“A restaurant? What are we doing here? Are we celebrating something?” Jake parks while I turn to him.
“No, I just wanted to spend some time with you. You’re so busy all the time, I just wanted to do something normal with you. Have lunch and act like you’re not famous.”
“I’d love that,” Jake smiles.
We enter the restaurant and sit at the already reserved table. Waiter takes our orders, while we talk, and just enjoy each others company. We talk about my parents, his parents, about Mike and Debbie, his races and nothing in particular. After a while, I change the subject.
“Would you come with me to visit Josh’s grave someday? I understand if you don’t want to, but I’d really like you to.” I drop my gaze to my hands, resting in my lap. Jake quickly tilts my chin up with his hand, and looks me straight in the eyes.
“Babe,” he kisses me, “wherever you go, I go.” He extends his free hand. I take it, and we intertwine our fingers. “I know how much he meant to you. Tell me about him. About Josh.”
“He was a wonderful person. He had a big heart, and everybody loved him. He had so many friends.” Jake tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and I continue. “He was only 24 years old when he died. I will never forget that day—it was the worst day of my life.” I wipe the tear that slides down my cheek. “Josh loved children, he wanted three of his own because he was an only child, and he wanted them to have someone to play with. He would have been a great father.” When I glance up at Jake, I see his lips are in a straight line, and he seems rigid. “If you don’t want to listen to this, I’ll stop.” I don’t want to make him uncomfortable about what I’ve been telling him.
“No, babe, it’s okay, go on.”
“He lo—”
“Ella?” a woman’s voice interrupts me. I spin around, and see Josh’s parents walking toward me. I look at Jake, and back at them. I don’t want them to think I got over Josh so quickly, and jumped into a new relationship. Beth comes closer and hugs me, and Dean follows.
“It’s so nice to see you again,” Dean says.
“You, too,” I tell them. “How are you holding up?” It’s been a while since we last saw each other. The first few weeks, I visited them almost every day, but then my visits got more infrequent. I know they were going through difficult time, but so was I. And every time I saw Josh’s parents, my wounds became fresh again. I had to distance myself from them so I could grieve in peace and get through my loss.
“Some days, it’s still difficult, but there are days we’re doing better.” I nod, knowing exactly how they feel. “You look happy,” Beth says, glancing at Jake. Jake stands up and holds out his hand to them.
“Jake,” he introduces himself. They give him a sour smile. There is tension in the air.
“We better go,” Dean awkwardly points to their table, two other couples already waiting them.
I give them a warm smile. “It was nice seeing you again,” I say gently.
“You, too.” They leave and I instantly breathe easier.
“That was tense,” Jake says.
Chapter Thirteen
Jake
We’ve had a stressful day, so I drew Ella a bath, and she’s relaxing in the tub, waiting for me to join her. I need a few minutes first to clear my thoughts. After everything Ella told me, it’s even more difficult for me to tell her about Liz. I don’t know where to start, what to tell her, what her reaction is going to be. Every day, my feelings for her grow stronger, and every day I’m more afraid I’m going to lose her. I’m no longer the irresponsible eighteen-year-old I was. I pulled my act together and started over, but the past will still haunt me forever. It’s a well-known fact that I used to party and drink and do a lot of irresponsible things as a teenager. It can bite me in my ass when I tell her about Liz. Luckily, my parents straightened me up. I know many parents would give up on their child if they acted as I acted, but not them. Never. Only when I turned a new leaf did my career take off, and I started to appreciate life more.
“Hey, babe,” I walk into the steamy bathroom. Dropping my clothes on the floor, I join her in the tub. I sit down behind her, and she leans into me. All it takes is her touch and I’m already burning with desire. I wrap my arms around her shoulders, and pull her tightly to me. I softly kiss her neck and jaw. Her eyes are closed, and her body language tells me she’s enjoying it.
“Mmm,” she purrs. “Thank you for agreeing to visit Josh with me,” she whispers.