Jake Understood(25)

Over the next few minutes, whenever I looked at my bedroom wall, all I could see was a vision of fucking her against it until all of the rage inside of me exploded into her body.

Fuck. I really needed to go.

If I left now, I’d still make the late train to Boston.

I wanted to leave her something so that at least she knew I was thinking of her.

I took out my construction paper and folded a piece into an origami bat. Every time I’d start to write a message, I’d change my mind and crumple it, having to make another from scratch. I did this a few times but just couldn’t decide what to write.

The more time that passed, the more I second guessed leaving. What if she came to talk to me? I’d never know. For some reason, I just had to know whether or not she’d come to my room when she got home.

Then, a brilliant idea came to mind. I made yet another bat and wrote inside: Looking for someone?

Bunching up some blankets, I attempted to make it appear like a body was inside my bed. I stuck the bat in the middle of the pile, covering it with a comforter and strategically placed a Red Sox cap peeking out from the top.

Stepping back, I cracked myself up because it really did look like someone was sleeping in there. I made a note of exactly how everything was configured. If she messed it up even by an inch, it would be obvious that she came to see me. At the very least, the thought of freaking her out was amusing. Seeing the look on her face would have been priceless.

It was now completely dark out, and there was only a small window to get to the train station in time. Desiree was exiting the restaurant when I stepped outside. I tried to pretend I didn’t see her.

“Jake! Wait up.”

I turned around. “Hey, Desiree.”

“Long time no see.”

“Yeah. I know. I’ve been pretty busy.”

She grabbed my shirt and tugged at it with her long painted nails. “I just got off work. You want to hang out?”

Hang out. Right.

“I’m actually in a rush. I have to catch the last train to Boston. So…”

She leaned in and whispered in my ear, “I’m wearing that thong…red lace…the one you said you liked.”

Her saying it had no effect on me. If this were months ago, I’d have likely gone upstairs and taken that thong right off of her. The thought of that was now repulsive. It made me truly realize how deeply Nina had gotten under my skin, how strong my attraction to her was, both physically and emotionally.

“I’m gonna have to pass. I’m sorry. I hope you have a good weekend.”

She looked dumbfounded. I left her standing on the sidewalk as I jogged across the street to catch my train.







The next day, sunlight poured through the window in the guest room at my sister’s house. I reached for my phone and noticed that a text from Nina had come in earlier that morning.



Your body of blankets was getting pretty lonely last night, so I stuffed my ratty bathrobe in there with him. Hope you don’t mind. I think they’re getting along. They haven’t come out yet.



My ribs ached from laughing so hard. I wrote back.



Jake: That’s what you get for sneaking into my room again.



Nina: You got me. You must have gotten to Boston late, huh? What are your plans for today?



My stomach sank. Could you imagine what the truth would sound like?

I’ll be spending the day with my schizophrenic wife, Ivy, meeting with a doctor about signing off on a new type of trial medication for her and filling out some insurance forms. Maybe if I’m lucky, Ivy won’t have a paranoid episode or subsequently try to beat the shit out of me. I’ll spend the day with her then come home late tonight, get into bed and fantasize about eating you out while I jerk off.



I figured it was best to keep that to myself.



Jake: At my sister’s, family stuff, running some errands.



Nina: Sounds exciting.



She was digging for info and would have to be crazy not to suspect that I was hiding something from her. It always amazed me that she wouldn’t pry more than she did.

I toyed with the idea of asking her how the date went but didn’t really want to hear it if she had a good time. So, I opted not to bring it up.



Jake: What are you up to today?



Nina: Studying and trying out a new recipe I think you’re gonna like. You really got me into bananas.



Jake: Don’t tease me.



Nina: LOL. When do you come home?



Jake: The usual. Late Sunday night.



Nina: These might be waiting for you when you get here if I don’t screw them up.



A picture began to load. It was a photo of frozen bananas covered in dark Ghirardelli chocolate, encrusted with pistachio nuts. Oh, man.



Jake: Those look so good. Are you trying to kill me?