What You Don't See

Wet Jeans and Frozen Pizza

RECAP:

I let out a groan and closed the distance again, not willing to let him pull away from me anymore. “I meant what I said before the game. I never meant to say it but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s true. I love you. I’m totally and completely in love with you and I realize you have a lifetime of disappointment behind you. I get that, this here, between you and me, it’s fucking terrifying. I know that. Losing you scares the shit out of me too, but there is nothing I’ve ever been more sure about. So there it is, I’m laying out everything. It’s up to you now, and if you don’t want me then I’ll walk away right now without a word. You can forget this ever happened and…” My voice trailed off. I didn’t want to think about what I would do unless I absolutely had to.

And then like I had released him from some sort of curse, he grabbed the back of my elbows and pulled me forward. With our faces only inches apart and our chests smashed together, he just looked at me.

“And if I don’t want to forget?” His breath was fanning my face.

I gulped and felt a shiver snake through my body. He must have noticed because his mouth curved into a grin.

“Well then I guess that’s okay too.” I whispered. He let out a soft chuckle and I felt his left palm on my cheek. I intuitively leaned into his touch.

Then it happened; he closed the distance. My eyelids automatically fell closed and I felt his cold, soft lips on mine. My hands flew to the back of his neck, clinging to him with everything I had. I was drowning in the dazed feeling of his mouth on mine. The rain faded away until we were the only two people in the world. I couldn’t hear anything but the beat of my heart in my ears and the heat of his palm on my cheek. I couldn’t taste anything but the salty, sweet tang of him. It was everything I’d imagined and more. And even though kissing Jake was foreign to me, this felt so familiar. When we connected it was like I could see the next 80 years of my life right in front of me.

Like being with him was all I would ever need for as long as I exist.

+++

“Jake, sweetie, its time to go.” She called out to him, shoving the randomly thrown toys around the living room back into the box. The patter of small footsteps down the stairway caused her to turn her attention to behind her.

“Where are we going?” The little boy asked and picked up his soccer ball before she tried to put it away.

“Well, I’m going to work little guy.” She said animatedly pointing at herself. “You’re going to hang out at Mrs. Tanner’s house this afternoon until your father comes to get you.”

The cute little pout that developed on his face was almost enough for her to call in sick and spend the day with him, but she knew she couldn’t.

“Come on Jake, Brooke will be there! And I’ll even let you take your soccer ball with you.” She sang, trying her best to make him go without a fight.

“I don’t like Brooke.” He continued to pout.

She held back a laugh. If there was one thing she knew, it was that her son was absolutely smitten with the Tanner’s little girl.

“And why is that?” Her eyes danced with amusement.

“She punched me in the arm.” He mumbled, rubbing his arm at the memory.

She couldn’t help but laugh at that, “I’m sure she didn’t mean to hurt you. And who knows, maybe it means she has a crush on you.” She bit her lip, trying to look serious. His little grey eyes widened at her theory, and then he quickly covered it by scrunching his face up in disgust.