“Okay, let’s do that.I’d say you should come to my house instead, but I know Josh has some Zoom meeting or something this evening, so he’ll probably be glad I’m not home.”
Helping him close up the garage took Savannah right back to the days when she used to help Art lock up at the end of the day.She still missed that old guy, and it felt fitting somehow that Jake was the one bringing new life to the garage.
~ ~ ~
Jake followed Savannah back to her apartment, and when he pulled up in the little parking area out front, it occurred to him that he probably should have gone home to shower first.
He’d been so eager to spend more time with her that it hadn’t occurred to him.She let them in, and he followed her up the stairs, realizing that he hadn’t even seen inside her place before.It felt like a big step, even though, if he were honest, it was only a small step on the journey he hoped they’d take together.
When she opened the apartment door and stepped inside, he smiled when he heard Tiffany call, “Hey, babe.How was your day?Did you have fun playing mechanics with Jake?”
Savannah smiled at him as she said, “I did.In fact, I had so much fun that I brought him home with me.”
Jake stepped inside, and Tiffany appeared in the doorway to what he guessed was her bedroom.
“Oh, hey.That’s awesome.I didn’t realize you were coming.I’ll be out of here in a minute.”
“No–” Savannah began.
“You don’t need to do that,” said Jake.
Tiffany just laughed.“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you guys if you were planning on using me as a chaperone, but I’m out tonight.I’m going to the gym.”
Savannah gave her a puzzled look, and Jake understood why.Tiffany didn’t strike him as the kind of girl to hang out at the gym.He’d never seen her in there anyway.
“Don’t look at me like that.It’s not as though I plan to start lifting weights or anything.But I have a self-defense lesson.”
“I thought those were on Tuesdays,” Savannah said, sounding suspicious.
Tiffany rolled her eyes at Jake.“Wouldn’t you think she’d trust me enough to believe what I say by now?”
“I do, Tiff.I’m sorry.”
Tiffany waved a hand at her.“I’m only playing with you.Relax.And you’re right, the actual classes are on Tuesday night.But it sounds like everyone who goes has been doing it for a while, and I didn’t want to feel like a total noob on my first night.So when I talked to Alexis, who runs the classes, she said she has some free time tonight, and we could go over a few things before I show up to the main class tomorrow.”
“Okay,” said Savannah.The look on her face made Jake wonder if she believed her friend, but her next words made it clear that wasn’t what she was looking so puzzled about.“Do you think I could come with you?”she asked.“Tomorrow night, I mean.”She smiled at Jake.“Not tonight.”
“Sure.That would be awesome if you want to come.You might have to watch yourself, though, Jake.Alexis told me that she likes everyone in the class to have someone they can practice on.”
“I don’t mind volunteering to be your punch bag,” he said with a smile.“Not if it will help the two of you learn some self-defense.”
Even as he said it – and meant it – he hated the idea of either of them needing it.
Tiffany edged past them and grabbed her jacket from the back of the door.“You might regret volunteering for that,” she told him with a smile.“I’m going to need all the practice I can get.”
“What do you mean?”he asked.“If you have a problem, this is me volunteering here and now to help you out with it.You don’t need to defend yourself.I can help.”
“Oh, look at him.”Tiffany grinned at Savannah.“You’ve got yourself a good one here, babe.”
She turned back to Jake.“And I appreciate the offer, but honestly, I’m doing this more for the fun of it.I wasn’t lying when I said I know how to take care of myself, but I’ve never had any official training.”She looked a bit less sure of herself when she added, “And I figured it wouldn’t be a bad thing to join the class.It seems like most of the women around here go, and I don’t know that many people yet — not outside the salon, anyway.You guys have fun.I’m going to stop at The Boathouse for dinner on the way back, and I’ll text you before I leave.”
“You don’t need to do that,” said Savannah.
“I know, but I want to.Have fun, kiddies.”
“Can I make a suggestion before you go?”Jake asked.
She gave him a stern look.“You can, but that doesn’t mean I’ll go along with it.”
