Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“I’ll walk you to your car,” he said, but I shook my head.
“Thank you. That’s sweet, but I’ll be okay.” It was important to me to be able to take care of myself.
Jake lingered a moment as if unsure, but then said, “Okay.” I waited until he turned and walked to where he had parked before I followed the cobblestone path along the side of the building to my car.
When I was safely inside, I screamed. Not a scared kind of scream, but an oh-my-God-this-really-hot-guy-invited-me-to-his-house scream.
Then…then I made myself calm down and drove to Jake’s house. He was standing outside his vehicle when I arrived.
“Hey,” I said, stupidly.
“Hey.”
We went inside, and he was right—the house was quiet. And yet, it felt different than what my empty apartment felt like. This was still more a home.
“You want something to eat? Drink?”
“Water is fine.”
“Well, and popcorn. We can’t watch a movie without popcorn.”
“Oh my God. I love popcorn. It’s my favorite part about going to the movies.”
“Mine too!” Jake replied, and we looked at each other and smiled. “I make it the real way, though.”
He pulled a popcorn machine from the cabinet and added kernels. The scent immediately began to fill the room, and I groaned, my stomach definitely liking this idea.
“You really do like popcorn, don’t you?” he asked, and I blushed.
“Don’t tease me.”
“I wouldn’t think of it.”
Before I knew it, we were sitting close on the couch, our snack in a bowl on Jake’s lap and ice water on the coffee table.
He asked what I wanted to watch, and I was pretty sure you wasn’t an acceptable answer, even though it was true. We settled on a comedy I paid zero attention to, instead enjoying the feel of our hands touching each time we reached in the bowl at the same time, and trying not to stare at him.
I was in so very much trouble. I had no business being there with him. I was crushing way too hard.
My eyes began to get heavy. I hadn’t slept great recently, but with a warm body beside me and the noise from the television, it was easier. Before I knew it, there was a hand on my shoulder and Jake’s deep voice in my ear.
“Seth…wake up.”
I shot up. “Shit. Sorry. I can’t believe I fell asleep.”
“It’s fine. No worries, but I’d feel better if you stayed here tonight. You look exhausted, and I don’t want you to fall asleep behind the wheel.”
My heart was beginning to turn to mush over this sweet, caring, sexy man. “Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude.” I didn’t want to be in an empty apartment, though. I wanted to be there with him.
“Don’t be silly. You’re not intruding. You forget I’m not used to living alone anymore either.”
“Okay.”
He turned everything off, and I lingered, waiting for him. Jake led me upstairs to his mom’s old room, where there was still a queen bed.
“I moved your toothbrush into this bathroom—well, not yours, but the one Mom gave you. You know what I mean.” He blushed cutely. “You know where the towels are and everything. Make yourself at home.”
I nodded.
“Do you want something more comfortable to wear? My clothes will swim on you, but I can grab you something.”
Yes, yes, I’d like the shirt you’re wearing, thank you very much, because it smells like you. I would love to feel all wrapped up in you. That obviously wasn’t what I said. “No, thanks.”
He lingered as I went to the bedroom door, and I stopped and turned to him. “Thank you…for everything. I like spending time with you.” Before he could reply, I ducked into the room and closed the door behind me.
When I heard Jake’s door close, I sneaked into the bathroom, took a leak, washed my hands, brushed my teeth, and freshened up.
I didn’t close the door all the way when I went back to my room—well, not my room; the room Jake was letting me sleep in. I turned off the lights, set my phone on the nightstand, then slipped out of my pants, jumped into bed, pulled the blankets up to my chest…and smiled.
“You’re so damn cute, do you know that?”
Wait. Cute, cute? Colton liked boys? My cheeks burned at his compliment. Even if he did like guys, how could someone like him, someone so confident and popular, ever think someone like me cute?
“Thanks,” I mumbled softly, unable to look him in the face, which had always been hard anyway. He was so hot, and I’d had the biggest crush on him practically my whole life, but he’d never paid me much attention until recently. “Are you sure your parents won’t care you’re having me over when they’re not home?”
“Nah, they won’t care. They know you’re a goodie.” He laughed, and I felt the sting of embarrassment. “Now if it were my friends, they’d think we’d throw a party or something, but my parents probably wish I hung out with you more.”