Jake backed out of the driveway and glanced at the house one last time. “I’ll tell her exactly what I’m looking for. I’m just afraid she won’t be able to find it.” He stopped on the street and turned to me. “The last thing I want to do is outstay my welcome. If she doesn’t find a place for me by the end of the week, I’ll either rent a place or get a hotel room.”
I shook my head. “You don’t have to do that, Jake. You can stay as long as you need to.”
He smiled, but I could tell there was something on his mind that he didn’t want to say out loud.
“Are you ready for me to drop you off at work?” His gaze dropped to the folder in between our seats. “I don’t think we should waste our time looking at the others.”
“Okay,” I replied, nodding in agreement. “But if your realtor finds you more, let me know and I’ll go with you to see them.”
“Thanks, Lydia. It means a lot that you’d take the time to do this with me.”
“Of course.” I placed a hand on his arm. “What are friends for?”
“Right,” he said, focusing back on the road. “Friends.”
Violet was excited to see Jake when he dropped me off at the gallery. They talked for over an hour while I tended to the customers. Hailey and I were a pain in the ass to him growing up, but he always had a soft spot for my sister. She was eight years younger than him, so he was around when she was born. He was the big brother Violet always wanted.
The day went by fast, and it was almost time for Jake to pick me up.
“So, what’s going on with you and Jake?” Violet asked, shutting down the computer.
Furrowing my brows, I jerked my head in her direction. “What do you mean?”
Violet smirked. “Oh, come on, he comes to town and all he wants to do is spend time with you. You don’t think there’s some ulterior motive there?”
“No!” I exclaimed, wondering why she would even say that. “Jake and I are friends. We always try to spend time together when he’s around.”
Violet giggled and shook her head. “You are so oblivious, Lydia. You should’ve seen how he looked at you when you were with customers.” She slapped a hand to her chest. “I was here; I noticed. The guy wants you.”
Jake had never shown an interest in me before. We were friends and I cared about him, but that was as far as it went.
“That’s ridiculous,” I said, waving her off. “Jake doesn’t see me that way.”
Violet snorted. “Whatever you say, sis. Now that Jake’s staying with you for a while, I see things getting a little crazy in your life.”
“How so?”
She shrugged and looked way too happy judging by the wide grin on her face. “Not sure yet, but I’m excited to see it all play out.” Her gaze shifted to the door, and I turned to see Jake pull into a parking space across the street. “Okay,” Violet called out, “I’m headed upstairs. You two have a good night.”
She hurried up to her apartment, leaving me alone in the store. Jake walked in and my heart did something strange in my chest. Could what Violet said be true? Did Jake see me as possibly more than a friend?
No.
It wasn’t possible.
However, the real question wasn’t that. I knew the question I needed to ask myself, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It was best to pretend the thought never occurred in my mind.
12
LYDIA
Luckily, Jake dropped me off at home last night and visited his parents until late. It worked out perfectly, especially after everything Violet said about him having feelings for me. She had to be wrong.
I ate dinner by myself and went to bed early. Around midnight, I heard Jake’s sports car pull into the driveway. Other than that, he was quiet coming into the cabin.
Violet’s words echoed in my mind the entire morning, and I was thankful I’d gotten out of the house before he woke up. However, avoiding him wasn’t going to calm the thoughts in my head.
My stomach was a big ball of nerves as I headed home to get ready for my date with Max at the Cocoa and Cookie Craze Festival. Most of the stores downtown closed early on festival days so everyone could enjoy the fun. Max had texted me, saying he’d be at my house at six o’clock. I had no clue what to expect when he arrived and saw Jake there.
