Secrets of the Great Oak

Chapter 14

Tamara had traded yet another shift to avoid Anna. It had officially been a week and Anna hadn't heard so much a whisper from Tam. This was ridiculous. Tam would have to come to her senses soon... hopefully.

The familiar, beat-up Buick pulled in front of the coffee shop and Anna hopped in.

"Sorry, I'm running a little behind. I was going to come to help you lock up but I got sidetracked editing photos."

"You don't work here." Anna laughed. "You have no obligation to help with the things that I get paid for."

He looked at her from the driver's seat. "I know I'm not obligated to. I want to help you."

"You're too kind."

"I know." He grinned. "I have hidden motives though, don't worry." He winked at her.

"Didn't we do enough flirting last night? You're already coming back for more?"

That smile stayed plastered on his face. "I will always come back for more, Matthews."

She rolled her eyes. But, that little line between them seemed to blur as she did it.

Him being in love with her changed things. And... she still needed to figure out how she felt about him. Last night had been a little too close. Anna woke up this morning from another dream with Maggie and knew that's what she had to focus on. The case and her friendship with Tam were more important. She couldn't lose anyone else. The pain was raw throughout her shift this morning and now, sitting here with Jake, she realized that to keep everyone in her life, it didn't matter how she felt about him. She would have to keep it to herself.

She tried to make peace with that as they drove towards his apartment. Steeling herself with a deep breath, she looked over at Jake's smiling face and the pang she felt in her heart resounded through her. She would have to somehow maneuver their relationship back to a friendship... and let it stay there.

Stella was wrong. Anna wasn't allowed to be happy, especially if it included Jake.

***

He knew he needed to calm down but he didn't care to. Not one bit. Not when she had looked at his mouth like that last night. Oh, he'd almost lost it then. Almost leapt across the space between them. Almost.

For all of his distancing and a whole week of being careful, he wanted her more than ever. Even now he wanted to reach over and take her hand.

He shook it from his head and focused on the road. It could wait. It could wait until he knew for sure where she stood. It could wait until he found the way to tell her how he felt.

Anna was too important to not plan this out. He wanted to take his time with her, do this right.

Jake would need to give her the space to figure out what this thing between them was. He could manage that, he thought. He knew it would be worth it in the end.

So, he would go about their schoolwork and their lives waiting for her. It would be his pleasure.

"So, the policemen," Anna said, drawing Jake back the situation at hand.

"Yeah, hopefully, that conversation will yield more than our talks with the reporters."

"Hopefully," Anna continued quietly, "Do you want to go talk to my parents today? It's Sunday, so they're both home."

"Sure! That's a great idea." He turned the car in the direction of her house. And they rode in silence for a while. "You alright, Anna?"

She seemed a little shocked by the sound of his voice as she asked. "What? Yeah. I'm okay. I'm just nervous about this talk with my parents. I want it to go well."