Okay, so this story has been gnawing at my mind and just seems to be coming faster than my others. Faithful readers be aware that I am working on all of my fanfics. They just aren't progressing as fast. Countrybutterfly...I give you fair warning what you are waiting for has not happened yet. LAKE is not to be together again at least not in Chapter 4. Everyone please read and review. I love your comments and criticism and take it all to heart. This chapter is dedicated to Jason, the most important man in my life. I can't wait until you get to leave the center.
Chapter 4: A Time Well Spent
I sat in my chair remembering the last time I had seen Jake. He had just won sole custody of Jenny. We had spent that weekend celebrating just the three of us. One happy family together without the fear of being broken apart. Friday after school we drove to a cabin on the outskirts of town. I had driven up the night before and stocked it with food, entertainment, and plenty of Jenny's things. The girls were going to drive up during school and hang banners and streamers. He was so surprised when he saw it. The girls had done an amazing job.
FLASHBACK"Luke, where are we going?" Jake asked for the fourth time since we left school. "I can't be gone long, I don't have all of Jenny's things."
"Will you trust me?"
"I do trust you, but we can't be careless. We have a little girl who needs us to take care of her."
"We?" I looked at him curiously, my heart leaping in my chest.
His hand came together with mine and his grasp forced me to look him straight in the eyes. "You are as much her dad as I am. I love you Lucas. I want to spend my life with you."
"I love you too, Jake. And like you, I want to be with you forever. Jenny has become such a huge part of my life and I wouldn't change that for the world. Which is precisely why we are going where we are going." I said breaking our love stare and diverting our elsewhere.
I averted my gaze towards to plethora of trees lining the long stretch of highway. The sun was slowly receding behind the trees and we knew that night would fall within the next three hours. I caught Jake glancing at his watch for the hundredth time. He must have caught me watching him because he then proceeded to remove it from his wrist and place it in the glove box.
"I trust you."
"And I will never do anything to make you stop trusting me."
"So, do you have any special plans for us tonight, Lucas."
"Yeah, I've got a couple running around my head. I'm just trying to figure out which one I want first." I said winking at him.
"You need to stop hanging out with Brooke. Her bad influences are irreversible."
"Trust me. You'll be thanking her later." I said forcing him to think in a naughty way while I thought about all the decorating she did for us.
"I bet." He said, his hand breaking the hold with mine and climbing on my thigh and giving it a gentle squeeze.
"We're close, baby." I said turning off the main road and onto a dirt road. I watched as his eyes searched for what lay ahead.
"How close?"
"Close your eyes." I said, watching him close his eyes.
I saw the cabin up ahead and became even more excited. I knew that our friends were waiting inside, just as excited as I was. I placed my hand over his and parked the car in front of the woodsy cottage. I unbuckled myself and leaned in to whisper in Jake's ear.
"Open your eyes, Jake."
I watched his eyes open slowly and then grow huge at seeing the building lying before us. A look of shock washed over his face and could feel the excitement take over.
"Come on. I'll get Jenny." I said leaping from the car and opening the back door to pull a sleepy Jenny from the confines of her car seat. "Hey, baby girl.
"Dada." She cooed when I took her in my arms. A grin spread across my face and Jake and I locked eyes. She had just said her first word.
"Babe, did you hear that? She said 'dada'."
"Guess she knows who her daddy is."
"You're her dad, Jake."
"But you're one too, Luke." He said walking around the car with the diaper bag strung across his arm, taking us into his arms.
"Come on, time for the surprises to start." I said nudging him toward the door.
I took the key from my pocket and put it in the keyhole. The door creaked open and we were greeted with total darkness. I put my finger on the switch and flipped the lights on. I was shocked. The decorations were gorgeous but the room was devoid of people. I heard Jake inhale quickly at the view of the room. He stared at the huge banners that said "Its Official" and "Love You, Jenny".
"Luke, this is..."
"Surprise!" Everyone shouted jumping from behind the furniture.
Jenny let out a high pitched shrill followed by uncontrollable giggling. Peyton came over and took her from my arms. She and Brooke sat on the couch playing the bouncing baby. Haley came over and gave Jake a big hug, saying her congratulations. Nathan came over begrudgingly and gave Jake a man-hug.
"Can we eat now, Haley?" He asked whining like a child.
"The only thing done is the macaroni and cheese. I still have to put the steaks on."
"Fine, lets go grill some steaks." He said forcing her to the kitchen and then out the back door. Jake and I chuckled as I slyly threw a wink at Peyton.
"Hey, why don't we take Jenny next door with us so that you two can get settled in?" She said eying Brooke for back up.
"Next door?" Jake asked not realizing there was another cabin next to this one out the back door.
Peyton picked Jenny up and Brooke grabbed the diaper bag from Jake. "Bye." They said as they too exited out of the back door.
"Glad I had a chance to say 'yes'."
"Don't worry so much. Peyton has babysat Jenny a bunch of times. And they're right. Why don't we go upstairs and get settled in." I said taking his hand and leading him up the stairs toward the bedroom. The wooden stairs creaked under our feet and I could feel Jake's hesitancy decrease as excitement increased.
I pushed the bedroom door open and led Jake toward the king size bed. "Let's relax a little." I said pulling off my shirt and pants leaving my boxers and socks on. I climbed into the bed, feeling the down pillows caress my head as I laid it down staring up at Jake who was slowly removing his clothing. He climbed in with me and the warmth from his body sent sensations rippling through my body. I ran my finger over his chest exploring its ridges and valleys. I pulled the blanket back and slithered on top of him. I moved down tracing lines from his chest to his lower regions. My hand pulled his boxers down just a little when a flash of orange and blue caught my eye.
"What is this?" I asked playfully.
"It's nothing, he said trying to hide it with his hand. I pushed them away and saw the tattoo permanently inked on his skin. It was a bright orange basketball with 'Love" written in cursive across the top of the basketball following the natural curve. In side was a number written jersey style in blue ink. The number was mine. The number 3.