The Player Next Door

39

Zach took my hand and lead me back into the party.

Jake obviously knew I didn't go to the bathroom but he didn't say anything as I came back over to the group with Zach.

Zach squeezed my hand reassuringly before letting go and sitting next to Edward.

Jake was watching me as I walked over and sat next to him, "Hey."

"Hey" he responded. He didn't invite me to sit on his lap again but he placed a hand on my leg.

I watched as they played some silly party game and laughed at how drunk Tommy was.

After the game Jake leaned over to whisper in my ear, "Let's get out of here."

I nodded and stood, waving goodbye to the guys and walking out of the house with Jake close behind.

Despite offering to be the designated driver, Jake didn't get drunk at all. He had a few beers but definitely nothing crazy.

The drive back is mostly silent and I begin to tap on the steering wheel.

"Stop that." Jake states flatly from beside me.

I roll my eyes and continue driving, wanting to cry in relief when I turn onto our street.

I park the car and get out and Jake takes my hand gently, "You want to come upstairs for a bit?"

I chew my lip slightly and debate whether I want to go over or go home before giving in and following him up to his room.

I take my shoes off and when I turn around Jake is watching me. Before I can say anything he walks up to me and leans down for a kiss.

I instantly moan at the contact but begin feeling guilty when I think about Gabe and the phone number.

I pull away slowly and suck in my bottom lip, "Jake, I don't think I'm in the mood for this," I lie and look down trying not to look at him.

His finger pushes my chin up toward him and he studies me, "Why not?"

My heart beats in my chest louder and I debate telling him about Gabe. If I do tell him though, he'll go on about how "this isn't a relationship."

"Let's just watch a movie," I smile and go to walk away but Jake keeps me in place by my hips.

While keeping eye contact he reaches behind me and into my back pocket pulling out the playing card with Gabe's phone number on it.

My mouth opens in shock as I watch him analyze the card and I begin panicking, "How did you, um that was, how could you even?"

"Edward." He states cutting off my pathetic rambling.

Of course that traitorous bastard.

"Jake I can explain, I was going to tell you I just wasn't-"

"Gabe? That's his name right? Princess if you want to text Gabe do it, be my guest." His eyes were dark and his tone was hard and I could tell he definitely did not want me to text Gabe.

"I wasn't going to text him Jake."

"So then why keep his number in your pocket all night?"

"He gave it to me Jake, I wasn't going to be rude, I fucking took it that's all. I never said I'd actually text him," I began to blush in embarrassment. I feel like I'm being treated like a little girl in trouble when in reality I did nothing wrong. He let out a sarcastic laugh and rolled his eyes, "Well what should I have done?"

"I don't know, say no, tell him to fuck off, say you have a boyfriend," he was mad but his last words made me mad too.

"Boyfriend? I don't have a boyfriend. Or do I? I can't fucking keep track."

His eyes turn to slits. "It's a white lie Princess, it won't hurt anybody."

"That's the problem Jake! It hurts me! You say you don't want a relationship but then get pissed when another guy tries to make a move. You get all offended when I ask you to go on a group date but then expect me to be at parties with you and come over for dinner with your family. This is literally a relationship except I introduce you as my "friend" everywhere we go. If you don't want a relationship that's fine, but you can't act like you have any hold over me."

Stepping closer he frowns, "I can't be in a relationship Chelsea, we talked about this."

"No Jake, you can, but you're scared. I trust you, I trust you so much it scares me because how can I trust someone who doesn't even trust themselves. And I get why you're scared but you can't expect me to just wait around for you to stop being scared."

"So I'm holding you back?" His frown deepened and I hated how much that hurt me, "You want to be with other people."

"No! I want to be with you," Jake looked up at me surprised by my words, "I'm just confused and scared that I'm setting myself up to get hurt."

Jake stepped closer to me and pushed a stray hair behind my face, "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Maybe not intentionally, but I'm there Jake. I don't want to scare you but I want a relationship. And yeah I can wait, but if you're never ready then eventually I'll have to move on and I'll just be heartbroken."

"I don't want you waiting around for me," he cupped my face in his hands and kissed my forehead, "Go text Gabe, go be with other guys. You deserve that experience, I don't want to take that away from you."

I shut my eyes and wanted to curse when a tear fell, but Jake pushed it away as quickly as it came, "I don't want to be with other guys Jake, I want to be with you."

I look up to Jake's face and am shocked to find him tearing up as well, "I can't make you happy."

I wrap my hands around his wrists as he cups my face and try to smile, "Yes you can, I'm happy right now, like this with you. We can keep doing this."

"I'm going to ruin it, I will. Princess I care about you too much to hurt you like that. Please go see what else is out there, I don't want you settling for me when there's so many guys out there who can treat you better."

"Are you seriously going to walk away me from em Jake Winters?"

"I care about you too-"

"Save it," I scoff. Tears continue to fall but I'm too frustrated to care. "If you really cared, you'd for me, for us. But you're too scared. You're a coward Jake Winters and all you're doing is denying yourself a chance to be happy."

I want him to get angry, I want to fight, to scream at each other because deep down I know it's the only way to keep this conversation from ending.

But he doesn't fight. He doesn't yell. Instead he takes a step forward, placing his forehead against mine and took a deep breath, "I'm sorry Chelsea. I am. I'm still here for you, okay?"

I refuse to answer. Not knowing what else I can say. He leans forward and for what I know deep in my heart cannot be the last time, he places a gentle kiss on my lips.

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