Ch 22
Same disclaimer applies. Wraithlord42 this chapter is dedicated to you! (And all the closet J/C fans out there!)
"So, the Hork-Bajir need more land, eh?"
"Yes, Mr. President. They want to start their own country in Montana."
"Tell them I'm undecided." The president broke the videoconference with Cassie. Three weeks of negotiations had yielded no permanent agreement for both sides.
This is getting as pointless as trying to start a relationship with Jake.
She looked at the clock. 6:30. Where was the pizza deliveryman? She ordered her tomato pie 45 minutes ago.
The doorbell rang.
I hope this is the pizza. I have a few choice words for them.
"I just want you to know that I will never order from you-JAKE?!?!?!"
"Hi." he said sheepishly.
Here we go again… she thought to herself again.
She looked at him. If it weren't for the fact that she hated him, she would actually be thrilled he was here and sober. He had his eye patch replaced with a glass eye that wasn't too freaky. His hair was combed, and he was wearing a sweater that accentuated his still-muscular chest. He also had a pair of nice khakis with nice dress shoes.
"Before you say anything, I wanted to give you this."
He handed her a teddy bear with a red rose stuck to its chest.
"I'm sorry for being such a jerk. They were all out of yellow roses, but I hope we can be friends again."
He saw her mask of anger melt away. Even when she was really pissed off, she was still gorgeous. Today, she was wearing a blouse with the top button undone, which invited someone to go explore. Her jeans also hugged her in all the right places…
"Jake, Jake? Hello?"
"Oh, I'm sorry." He looked up. "Can I come in?"
"Fine." She held the door open for him as he rolled in.
"I like what you've done with this place. It's very-"
"Kid-friendly. That's what you get with a 2 year old." She started to blush.
"Well," He said
"Well what?" she asked as he turned around to look at her.
"How did we get here?"
Cassie sat down.
"Gosh Jake, we could start from the valley, or the baby, or the fact that you assailed my racial background last night."
Jake dropped his head.
"I've caused you a lot of pain over the years, Cassie. A lot of unnecessary pain. I just want you to forgive me, for everything I put you through. Especially last night. I didn't even remember what happened. Marco had to fill me in. What I did was stupid and ignorant."
He rolled over to her and took her hand.
"I just want to let you know that I will try my hardest to make it up to you. And Rae. Both of you mean so much to me."
At that statement, Cassie looked away.
Great job Jake, you goofed up again.
"I'm sorry, I-"
"You don't have to apologize, Jake."
"So where do we go from here?"
"I don't know. The friend's deal is not exactly working out."
She looked him in his good eye. "I know. Maybe I should apologize for that. I wanted to go to your ceremony. I really did. But Ronnie…"
"Ronnie what?"
"Ronnie got so jealous." Cassie noticed that Jake was still holding her hand. She turned it over so that he could see the bruise.
"Did he?"
Cassie nodded her head. She didn't even have to say a word.
"It was the first time, but it scared me so much. He NEVER laid a hand on me before."
Jake lovingly touched the bruise.
"A real man would never hit a woman. If I ever see that punk again, I swear I'll rip him apart."
Cassie looked up with tears in her eyes.
"I think I was looking to have the perfect life, be a perfect wife, and that I'd deal with anything that came along with that. But there is no perfect life."
She held her hands in his.
"Do you love him?"
It was the first time someone besides her conscience asked her that question. But now, it was a question she was prepared to answer.
"Jake, when you came back from space, I was torn up inside. Here you were, the father of my child, and there Ronnie was, my fiancé. My mind was telling me one thing, but my heart, my soul, was telling me something else. Usually, when I follow my heart, I always get hurt. But this time, my mind..."
Tears were flowing down her cheeks.
"Shh. Shh. Don't say another word." Jake moved his wheelchair as close to Cassie as he possibly could and brought her into an embrace.
"I'm here. I'm here for you, Cassie. Just let it out. Let it all out."
She looked up. She saw no animosity, no hatred, in Jake's face. All she saw was the caring person that she'd known for so long.
"My mind…my mind is telling me no…but my heart says yes."
"Yes to what?"
"Yes to you, Jake. It says that I need you in my life."
He lifted her chin with his hands. His heart was racing. She wanted him! She wanted to be with him!
Jakey boy, everything may just work out…
"I need you too. I need you and Rachel in my life. Otherwise, Cassie, I'll just die. I'll die without the both of you. I know that sounds generic and corny, but it's true."
"Then I'll follow my heart."
Both of them leaned in. Cassie's pulse quickened. The raw tension between them thickened the atmosphere in the room. The next thing she knew, their lips were pressed together. Their kisses were short and light at first. But then they got heavier, more passionate. Jake used this opportunity to explore her mouth with his tongue. Cassie giggled.
"What's so funny?" Jake stopped. Was he doing something wrong?
"No, nothing…it just tickles, that's all."
"Oh, well, I haven't done this in a while. I'm sorry-"
"Shh."
Cassie silenced him with another kiss. But before they could continue, they got an unpleasant surprise
"WHAT THE-!"
Ronnie stood in the door, holding the pizza and looking VERY pissed off.
Oh no...