I shouldn’t be having such thoughts—such vicious thoughts about Jake. He’s allowed to be nice to other women. I know that…
…but it doesn’t change the way I feel.
I turn and walk back to my room, steaming, head spinning, trying to think about what to do next.
Do I just admit to him how I feel and pray that he feels the same way?
But what if he doesn’t? I could end up bringing down our entire family.
I’ll take a bath. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll take a nice, long, relaxing bath, and I’ll listen to an audiobook while Jake has his…date in the living room.
But as I grab my towel, I realize there’s no way I can go relax now. I have a new plan.
I rush into the bathroom, quickly fix my hair and apply some lip gloss, then head for the stairs.
My heart is racing as I descend. I don’t know if this is the right thing to do, but it’s what Imustdo.
Still wearing nothing more than underwear, I waltz right into the living room like I own the house.
The woman Jake’s with has her back to me, but he sees me the moment I walk in. And try as he might, he can’t stop from dragging his eyes up every inch of my body.
“Hey, Jake,” I squeak, acting as helpless and small as possible. “Can you come help me? I can’t open a jar.”
It’s such an obvious lie, but he has to save face in front of his date.
She looks back at me, and when she sees what I’m wearing, her jaw drops, and she quickly looks away.
My pulse is racing. My head feels fuzzy, like it’s stuffed with Styrofoam. I’m not even thinking right now. I’m operating on pure instinct.
“Piper,” Jake replies, trying not to sound pissed off. “Can you…give me a second?”
Another second he can spend with this girl that isn’t me? No way.
“I could really use your help,” I reply.
“Okay,” he says quickly. He turns to the girl and whispers, “Sorry, Angela. Can we finish this tomorrow?”
Angela—so that’s her name—nods and stands, shouldering her designer purse. Her heels clack on the hardwood as she walks past me to the door.
When she reaches the door, she glances back over her shoulder, looking past me at Jake with something in her eyes that sets my blood boiling.
Jake moves like he’s going to speak, or run to her, but stops himself.
A sense of relief and triumph flows through me as she exits, leaving me standing in the foyer with Jake, who stares at me like I just robbed her at gunpoint.
“What the hell was that?” he barks. His voice sounds a lot angrier than I anticipated.
“I need a bottle opened,” I reply, playing naïve. “Did I interrupt your date?”
He advances quickly on me, so fast that it gives me a start. “That wasn’t adate. That was a potential client for me! You know I want to open my own business one day, right?”
My heart sinks. Did I really just let my jealousy screw something up for Jake?
I want to apologize, but I’m buzzing with so much energy that I can’t. Why doesn’t he just grab me and press his lips to mine? Doesn’t he want to?
“And what are you even wearing—?”
“I thought she was a date,” I interrupt. He frowns.
