Unbreak My Heart

17. Gossipmonger

People wrote self-help books, motivational and spiritual books about how to deal with this or that, but I have yet to read one about playing with fire or how to get rid of the butterflies in our bellies. 

I mean, what was the explanation for putting a hand on top of a blazing hot stove while you knew that you'd get burnt but did it anyway?

I asked myself these questions as I stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom, hesitating to go downstairs where Jake was currently. I couldn't believe everything that transpired yesterday, from my Mum and my estranged father at the restaurant, to the night with Jake. 

Speaking of my Mum, I woke up to several messages and missed calls from her. But I didn't want to talk to her, not today at least. What she did was unfair on both of us. I didn't understand how she could break bread with the same person who left us with little to survive on while he gallivanted with his other family.

Then there was Jacob, what was I thinking, flirting with him and more importantly singing Ego! I need to start using my head and not my hormones. Deciding it wasn't a good idea to stay hidden in the bathroom I took one last look at myself, took a deep breath and walked out.

You can do this!

As I took the last steps downstairs I heard Jake cursing and I rushed to see what was going on. He was standing behind the stove, with an apron around his waist, and his backside looking yummy in the black jeans he wore. The jeans were paired with a black sleeved shirt hugging his biceps nicely.

You could tell this was where he felt at home, his happy place; - the kitchen. His hands moved with ease as he kept stirring the contents in the saucepan and the other pulled open the oven. I watched silently, fascinated by him as he switched off the stove after tasting what he was cooking and nodded to himself.

This was the Jake I didn't know, nor did my classmates, and in that moment I was glad to be the only one witnessing this side of him.  In the past twenty four hours I got a glimpse of his different personalities. There was Jake my boss, Jake the homeowner and Jake the protector. My favorite had to be the one I was seeing now.

"Like what you see, Kitten?" He asked, catching me off guard.

How long was I staring at him?

"N-no, I wasn't looking at you," I stuttered, looking away.

What was going on with me? First I was flirting with him and now I’m stuttering? I must be under some spell and whoever was responsible has to stop. 

I shook my head and glanced at him, green eyes met brown. I expected a mocking look in his eyes, but I was met with tenderness and warmth instead. No man had ever looked at me like that and it threw me off my game. I broke the staring contest and cleared my throat that was filled with emotion before speaking.

"I should probably get home, the girls are waiting for me," I mumbled looking for my handbag.

"Already? I was hoping we could eat breakfast...," He said in a thick accent.

There it was, that Australian accent. It made an appearance when he was filled with emotion. I wanted to stay, but the way he looked at me scared me to the core. It was those we loved that held the power to break us the most. It had only been a short while and Jake already had so much power over me. I couldn't and shouldn't allow him to have more power over me!

"April is at my place and I already told her I was on my way. I haven't seen her in-"

"It's alright, can I at least drive you home?" 

With a smile I answered him, "Yeah, I would appreciate that." 

The drive was long due to traffic and we made light conversation, sharing childhood stories. “Why did your parents relocate to London?”