Fight Me(69)

“What?”

“Hitting that homerun in the back of the library,” he says with a smile.

I laugh as I drop my jelly-like legs down and slide off of him. “Well, I’m glad I can be your first for something.”

“Oh, believe me, you are,” he says as he places a gentle kiss on my swollen lips. Before I can ask him what he meant by that, I hear his cell phone ringing in his pocket.

I start to dress quickly as he answers his phone. I’m able to figure out quickly that it’s his mom on the phone as he goes about convincing her that we’ll be ready and on time tonight. After I dress completely, I finally turn to look at Jake. He’s standing there gloriously naked – well, with his pants down around his ankles – in the back of my library. It really is a beautiful sight, and I can’t help but stare.

Jake hangs up the phone after a hurried good-bye to his mother and reaches for his pants. “Come on, we’ve gotta go. Mom is worried we’ll all be late tonight and she’s stressing. Apparently, Dad has gone for a drive to get out of the house for a little bit,” Jake says with a smirk.

I start to head back to the office to get my coat, but Jake spins me around and into his strong arms. “That was unbelievable,” he says against my lips.

“It was. Maybe we’ll hit some balls at the library again real soon.”

Jake laughs. “I think I’ve created a monster. I like it. I like it a lot.”



*****



Maddox and Avery’s rehearsal went off without a hitch. I can’t wait to see the whole ceremony unfold tomorrow. Brooklyn is a big part of the ceremony and I know it’s going to be wonderful as they finally become an official family of three.

The entire wedding party and immediate family is gathering at the small Italian restaurant in town. There’s a small back room that they allowed us to take over for the dinner which Maddox’s family is graciously covering.

The whole place has a dark atmosphere to it. The lighting is very low and there are small battery operated candles on all the tables. There are red and white checkered plastic table cloths on all of the tables and Italian music softly playing through the speakers. It’s a nice, quiet restaurant and usually draws a good crowd since it isn’t overpriced like the big chain Italian restaurants.

I’m sitting between Jake and Holly during dinner. Jake keeps his arm casually rested on the backrest of my chair for most of the night, lightly rubbing my back or shoulders as he talks to his family. It’s like his hands are magnets and my body is metal – they’re just drawn to each other.

“So, Jake, are you getting married next?” Maddox’s mother, Christine, asks casually.

I feel his arm stiffen against my back. Uh oh! “Well, I’m not planning on it right now, Christine. You never know what the future will bring, though,” he says casually as he goes back to lightly caressing my shoulder.

“Well, don’t let this pretty girl get away, boy! It’s time to settle down and get married. Look how long it took Maddox,” Maddox’s dad, Paul, adds.

Jake laughs nervously and I force a smile, all the while praying that someone changes the subject quickly.

As if sensing my discomfort, Mrs. Stevens chimes in. “Oh, Jake will get married when he finds that right person who will put up with him.” Elizabeth smiles at Jake and winks at me before moving the conversation along. “So, Holly, how are things at the hospital?”

I completely tune out Holly’s response as my mind races with more questions than I have answers for. Jake suddenly scoots his chair back and leans in to whisper in my ear. “I’ll be right back, darlin’.”

“Okay,” I mumble but he’s already walking away from the table and heading for the restrooms down the hallway.

“I’ll be right back,” Travis says across from me as he scoots out his chair and heads towards the restrooms following Jake.

A thousand things run through my mind at that moment. Is Jake mad? Does he think I have something to do with the marriage inquisition? What exactly does Jake’s future hold? Am I in it? The questions just keep spinning round and round in my head like a record player. I feel the familiar ache of a looming headache start.

I decide a little air would probably do me some good, so I politely excuse myself and head towards the hallway. Just as I get ready to turn the corner, Jake’s voice stops me in my tracks.

“Just do what I’ve been doing. Don’t commit long term. Have a little fun for a while and then move on.”

“I know it always works for you that way, Jake, but committing doesn’t scare me. I stick with something once I start it,” I hear Travis reply with a laugh.