Jake looked in the general area of the noise before kneeling down and discovering a large shoe print in the dirt.
"It was probably just an animal," Alice suggested from the lounge chair. He wanted to follow any other clues in the dirt for her sake, but her panicked tone hauled him back to Alice, like the queen bee was calling for him.
Planning on saying something about the print, he decided to hold his tongue when relief overtook her expression. Maybe she needed a break from whoever that was.
"Sorry, I jump at everything these days."
"Why?" he asked intently, hoping it would lead to some answers to the puzzle that just presented itself.
"I don't know," she responded hesitantly.
Jake could see the truth was securely rattling behind her teeth. "Is everything okay?"
"Well, you still haven't called security, and I'm not in handcuffs, so...yeah."
Jake made note of her dark hair that waved down her thin figure to her belly button, and her fingers that nervously drummed on her knees. When he reached out and lightly touched her forearm, intending to ask her again, she simpered. "Alice."
"Huh?"
"You wanted my name. It's Alice."
He pulled his hand away with a smile, thinking it fit her perfectly. "...In wonderland?" She gave a blank expression of slight annoyance toward the grin that was quickly spreading across Jake's face. "...And I'm clearly making you mad, which would make me the Mad Hatter."
"You really don't have to entertain me."
Alice watched him closely as he leaned over and rested his elbows on his knees. "It's not a bother at all." When he noticed her lean back, he did the same.
"I really was just looking for some peace and quiet, Jake."
"Yeah, of course. I actually came out here to do just that." Jake proceeded to lay down and close his eyes while linking his hands behind his head.
In the distance, Jake heard Alice's voice politely explain, "Thanks anyway. I can get it somewhere else." She was already halfway up the gate, climbing it like a monkey when she lost her footing.
Jake trailed after her, knowing there was probably someone hiding in the tall bushes on the other side of the fence. He clamped down onto her tiny waist and pulled her back down.
"Don't touch me!" she screamed harshly, and Jake obediently complied, trying to hush her loudness. "Don't you evertouch me again. Do you understand?"
"I'm sorry! I won't. But, let me at least take you through the lobby. I'm the manager, so you can feel free to leave from the front." The battle of dealing with Alice's fortress rising up and down was sending Jake through a whirlwind of concern. Tension flooded the space between them as they faced each other in a stalemate. The stare down lasted long enough for Jake's liking, so he backed down. "Look, Alice, you are welcome to stay here. I'll make sure no one kicks you out... And I'll leave you alone to enjoy your night the way you intended."
He watched as she squeezed her eyes tightly for a moment, battling with her indecision. "Why would you do that?" she spat.
"To be nice?" he answered with narrowed eyes. Never had he thought bickering would be fun. But, every adorable expression she sent his way made him want to create a mental dictionary of all of them.
She scrunched her mouth to one side, biting the inside of her cheek. Finally, her voice softened. "Yeah, but that makes me think there's a catch."
"No catch," Jake assured.
