That was the part of Gia he was trying to reach, so when he moved to enter the restaurant, he didn’t miss the sheen of tears in her eyes as she pivoted and retreated to the back of the restaurant.
The wall was back up, and he was determined to break it down, brick by painstaking brick—until she couldn’t hide from him anymore.
He would be the wall that protected her. He would wrap himself around her and make sure nothing and nobody could ever hurt her again.
All he needed was for her to stay.
Nineteen
GIA
Ishould get a bike.A nice pink one.
Being back in Willowbrook and seeing how small the town actually was, despite the majestic mountains surrounding it, made her more aware of her carbon footprint. Willowbrook was not like LA, where the smog was nearly suffocating. The constant emission of exhaust fumes was clearly doing unspeakable damage to the environment.
Unlike LA, the fresh air here, mixed with the near-constant wind blowing through the valley, was invigorating. She could take a deep breath without curling her nose at the smell of gasoline permeating her senses. It did wonders for her mood, especially when she’d practice her gentle breathing exercises. It was a completely different experience when the air was free from pollution.
Marley’s bike made a lot more sense than the minivan Gia had basically commandeered since she came back to town. Her parents insisted she use it, but she knew they often transported things from the restaurant back to the home, or even helped with the kids when needed.
Having a bike would help reduce her carbon footprint, return the vehicle to her parents, who actually needed it, and allow herfreedom to move about town, since everything she needed was within a fifteen-minute walk from her parents’ house. If she had a bike, she could cut that time in half.
She could see it clearly—biking around town during the spring, when the flowers were blooming. Riding along the paved bike trail following the lake during the summer. And in the fall, her scarf would trail behind her as she watched the leaves change color.
It was merely a fantasy, but while she was bouncing around from table to table, talking to the patrons who came in for dinner at The Lotus, she pretended it was possible. A life where she would be content with what she had, instead of always chasing after something to fill the void inside of her. A world where she felt less alone and maybe, just maybe, more in control.
It all came to a screeching halt when a pair of ice-blue eyes pierced through her bubble of illusion with a resounding pop. As she met Jake’s knowing gaze, her wistful smile wavered.
It was as if Jake could see where her thoughts had led her. She felt exposed in a way she had never been before. Every layer she’d built around herself was pulled back, exposing the soft, gooey center of her bruised heart, which refused to stop beating no matter how much she put it through.
It made her feel vulnerable. He could strip her of everything with only a look.
In doing so, he triggered her protective instincts. With little effort, she fortified her walls with a growl, determined to keep Jake at arm’s length. That is, until he lifted a brawny arm and brandished a giant bouquet—wrapped in the purple paper that was a signature of Blooming Petals—and her resolve faltered.
When was the last time someone had brought her flowers? Treated her as if she was more than arm candy or a ticket to Hollywood?
Too long. In fact, if she dwelled on it long enough, she would find that the last time she’d felt wanted was thanks to the very person staring straight through to her soul right now.
So, she did what she did best. Turned on her heel and walked away, ignoring the twinge of guilt that pierced her heart for rebuking Jake.
He was too good for her. Toowholesome. She didn’t deserve to be the focus of his attention.
Even as she thought it, the tears welled, unbidden, belying her true feelings.
This is bullshit.
Whining would do nothing, but it made her feel a little better. The first time she felt seen, it just had to be because ofJake.
The universe had a terrible sense of humor, and Gia was not laughing.
She stomped to the back, where she burst into the kitchen like a determined tornado to avoid the events of the last few minutes. Lying to herself, she thought she was only evading Jake, and not the fact that she was considering moving back to Willowbrook in a more permanent way.
“You okay?” Her mother’s voice broke through her thoughts, her eyes pinched in worry.
“I’m fine.” She pasted on a smile, but judging by the knowing glint in her mother’s eyes, she wasn’t as good of an actress as she’d thought when it came to hiding her true emotions. It was a wonder she’d gotten as far as she did in her career when she couldn’t even lie to her own mother.
Her smile dropped as she turned to face the pile of dirty dishes. As she was washing the bowls, she could tell the moment Jake entered the dining room. Not only did the bell signal his entrance, but the crowd practically erupted in cheerful shouts loud enough to carry to the back.
She rolled her eyes at how easy it was for Jake to walk into any room he was in and have a crowd of adoring fans, while she had to fight tooth and nail to be noticed.
