Page 136 of Withered

Mom says, “Welcome to the family, son.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Evans,” Jake responds with a dimpled smile.

“Call me Sherill,” Mom says.

Mom gets us some coffee and Nutella milk for Aria. She waves a finger between us and asks, “How serious is this?”

I don’t know the answer; all I know is that I like him. We’re still getting to know each other. Before I could answer, Jake says, “We are just getting to know each other.”

His answer shocks me since it is exactly what I was thinking. Jake raises an eyebrow at me, and I shake my head and smile. “Yeah.”

Dad’s phone buzzes. He checks, squinting at the screen, and then sets it aside. He tells us, “The fundraiser has been postponed. It will be in the first week of October.”

I almost forgot about the annual fundraiser. This reminds me that I have yet to ask Jake.

“What fundraiser?” Jake asks obliviously.

“I’ll tell you. Let’s go upstairs.” I say that and get up, not caring enough to ask my parents.

My parents are having a good time in the living room, talking to Aria, the little attention seeker, while I go into my room, Jake following me. Dad calls out when we're climbing upstairs. “What is it?”

“Leave your door open,” Dad says, earning an eye roll from me and a chuckle from Jake. I hear the faint voice of my mom saying, “Let them enjoy this phase.”

I close the door on purpose after entering my room and letting Jake in. Jake sprawls on my bed, and I take a seat on the bean bag. “What did my dad say?” Curiosity gets the best of me.

Jake looks at me and says, “It wasn’t much. Your dad is cool. So, what is this fundraiser?”

“The hospital that my parents work in runs this organization for orphan children. This fundraiser is like an annual meeting where people gather and donate an amount for the same cause. This time, they are planning a ball, and Dad wants you to attend as well.” I keep it short and simple.

He looks deep in thought, so I add, “Tyler and Kristy will also be there.”

“It’s not that.” Jake runs his fingers through his hair.

“Then? Will you join me?” I ask, hoping he’ll say yes.

“Yeah. Obviously,” he says, then adds, “You thought I’d let anyone near you?”

“Well, if you said no, I’d have no choice but to take someone else,” I tease him.

“Hell to fuck no,” he groans, and a giggle escapes my lips.

He leans back on my bed and peers at me. His gaze is so intensely hot that it radiates across the room, melting me into a puddle.

“What?” I ask him. The room goes eerily silent.

“Sometimes I don’t believe this. It still feels like a dream.”

“Don’t believe what?”

He tilts his head. “You.”

“What about me?”

“How could someone like you ever like me? You deserve far better,” Jake mutters.

I get up, cross the room, and stand between his legs. He sits up, so we are on eye-to-eye level.

“I’ll say this only once, so listen carefully. I don’t do detached. I made that clear already. If I like you, I’m all in. That means you have my attention because I genuinely care for you. I’m not the type to date or sleep with. Mom always used to say,‘Don’t settle for anything less than you deserve.’I highly believe in that. I’ve waited long for something—for someone who captivates me—and that’s you. Even if it wasn’t you, I wouldn’t rush into something shallow just to feel needed. So, hear me out, loud and clear:I like you. I’m in this withyou. We are connected; there’s an invisible string attached to us,” I tell him, pouring all my heart out.

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