couldn’t seem to recreate. After many failed attempts, she waved her white flag and accepted defeat.
Tick. Tock.
Tick. Tock.
Michelle was about to lose her mind. Time was passing slowly. Not only did she make her lunch and eat it, but she even cleaned her bathroom and finished laundry. Two hours to go until she would get to hang out with Jake again.
“I’m not going to turn intothatwoman!” she scolded herself. She refused to be the woman standing by the phone or the one who arrived early for a date. With her hands on her hips, she blew out all the air in her lungs and hung her head.
When she opened her eyes, she noticed the chipped nail polish on her toes and smiled. It wasn’t warm enough to show off her feet, but she loved seeing a fresh coat shimmering back.Thisshe could do for herself, and it would pass time.
