My Way Swoon

✨Chapter Thirty One✨

Jake's bedroom was illuminated by the early morning sunshine. I rolled over so I could face him. The sun was wrapping him up in a cocoon of light. He was breathing so softly that I had to place my hand over his chest to make sure he was even breathing at all. He grinned and then moved his hand over mine.

"It's still racing," he croaked.

"It feels pretty normal to me."

"Well, I'm still nervous."

I wasn't forgetting that there was something he wanted to talk to me about. I had a feeling it was serious. I couldn't help but think that's what was making him nervous.

"What should we do today?" Jake asked.

"Lexi and Danny come home today. I wanted to have the house nice for them. I'll probably be cleaning all day."

"You want some help?"

"No. You'll just distract me."

"That's probably true."

Jake moved his hand to tickle my ribs. I tried to move away but he kept me in place with his other hand. I shifted so that I was straddling him. He stared up at me, moving his hands down to settle over my hips. I grabbed both of his hands, linking our fingers together and then I brought our hands up over his head.

"You're so fucking beautiful," Jake mumbled as he licked his lower lip.

"With my bed head?" I joked.

"It's not that bad. I'm sure mine is worse."

I let go of his hands to flatten his hair down a bit. I couldn't see my hair, but his was atrocious. Jake sat up, moving me further down his lap so he could look me in the eye. He wrapped his arms around my back, pulling me in for a hug. I mirrored him, bring my arms around his back. I gently scratched my fingernails over his cotton tee shirt.

"I love the way you touch me," Jake whispered.

"Easy," I teased, pulling back so I could look at his face.

He wasn't laughing but he had a peaceful smile playing upon his lips.

"I'm being serious. You're so delicate," he said.

"You think I'm fragile?" I asked, pulling back.

I was letting my insecurities get the best of me. I moved off of his lap. His face fell, his eyebrows threading together in that look of concern I kept running into.

"I didn't say that. I said 'delicate' and I was talking about the way that you touch me, not you," he explained, reaching for my hand.

I let him take it. He laced his fingers through mine and then pulled me to his chest.

"Sorry. I don't know- I'm sorry," I mumbled as I rested my ear against his heartbeat.

"You know there's nothing wrong with being fragile or delicate, right?" he whispered as he ran a hand through my hair.

I didn't respond. I half wanted to pretend like I had fallen back asleep so I wouldn't have to acknowledge what he had said. I was feeling uncomfortable. I couldn't decide if I wanted to be angry with him or if I just wanted to run away.

In the end I just stayed where I was. He continued to play with my hair. I nestled in closer to him even though my mind was racing.

"We better get up before we fall back asleep," Jake said as he shook my shoulders.

I got up quickly and changed into some of the clothes that I had packed in the backpack he brought home. I could tell Jake was watching me but he didn't really say anything.