Back Again: A Love Story

Chapter 3

"Bea? You're spacing out-" 

I shake my head at her and put a finger to my lips, sending her a mental shut up. I glanced at Jake then back at her, hoping she got the message. Her mouth opened and her eyes popped a bit, as if finally understanding.

"Right..." she whispered.

I took a sip of my hot chocolate, averting my eyes from the hunk of man candy that was standing in the foyer of the restaurant. A black button-up paired with a silver tie and fitted gray slacks adorning his body made my mouth water. Good lord, he literally made my mouth water.

Dammit. What the hell is he doing at this pathetic little cafe? What kind of big shot business executive goes to lunch at this beaten down shit hole? I sneak a glance over my hot chocolate, only to find Jake staring at me. 

I run my hand through my fingers, immediately forgetting whether or not I actually brushed my hair this morning, before looking down at what I was wearing. Perfect, jeans and an old t-shirt. I pull my head back up only to find Jake at our table smiling at Meg and waiting for me to greet him. "Jake..." I trail off, suddenly very aware of my forbidden feelings for him. "What brings you here?"

Jake adjusted his tie, his adam's apple bobbing erractically. I clenched my jaw and stared at the placemat, begging to be anywhere but here. "I have a meeting with-"

"That's really great and all, Jake," Meg interrupts, "but Bea and I have to get going to get ready. We're meeting Daren and Kyle for a party in a bit."

Jake looks at me, questions filling his eyes. "Daren and Kyle?"

I stare at him, wondering how on earth he could forget the two boys he played ball in school. "Daren is Meg's fiancee," I tell him. "Kyle is my, uh-"

"He's her boyfriend," Meg finishes. I send glare at her, wondering why on earth should would lie to Jake. 

He looks stunned for a moment, like he was punched in the gut or something. "You-you have a boyfriend?" Jake stumbles increduously. 

Dick.

I stare at him for a moment, wondering why on earth I had feelings for the asshole. "Of course I do, Jake. I'm not that dorky virgin I was in high school," I answered bitterly. 

His mouth immediately dropped open. "I didn't mean it like that-"

"I know. But you it sounded like it. So-" I point to his clients, " go finish your important business meeting before you regret ever dating my sister."

"Listen, Bea, I'm so-"

I point again. "Go, dammit."

"How many times can I break till I shatter?

Over the line can't define what I'm after,

I always turn the car around,

Give me a break let me make my own pattern,

All that it takes is some time but I'm shattered,

I always turn the car-"

A pounding on the bathroom door interrupted my erate singing. "Shut the hell up, Bea. Your gonna wake up the whole damn neighborhood with that screeching!" Susan yells through the door.

I wash the rest of the shampoo out of my hair and continue to hum to myself, but my thoughts are soon lost on Jake. 

Jake.

God, Jake.

If it wasn't enough for him to have this- this confidence and god knows what else to make me fall at his feet, he just had to be dating my underage sister.

Well, she isn't exactly underage. 

Still! This would have been a lot more bearable if I had found him in bed with- hell- anyone except my sister. I shake my head under the water, perhaps thinking that will release my mixed-up thoughts on my sister's boyfriend.

My conditioner squirts everywhere as soon as I pop open the cap, getting it in my eye and all over my face. "For the love of God." I murmur under the water, wiping my face with a wash cloth. "This day just can't get any fucking better can it?"

After all my conditioner is wiped off, my eyes are done watering and smell like a drowning flower, I turn the shower off and wrap towel around my body. The mirror is fogged up enough that I can't see my reflection, but I try to wipe it away to see it, anyways.

My dark brown is slicked back around my neck, curls starting to form into tiny waves at the bottom. My green eyes are a bit red, but they still seem to have a bit more life in them then I felt. And, an added plus, I seemed to look tanner in the bathroom than anywhere else.

"Susan! I need to talk you, you in here?"

And that's when Jake walked in. 

There honestly wasn't a thing I could do. I suppose I could have said something or, ya know, moved, but my body just froze. Fuckin' froze. Susan is going to kill me. 

Jake stood there, about as frozen as I was, staring. His gaze swept over my legs, my chest and finally made his way to my face. I felt like melting. Just melting at his feet. "Shit, Bea, I'm-"

I looked in the eye, I could already tell that my emotions were plainly in view. It was no use hiding them. "It's okay," I whisper because I don't trust my voice to be normal. "Don't worry about it," I choke out. 

He goes to turn around, but stops. His back tenses and his head slowly turns around. I avoid his eyes, instead watching the fog leave the mirror. "I'm really sorry about this afternoon. I had never meant it like that."

I turn my head to the ground, pretending to find my chipped nail toe nail polish a lot more interesting than his face. "I know."

He gave me another look before turning and shutting the door behind him. As he was walking away I could hear his muffled curses. I really wanted to know why he was cussing.