Wrecked (Clayton Falls #3)(29)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“I already told you that you don’t have to worry. We’ll work it out.”

“Okay.”

“Good.”

Someone knocked on the window. Noah was making faces at us. “I think that’s my cue.”

“This was fun.”

I picked up Noah’s sippy cup and stuffed it into my bag. “Thanks for the ice cream.”

“Anytime.”

Jake dropped my hand long enough for us to slide out of the booth. He took it again as we walked toward the door. “Jake…”

“What? He’s already seen us holding hands.”

I smiled. “I know.”

“Good.” He kissed me on the cheek before bending down to Noah’s height. “It was nice meeting you, Noah. Take care of your mommy for me.”

Noah smiled shyly and backed up to grab my leg.

Jake stood back up. “Nice to see you again, Mel.”

Mel smiled. “Same to you. I have a feeling I’ll be seeing more of you.”

“I hope so. I’ll call you, Emily.” Jake hugged me, careful to avoid knocking Noah over.

“I’ll be waiting.” I smiled as I buckled Noah in.

“Thanks for coming tonight.” I hugged Mel.

“This was fun. We’ll have to do it more often.”

“Did it bring back high school memories?”

“Definitely.”

I laughed. “All right, ‘night Mel.”

“Good night.” She drove away.

I turned to get into my car and found Jake waiting. I expected him to be on his way home already. “What are you still doing here?”

“I was hoping for a good night kiss.” There was something about the way he said it, the boyish charm that made me melt.

“So was I.” I waited for the kiss I knew was coming.

The kiss was gentle, his lips only lightly brushing against mine, but it was still enough to give me goose bumps. I’d missed Jake more than I wanted to admit.

“Have a good night.” He smiled, watching as I got in my car.

“You too.”

He waved as I pulled away. I looked in my rearview mirror as I moved into the traffic circle, he was watching with a smile on his face that matched the one I wore.

I was still smiling when I settled into a bath that night. Noah went down easily, probably because he ran around so much at the game, and I decided to take advantage of it. I was just drying off when my phone rang. I always took it in with me in case my mom or Mel called. It wasn’t either of them.

“When you said you’d call, I didn’t think it would be tonight.”

Jake laughed. “I guess I was eager. I miss you already.”

“Yeah, I know the feeling.”

“Is Noah sleeping?”

“Yes, and I just finished a bath.”

“Wish I could have joined you.”

“You and me both.”

“I love your honesty, Em.”

“Em? Since when do you call me that?” I brushed out my hair.

“That’s what Mel calls you…would it bother you if I did?”

“No. I like it.”

“Good. You can call me a nickname too.”

“What’s the nickname for Jake?”

“I’m sure you can come up with one.”

I laughed. “All right, I’ll think of something.”

“I’m expecting a good one.”

“Don’t put any pressure on me or anything…”

“You don’t do your best under pressure?” he asked.

He was spot on. “No. I prefer things relaxed.”

“Me too. Do me a favor and think about me tonight. I’ll be thinking about you.”

He didn’t need to say it. “Because that isn’t a weird thing to ask…”

“If you don’t want weird, you shouldn’t be dating me.”

“You are so not what I expected.” I walked down the hall to my room.

“Is that good or bad?”

“Good. You’re like that really good surprise gift. It’s not the one you expect, or the one you asked for—but it’s all the better because of that.” I pulled an old t-shirt out of my dresser.

“I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

“You should. I guess I say weird stuff too.” I put the phone on speaker while I got dressed.

“Yes…but I like it.”

“I bet I’m unexpected.”

“I knew you were special, but you’ve kind of blown that idea out of the water.”

“You’re sweet.”

“So are you, Em….and you’re also incredibly sexy, and I want you so bad it hurts.”

“On that note, good night, Jake.”

“Hey, you can’t run off on me like that.”

“I’m not running. I’m hanging up.”

“You’re the one who told me you were getting out of the bath. That means you’re in a towel. My thoughts are going to go there.”

“In case you were wondering, I’m never having phone sex.”

He laughed. It was a deep, melodic laugh. “Good to know. But now that I’ve had the real thing, I’m not going to settle for the phone.”

“You’re going to have to wait quite a while, you know…”

“Yeah, I figured. But you know what? I’ve made it twenty-three years without you. What’s a few more days, or weeks. But please don’t say months. That’s going to be pushing it.”

“I’ll agree with you there.” I sat down on my bed.

“Enjoy your quiet time.”

“I will. Sweet dreams.” I laid back against my pillows.

“Oh they’ll be sweet.”

“Good night, Jake.”

“Night, Emmy.”

“Emmy?” I rolled my eyes even though he couldn’t see it.

“I’m just trying it out.”

“All right. Good night.”

Chapter Seventeen

Jake

“I have no clue how you got her to agree to go out with you, but I’m happy to hear it.” Mom took a sip of her coffee.

“Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“You know I didn’t mean it that way. But you have to admit that most men would have a hard time getting a date in the condition you were in.”

“I guess I’m not most men.”

She laughed. “No, you definitely aren’t. I still don’t know where you get it. It’s not from your father.”