Secrets of the Great Oak

Chapter 39

When Anna awoke, she first noted her favorite scent wrapping around her and the feel of sheets that weren't her usual jersey fabric. Then she remembered that she was living with Jake for the week and her heart cracked as she recalled the events of the previous night. It was only then that she noticed the arm draped over her waist and the breath caressing her neck.

Jake.

He must've turned over in his sleep and wrapped himself around her. His sleep-cuddling brought a sad smile to her face. Whenever she'd stayed over before, he wouldn't let her go even in his sleep. Normally, he would tuck her in tighter right as he drifted off to sleep and his grip would remain through the night. She found it comforting, but also unbearable this morning.

As she tried to wiggle out of his grasp, he took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

"Hey," he mumbled sleepily. But he quickly noticed his position. "Oh," he pulled his arms from her body and sat up. "Sorry. I didn't do that on purpose."

"I know. It's okay." She laughed a little and at his confused look, she elaborated. "You're a sleep-snuggler."

That had him howling with laughter. "Is that a term you coined or--"

"What's going on in here?" Stella appeared in the doorway, stretching and wiping sleep from her eyes.

"Nothing," Anna and Jake said together, quite unconvincingly.

Stella gave them a suspicious look. "What happened to your shirt, Jake?"

"I don't sleep in one."

"Please tell me you're wearing pants." She looked at the ceiling pleadingly as she said it.

"Yes, I'm wearing pants." He nudged Anna to get her attention before he added. "So is Anna, just in case you're wondering." He winked at her and she swung a pillow at his head.

Just as it collided with the side of his face, she heard Stella shriek, "JAKE!"

"Ouch, hey, okay." He held his hands up in surrender. "Too early for jokes. I got it." Anna laughed with him.

That joke made Anna crave the normalcy of their lifelong friendship. It was something he would've said whether they were in love or not. These last few days--with the emotional distance between them--had been rough.

As she smiled and laughed at the moment, Jake looked down at her and she saw desire lurking behind his eyes. Her heart cracked further and she moved to sit up next to him.

"Well, if you're done with your jokes, we still have school to get to." Stella said from the doorway.

"Right, school. Let's do that." Jake said yawning, earning another laugh from Anna.

Anna and Stella took turns dressing and getting ready in the bathroom while Jake changed in his bedroom before heading to the kitchen to make some coffee.

"Coffee is about all I have to offer you guys this morning," he looked over his shoulder this morning and offered, "we can stop and get some food on the way to campus."

"That works." Anna chirped.

"Jake," Stella walked into the hallway brushing her hair. "Do you have an extra key to your place that I can borrow for the week? So I don't have to wait on you guys in the parking lot or anything."

"You can just take the one I have," Anna stated. "I'll be with Jake all week anyway, so I won't need it." She turned to look at Jake. "If that's okay with you."