“You didn’t. I know you didn’t.” I give him a reassuring smile and we spend the rest of dinner in a comfortable silence and I sigh in contentment as I take bite after bite of pasta. “This might be the best pasta I’ve ever had. Thanks for taking the time to make this.”
He gives me a soft smile. “I’m glad you liked it.”
I finish my plate and find Jake staring at me. “What is it?”
“You just have a little…” He gestures to my face, before cupping my face in his hand and using his thumb to wipe what I’m assuming is some leftover sauce from my chin. His hand lingers in my face and he leans closer, our faces only a few inches apart. “You know, if you connect these freckles right here, it’d look like a heart.”
I feel my cheeks start to heat up and suddenly all I want to do is close the distance between us and learn what it feels like to have his lips pressed against mine. The feeling of his large hands dipping under my shirt while my own hands explored his body.Bad idea.Get those thoughts out of your head right now Eliana.Listening to the voice in my head, I pull back and try to ignore the fact that my heart is racing at what feels like a hundred miles an hour.
“Sorry about that.” Jake stares at his hand and clenches it a few times, as if touching me had burned his palm. “Do you want some help cleaning up?” He’s standing up and washing dishes in the sink before I can respond.
“Let me help you. You did all the cooking, so it’s only fair I help with dishes.” My eyes take in all the muscles of his back that I can see through his athletic shirt.
“Sounds good. So you’ve heard a bit about the Keeley household. What’s your family like?” Jake leans against the cabinet next to the sink as I clean.
“My dad’s out of the picture, he left me, my mom, and my little sister Josie when she was just a baby?—”
Jake’s jaw clenches as I give him a quick recap of my childhood.
I give him a small smile, “My dad’s definitely a dick, but I honestly don’t think of him much anymore. Josie and I are 11 years apart, so our dynamic is less like siblings and more like I’m her second mom. She’s so witty and outspoken, and I loveher so much. Moving away from her for college was really difficult.” My heart squeezes thinking of how hard we both cried when she and my mom dropped me off at my dorm freshman year.
“She sounds amazing.” Jake smiles tucking a loose strand of my hair behind my ear so it doesn’t get wet. His warm touch grounding me in the moment.
“She is. So is my mom although our relationship is also complicated.” I rinse off the final dish, setting it on the drying rack before looking back up at Jake who looks eager for me to continue. “Once my dad left, she had to step in and become the provider. Which meant I was often left alone to parent Josie. There were moments growing up where I resented my mom for that. Not because I didn’t love Josie, but because I would watch my friends get to just be kids and I was jealous. But at the same time I saw how much she sacrificed for us. How much she had to give up when she immigrated to the states. So even now, I feel like I must support them. We’re all each other has.”
Before I can fully process what’s happening, Jake’s wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into his embrace. To my surprise, I don’t resist the hug. Instead, I just rest my head on his chest, and let out a long sigh. “Sorry I feel like I’m constantly being a downer.”
“No. You’re not. I appreciate you sharing this with me. You have an incredible heart, and I just wish you gave yourself the same level of kindness you give others.” Jake rests his cheek on top of my head as he holds me close.
“Well, you have inspired me to take some baby steps when it comes to self-care. I started a new murder mystery series by one of my favorite author’s the other night. I’m about halfway through and IthinkI know who’s responsible for shoving the mayor into a woodchipper.”
Jake snorts, “Remind me to never get on your bad side.”
“Eh you can annoy me sometimes, but never to the point where I contemplate murder.” I tease, lifting my head so I can wink at him.
“Glad to hear it. Though I have a feeling my next question may test the limits of your patience.” He smirks.
“Oh? Now I’m incredibly curious.”
“How long have you had those One Direction pajamas?”
My eyes drop down to my legs. Shit. I had totally forgotten I was wearing them. My mouth hangs wide open as his smirk turns into a shit eating grin “I-um. A while.”
Dammit my face is hot. I try to break from the hug, but he holds me in place. Though if I was being honest with myself, I probably could escape if I wanted to…
“Don’t be embarrassed. I think it’s really cute. Any chance your favorite member is Zayn?” His eyes are filled with mischief.
My eyes narrow, “Yes it is. Was that a lucky guess or should I assume foul play?”
“Didn’t realize checking my girlfriend’s social media to see what she’s interested in was illegal.”
“Fakegirlfriend.” I protest, ignoring how my heart twinges when I correct him. “And my last One Direction related post has to be a few years old at this rate.”
“Yeah well you don’t really post often so it didn’t take much snooping.” He counters.
“Ya know, usually when you internet stalk someone, you don’t admit it. You just drop nuggets here and there so it can feel like coincidence. Or fate.”
“I feel like you’d appreciate an honest and direct approach more.”
