Absentmindedly, he wondered where his parents were now. Once Jake turned eighteen, they’d packed their bags and left town. They’d half-heartedly tried to take Jake with them, but it made little sense for him to go since he was headed off to college, anyway. He never understood why his parents couldn’t love him the way the Liens loved their children. Weren’t parents supposed to care about the people they brought into the world?
His parents were overjoyed when they learned his mother was pregnant, because they had suffered from infertility and hadn’t thought they could conceive. Unfortunately for the Wests, a string of bad luck followed shortly after. His father, once a respected mechanic, lost his job when a big chain auto shop moved into the city, forcing smaller shops to shut down.
What was meant to be a thing to celebrate became a burden instead. With money tight, his mother became the breadwinner. She worked double shifts at the truck stop diner while his father drowned his sorrows in booze.
Between their crippling debt, hospital bills, another mouth to feed, and an absent husband, his mother cracked under the pressure.
There were no nighttime stories or birthday parties. Instead, Jake learned to avoid being noticed by a father who had a tendency to become volatile when drunk—which was all the time—and a mother who barely left the house most days.
With time and perspective, he recognized his mother likely suffered from untreated postpartum depression. The knowledge didn’t make it hurt any less.
He’d only been a burden to them. While they had neverhurt him physically, the lack of affection had a lasting impact on his psyche. It made him more desperate for control. Jake learned to only depend on himself, until the fateful day when Thao sat next to him in first grade and took him under his wing, bringing him into his family like Jake was meant to be there.
It was with the Liens that he learned what family was supposed to feel like. Even when Mr. and Mrs. Lien had been strict with their kids, there was an undercurrent of affection running through every gesture. He’d been lucky to have been on the receiving end as an extension of being friends with Thao and Gia.
His thoughts sobered him, quelling the anxiety forming a knot in the pit of his stomach. By the time he showed up at The Lotus, his mood had dampened.
In the distance, he could see the festival lights blinking merrily. Laughter and delighted screams echoed in the valley that made up Willowbrook. This year, the event was being held in the space between the town hall and the community center.
From where he stood beneath the streetlight, he saw Gia moving between tables and charming the guests. She had a way about her that made people want to be around her.
And right now, all he wanted to do was be around her every second of every single day.
Starting right now.
His legs jolted into motion. The smell of freshly cooked egg rolls welcomed him when he entered the dimly lit restaurant. His eyes found Gia across the room.
His heart threatened to leap out of his chest at the small smile she offered him. It was hard to believe a couple of weeks ago she was spitting venom his way for looking at her. He flashed her a lopsided smile as he made a beeline for her. A thrill shot through him at the way her slender throat bobbed. Her eyes widened with surprise, like a deer caught in headlights.
Or more like prey having been spotted by the predator. Andlike a hunter, he went in for the kill. She stood frozen, rooted to the ground. He would have chased her if she ran away.
His cock stirred at the thought of chasing after her. Maybe another time, when they didn’t have witnesses. Jake doubted her parents wanted to watch what he would do to their daughter once he caught her, so for now, he aimed for sweet.
When they were alone, though… it would be a completely different story. There was no shortage of woods behind his house for some role-playing. He had a feeling it wouldn’t take much convincing, either.
Once he was standing toe to toe with Gia, he wasted no time wrapping his arms around her. His lips found hers with expert precision, as if he’d been kissing her for years. Her sharp intake of breath sent a thrill straight to his cock.
When he pulled away, he realized the crowd had erupted in cheers at the display. It was straight out of a cheesy romance movie where the hero gets the girl. And like in the movies, he ignored everyone but the woman in front of him.
“Hi,” he breathed when he found his voice.
Her pink tongue peeked out between her swollen lips. “Hi.”
“I missed you.”
She tilted her head, a shadow of a smile crossing her lips. “You just saw me a few hours ago.”
He sighed, hanging his head. “I know, and it was way too long.”
Her eyes twinkled with laughter.
“You ready to get out of here?” Jake asked, looking up to find her parents. He spotted Mrs. Lien at the booth in the back. She offered him two thumbs up, which he took to mean they could handle things without Gia for the night.
“We’ve got it covered, Jake,” Minnie shouted from the cash register.
Gia looked at her mom, then her sister. “Are you guys sure?”
“Go, go. Make me a grandbaby already.” She made a shooing gesture before turning away and heading into the kitchen.
