Jake Lucian
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Angel told me to go ahead without her since she was going to be running late, I reach the bar and notice the team all here chatting. Eros sitting yet again alone reading his book whilst drinking a glass of water. "Jake! We were talking about the hot doctor."
I chuckle as I join the group, taking a seat next to Felix. "Ah, the hot doctor," I reply, playing along. "What's there to talk about? She's beautiful and talented, end of story."
Sebastian smirks. "You're not even denying that you have a crush on her, are you?"
I roll my eyes playfully. "Okay, fine, maybe I find her attractive. But I'm not the only one, right guys?" I glance around the table, and everyone nods or raises their glasses in agreement.
"She's definitely easy on the eyes," Dylan chimes in.
"And she seems nice too," Felix adds.
I take a sip of my drink, stealing a quick glance at Eros, who is still engrossed in his book. "You know, I saw her talking to Eros earlier," Marcus says, trying to steer the conversation away from me.
The guys perk up at the mention of Eros. "Really? What were they talking about?" Sebastian asks.
"I'm not sure, but it looked pretty serious," he replies, trying to sound casual.
Sebastian smirks. "Ooh, Eros getting some attention from the hot doctor. Maybe there's something going on between them."
"Nothing is going on between them." I respond.
David shrugs nonchalantly. "Who knows? Eros is a bit of a mystery."
"True," Dylan agrees. "He's always been the strong and silent type."
"Maybe she'll be the one to crack his tough exterior," Felix suggests.
I chuckle. "Who knows? But I doubt Eros is the type to let anyone in easily."
"I get why you were so whipped over her for the past months or so, she really is something."
As the conversation continues, I can't help but steal glances at Angel as she walks into the bar with Christina and Natalia the head of socials.
She wore a tight black dress, with a V dipped down her chest revealing the rest of the tattoo. Her hair was still tied up as they grab themselves a table and continue their intense chatter. Just as I was about to go and say hi, she slides off the table and heads over to Eros.
As I observe from afar, Angel approaches Eros with a warm smile, and I can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy.
Eros Candreva
"Hey Eros, how are you?" A soft voice asks beside me, I fold my page before turning my head to lock eyes with her. She reveals a warm smile before taking the seat besides me.
No one sits next to me or distracts me whilst reading.
That's the rule.
But for some reason I didn't care that she was the one who distracted me. "Fine." I respond to her question.
Angels smile widens, and she glances down at the book I was reading. "What are you reading?" she asks, genuinely interested.
"It's just a hockey book," I reply, keeping my answers short and to the point.
She nods, seemingly undeterred by my lack of elaboration. "I've always enjoyed books. They take you to a whole different world, don't they?"
I can't help but notice how her eyes light up when she talks about books. It's a passion we both share, but I'm not used to having someone to discuss it with.
Usually, I keep to myself and read in solitude. But there's something about Lilith that makes me want to engage in conversation with her, even if it goes against my usual habits.
"Yeah, they do," I respond, and there's a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
She leans in slightly, as if sharing a secret. "You know, you should join this book club. They meet once a month at a local café to discuss our favorite books. I'm starting to go after work."
I raise an eyebrow, slightly taken aback by her invitation. It's not something I expected, but it's also not something I can easily dismiss.
The idea of being part of a book club and having a chance to talk about books with others is appealing, even if it goes against my usual preference for solitude.
But I don't like people.
Never have.
"No." I respond, she nods her head slightly.
I turn my attention back to my book, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. I'm not used to socialising, especially not with someone as outgoing and friendly as Angel. But there's something about her that intrigues me, that makes me want to step out of my comfort zone.
"Okay, I will leave you to it," she whispers, sliding off the stool as she heads to the bar.
Then her seat is quickly taken by Jake, who wears an all-too-familiar mischievous grin.
"Do you like her?" He right out asks me.
I hold back a sigh, shaking my head slightly. "No."
"Because—I'm going to ask her out on another date, so if you like her—"
"I don't like her, and you're all disrupting my routine," I respond, my tone slightly annoyed.
Jake chuckles, undeterred by my curt response. "Relax, big guy. I just wanted to make sure I'm not stepping on anyone's toes."
"Well, you're not," I say firmly, hoping he'll drop the subject.
He raises an eyebrow but doesn't push further.
The only real reason I came to the bar was to see her. I watch from a distance as Jake makes his way to her, leaning against the bar counter. Their conversation seems light-hearted, and I can't help but feel a pang of jealousy when he touches her cheek.
Jake is a good man, and I know he's only trying to be friendly, but something inside me flinches from watching them together.
She's a good woman, and I can't help but be drawn to her. There's something about her that I can't quite explain, and it's starting to disrupt my carefully planned routine. I'm used to being alone, to keeping to myself and my books, but she's slowly seeping into my thoughts, even when I try to push her away.
As Jake and Angel leave the bar together, the rest of the team mates whistle and tease, but I can't bring myself to join in.
Instead, I glance at my watch and realise that I should have finished the chapter by now, but I haven't even started it. She's ruining my routine, and I'm not quite sure how to handle it.
As I head back to my car, I can't shake the feeling that things are changing, and I can't ignore the fact that Angel has become a significant distraction in my life.
Maybe it's time to embrace the change, step out of my comfort zone, and see where it leads. But for now, I'll try to focus on my routine, my books, and my hockey, hoping that the allure of this intriguing woman will fade away with time.
I unlock my car and hear a laugh, I turn and see Jake kissing her gently before pulling away. She rests her hand onto his chest whilst leaning onto her car. I quickly avert my gaze and slide into my car without a second thought. I don't want to watch them together.
As I pull out of the parking lot, I try to push the thoughts of Angel and Jake aside, focusing instead on my destination and the task at hand. Hockey has always been my refuge, my escape from the world and its complexities, and right now, I need that focus more than ever.
But as I drive away, I can't help but wonder what it would be like to have someone like Angel in my life. Someone who cares.
Never had that before.
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