You Are Something Else, Juniper Zwinggi

Chapter 12

Jake's parents found us asleep on the couch with my feet in his lap and Power Rangers playing on Amazon Prime. That's pretty much what we did for rest of the weekend. By Sunday evening I was so well rested I was rocking out to the radio in Jake's Renegade with no shame. Plus, the pain killers were in full swing and I was feeling really good.

"Another one bites the dust, another one bites the dust, yeah," I sang along to Queen and played the air bass guitar with my injured hands.

"I forgot you liked the oldies," Jake laughed. "Do you even know who Post Malone is?"

"Never heard of her," I replied knowing full well who Post Malone was.

Luka started howling when I began singing again. I was a horrible singer and Luka howled every time I attempted it. He had gotten so big since I adopted him, he was about to outgrow my Jeep. His ears scraped the roof as he tried to throw his head back and sing with me.

Jake pulled up in front of the house and shut off the Jeep. Emily had been texting me all day, letting me know when she got home, when Miles left, that she wanted to hear the story behind the injuries I sustained. The lights in the house were on and I knew she was waiting for me.

"You ready?" Jake asked.

We didn't exactly say we were going to keep our relationship a secret but I didn't exactly want a ton of people knowing just yet. I wanted it to be just us for a little while and I think Jake felt the same way. It was still so new, we didn't want to worry or answer to anyone except each other. He was mostly worried about Lydia and how she would take it once she found out. The only person I regretted keeping it from was Emily. For the short time I'd been in California, she'd become my best friend. She was the person I confided in about everything.

"I suppose," I sighed. 

I didn't want the weekend to end. I wanted to be back on the couch at his house watching movies with him and stealing kisses when his parents weren't around.

He reached his arm over and put his hand around the back of my neck, massaging it.

"Hey, where did that cute girl go that was just belting out Queen and CCR* at the top of her lungs?" he asked.

"She wishes she was back on the couch watching stupid movies with her boyfriend."

He laughed, leaned over and kissed me hard on the mouth. My body became mush and I didn't want it to end. "You will be fine. I'll walk you guys inside."

He walked Luka and I to the door while also carrying my bag. I opened the door and Summit came bounding to us followed by Emily. The dogs took off to play and she gave us hugs, going on about how glad she was to finally have someone home. Jake winced when she hugged him too hard around the ribs. She took my bag from him.

"I guess I'll see you ladies later," he said still holding the door. We turned back to watch him go.

"Bye, Jake," Emily said happily.

"Thanks, Jake. Text me when you get home," I said aching to run to him and kiss him good night. Emily had her arm linked through my un-injured one, pinning me to her side.

"Will do," he winked and shut the door as he left. As soon as we heard his vehicle vacate the driveway, Emily dragged me into the living room and forced me onto the couch.

"Tell me everything."

------------------------

I didn't tell Emily everything. Leaving out all of the romance and gushy stuff, I told her how we took out Andrew at the party and that we did talk about the kiss but decided to take time to evaluate it's meaning.