Page 39 of Withered

“Does it look like I’m dancing?” I cracked another egg.

He hums a low, sexy chuckle and walks off. “Guess we are having breakfast here.”

I turn around to see him sitting on one of the island stools with his arms folded over the top. Confused, I ask, “I thought you were leaving?”

“Nope,” he states and adds, “I’d rather stay here than eat somewhere alone.”

His honesty makes me happy and doubtful at the same time. I’m happy that he’s here with me and not any other girl. But why me? He could have any girl he wants at his feet, knowing very well I can’t offer him what other girls can, but he is stillhere.

I keep my thoughts to myself while I silently prepare breakfast, more like brunch, for us. He doesn’t irritate me or try to distract me, which is good, I guess. The only noise in the kitchen is from the utensils or Jake’s tapping of his fingers. He’s been on his phone for the past fifteen minutes.

“You said you didn’t have any friends you could hang out with?” I raise my suspicion.

“Huh?” He said this, eyes glued to the phone.

“Who are you texting then?” I ask, topping our plates.

“I’m just playing a game.” He shows me his phone.

I guffaw in laughter and say, “I didn’t take you for someone who playsAngry Birds.”

“This is the only fucking game I have on my fucking phone because Aria plays it,” he says.

I pass him a plate, take a seat beside him, and we eat in silence. I try not to think about my knee, which is brushing his leg and causing me to feel the sparks again.Jesus, have they been magnified?

I shake my head and focus on the food, but I can’t concentrate. I’ve lost my appetite. Whereas Jake is too busy eating to notice anything.

I look up at Jake after a few bites, who has stopped eating and is now staring at me with an unknown emotion.

“Is there something on my face?” I ask him, uncertain of myself, touching the corners of my lips.

“You moan when you eat,” he claims.

“I’ve been told so.” Kristy once told me that I moan when I eat. That’s ridiculous.

“Interesting.” He nods and resumes eating.

“What’s interesting about this?”

“You don’t want to find out,” he tells me, which makes me even more curious.

“Tell me,” I ask in an annoyed tone. I’m not too fond of it when people start something and don’t finish it.

He raises an eyebrow and says, “It’s interesting because I have a girl with me who is moaning, and I’m not even fucking touching her.”

My cheeks heat as he smirks at my wide-eyed reaction. I look down at my plate, shielding my face with my hair.

We finish breakfast. I take his plate and mine and walk to the sink to wash them. I turn around, assuming he left, but he’s still here, leaning against the wall.

“How long have you been standing there?” I ask him. “I thought you left.”

“All the time. And no, I’m not leaving you, not so soon,” he speaks in a casual tone, then adds his smirk, “Thanks for the breakfast. I can’t believe you made it.”

“That bad?” I ask him, knowing very well that it was fabulous.

He grins and says, “Very.”

“Aww. Thank you so much, Jake. Maybe youshould havegone out,” I remark.

---