What You're Looking For

🌻Chapter One🌻

The early morning sunlight was blinding. You verbally cursed it because how could it be November and still this sunny? You were just about to roll over and bury your face in the pillow when your phone started to ring. You knew it could only be one person and as tired as you were, you couldn't help but smile at the prospect of hearing his voice.

"Good morning, Jacob," you mused.

"I can't sleep."

"It's 7am. You never went to bed?"

"I'm too excited."

"For what?"

"I'm gonna propose to Becca."

The strangled and shocked gasp that escaped your throat almost embarrassed you. You didn't know how to respond. Words were passing through your mind but none of them seemed to accurately reflect what you were feeling. Not that you could actually tell him what you were feeling. Not that you ever would.

"Wow," you finally choked out.

"Is it too soon?"

"No, no. My parents were only together for eight months before they got engaged. Ten months is plenty of time," you said even though it couldn't be farther from the truth.

"I was hoping you would help me with the proposal," Jake whispered as if it were a secret confession.

"Me? Don't you think Josh is better at that sort of thing?"

"I don't know. Why not both of you?"

Josh, of course, knew all about your harbored feelings for Jake. He had watched your face fall when he didn't ask you to prom. He had wrapped his arm over your shoulder as you gently cried after Jake introduced you to his first girlfriend. Josh was the one to comfort you and hide your secrets. You could only imagine the support he'd be offering today.

"Fine. Only if Josh is helping too," you agreed.

"Yes! I can't wait to tell you guys all my ideas! Breakfast at 9?"

"Sure, sure."

An hour and a half later, you were locking the door behind you, darned in a sweater that you didn't really love but Jake had complimented once which meant it had now become a staple in your wardrobe. The drive to the diner would take you longer than the boys but you managed your time well enough to get there early so there would be a steaming cup of coffee patiently waiting for Jake.

Five, then ten minutes passed before Jake arrived. He looked disheveled and flawlessly beautiful as always. He sat across from you, beaming so wide you could see his molars.

"How do you always manage to get here before me?" he chuckled as he took a sip of his coffee.

"You take too much time making yourself so pretty," you said and even though you wanted to cringe for flirting with him it just felt natural.

"Not as pretty as you," he quipped back, tilting his coffee cup towards you.

You tried to hide your reddening cheeks behind the mug you were sipping from.

"Josh is late," Jake noted.

"As usual."

"What did you get up to last night? Trouble, I assume."

Binge watching a murder mystery and devouring a pint of Mocha Chip ice cream could hardly be considered trouble. Still, you didn't really miss the trouble. Especially not the Sunday mornings you would wake up on one of the boys couches with a raging headache and the taste of alcohol still lingering on your tongue.

"Same old, same old," you said, forgoing any details about the pitiful previous night.

"What'd I miss?" Josh yawned, tapping Jake's shoulder to get him to scoot over.