A/N: Sorry there's been such a delay in posting this, but I've had yet more real life problems that have prevented me from writing. However, I think I'm back in the game now!
This chapter Should've Kissed You will be posted in three parts because its quite long. I just want to clarify something: Jake and Bella have technically already had a kinda first date, so this next date will be a little more...serious. So if their characters appear TOO intense, it's because they already harbour feelings for each other, they just aren't sure what to do with them. They are acting n pure instinct. I'm not sure if I've said this before, but my intention for this story was to have them be completely upfront with one another. I tend to hold back in my other stories, I didn't wanna do that with this one. So if it seems too fast too quick, I apologize.
Thank you to my beautiful and talented beta: Simply Jaded4
Thank you to my pre-readers: Madmamabear & Feebes.
4. Should've Kissed You.
Why am I mad? I don't get it
It seems like every time you give me signs and I miss it
I did it again, I admit it
I left you standing there and now I regret it
Seems like every time I get the chance
I lose my cool and I blow it
And I get all tongue tied, lost in your eyes
I'm a fool and I know it
I should've kissed you, I should've told you
Told you just how I feel
And next time I won't stop, I'll listen to my heart
'Cause what I feel is real
I should've kissed you
I should've told you how I feel
I should've kissed you
I should've showed you just how I feel
No, I did not give you my two cents
A million reasons why I should have and it makes no sense
So here I am by myself again
Stopping for green lights and I know
I wanna be more than friends
How come everytime I get the chance
I lose my cool and I blow it?
And I get all tongue tied, lost in your eyes
I'm a fool and I know it, hey
So I turned the car around and you were right where I left you
And your smile said you were feeling me too
And then the moon shined bright
'Cause when your lips met mine
Yeah, I finally got it right
I'll be leaving with you tonight
And I won't have to say
Girl, I should've kissed you, I should've told you
Told you just how I feel
And this time I won't stop until I have your heart
'Cause what I'm feeling is real
Chris Brown~ Should've Kissed You
JPOV
School after school blurred past my window as I drove aimlessly around south west Seattle looking for the woman who had unconsciously crawled her way under my skin, worked her way through my body, and sent shock waves of electricity straight to my heart. Fucking hours I'd spent cooped up in my SUV, parking outside what I hoped would be her school, scanning the parking lot like some damned stalker, only to find that it, in fact, wasn't her place of work.
After she left my side and headed back to work, I sat in my SUV wracking my brains, and pulling my damn hair out trying to think of ways in which I could find her...then it struck me. I pulled out my cell, Googled elementary schools in south west Seattle, then wrote down every single one I could find. One of those names would lead me to her; one of those schools would take me to those beautiful brown eyes, and her perfect little smile. I just had to figure out which one.
However, each goddamned time, I came up short.
Mount View Elementary School
Roxhill Elementary School
Alki Elementary School
West Seattle Elementary School
White Center Heights Elementary
I'd been to all of them, and I was slowly running out of options.
This shit was crazy.
I had no clue what it was about her that turned me from the reasonable, relatively sensible guy that I was into this bat-shit crazy, whipped pansy. I couldn't get her outta my head. It was like she had taken over my every thought, consumed my senses and filled places within me that I never knew existed until the second I met her.
I groaned internally, leaned forward and wrapped my arms around my steering wheel in defeat. I had one option left, and if she wasn't there then I was fucked if I knew where she'd be.
The soft babbles of my resting son brought me out of my inner battle, and simultaneously made me smile. I sighed and collapsed back against my seat, my head dropped back against the headrest as I scanned my surroundings with precision.
"Where is she, buddy? Help your old man out and throw me a bone." I sighed again, knowing full well my son was as helpless as I was.
Feather-light hums and sighs escaped the puckered, glistening mouth of my boy as he writhed in his car seat, with his head once again lolled to the side, while he drifted in and out of a deep sleep.
I glanced in the mirror that allowed me to see my son. It had taken a while for me to get used to facing my son toward the rear of the vehicle, but I wanted him to be safe. Of course, this meant that the only way I could look at him without pulling over and getting out of the car was if I used a mirror that, in turn, showed me a mirror that showed my son.
He was smiling brightly, kicking and waving his arms excitedly, happy to hear my voice. At least I make someone happy.
"Hey little man, did you have a nice nap?" I loved the way he always seemed to wake up happy.
Ethan babbled, making a ah-ya-ya sound.
It could have been an uh-ha; I decided to take it that way. "You did, huh?" My voice raised slightly at the end of the question. "Did you dream?"
This time the sound was longer, "Aaaahhhh."
Was that a yes? I was fucked if I knew, but rolling with it seemed like a stellar option right now.
"Anything fun?" It didn't seem to matter if I sounded like an idiot, Ethan appeared to love what he was hearing. He smiled and cackled.
I chuckled and raised my brow at him in amusement. "You dreamt of Bella, huh?" Ok, so that might have come from my own subconscious, but shit, could you blame me?
He threw me a gummy smile in response. Kid had taste.
"Yeah, I bet she'd grace my dreams as well," I muttered, quietly. My son didn't need to hear that.
"Oooouuuu," Ethan cooed.
"I know, I like her too," I said, practically making up my own conversation with my kid. Fuck, if the guys could hear me now, I wouldn't live this shit down.
Ethan repeated his babbling ooouuu noise, and then followed it with an ahh-ahh.
"You think she's hot?"
He let out a loud, "Uuuuh!"
I'll take that as a yes.
"Yeah, she's something alright," I mumbled in a hushed voice.
Ethan sighed dreamily. I chuckled. I couldn't help it. I knew kids started young, but Christ!
"Her lips? Yeah, I remember those lips." Fuck, how could I forget. They tasted and felt fucking amazing against mine. Like cotton candy.
Nothing should taste that good.
"Buh buh buh," he babbled, while flailing his arms and looking towards his window.
"Alright champ, I get you like her, but you understand she's my girl, right? 'Sides, I know you come from these loins and all, but don't think just 'cause you're my son I won't fight dirty," I warned him, playfully. Wow, I haven't even known this girl for a day yet, and she's already turning me into some kinda fucking possessive caveman.
In response to my playful warning, he made a kind of grunting sound.
I had a feeling that 'grunt' was his way of telling me to get my head outta my ass and go get the girl. "I'm trying, but I gotta find her first. Wanna help me out with that?"
With a renewed burst of determination, I started my SUV, threw it in gear and turned into the parking lot, hoping like hell I found a sleek, black Mini Cooper.
~UH~
I drove around pointlessly, my heart dropping further as I circled the parking lot one more time, not seeing anything that resembled the car that she drove away in.
Sighing, I pulled into a space and cut the ignition. This was fucking useless!
I didn't know what else to do, and that drove me fucking insane.
Giving up, I sighed heavily, ran my hands over my face and through my hair in frustration, then shook my head. "Strike three, little man. I don't see it. I tried." I shook my head in annoyance, pissed at myself that I hadn't managed to find the only woman to ever make me feel something so fucking overpowering. My damn heart ached at the thought of never seeing my brown-haired beauty again.
I heaved a defeated sigh and cranked my car into reverse. Christ, this fucking sucked. I shook my head in disappointment and closed my eyes, leaning forward and rested my head against the wheel. Until now, I never really realised just how much that five foot nothing, heartbreakingly gorgeous little saviour impacted on my life. The thought of never seeing her again? Well, it fucking scared the shit out of me. It scared the hell out of me that I could feel something so intense and powerful for a woman I'd only just met, yet it simultaneously terrified me that I'd never feel the way I felt when I pressed my lips against hers, and held her in my arms again.
That moment was my first little slice of heaven.
That moment changed everything for me. I wasn't exactly sure how. But I can tell you, judging by the way I feel right now, the rest of my life was going to fucking suck without her in it.
With my head rested against the warm leather of the wheel, I inhaled deeply. I tried. What else could I do? Sure, we had one mind-blowing kiss, and her intoxicating raspberry and vanilla scent lifted and filled my body, taking me some me on some freaking Bella high, but what more could I do?
Fucking nothing, that's what.
And that pissed me the hell off.
My first glimpse of happiness in what I could only describe as years, and it's over before it even had the damn chance to take off. Fucking great.
With that awesome revelation now planted firmly in my head, I glanced over my left shoulder, making sure my lane was clear and backed out. Just as I put the car into first, Ethan let out and ear-shattering shriek of laughter. Immediately I slammed on the brake and whipped my head around to find my boy burbling excitedly, his small and smiling eyes transfixed on something outside of his window. My brows pulled together in confusion as my eyes travelled along his line of sight, curious to see what had him so bouncy and energetic when he was moments before falling back into his dreams.
"What's up, little man? What's got you so hyped up?" I asked my bubble-blowing kid, while my eyes reached the passenger side of my car, still searching for what had his undivided attention.
It was then that I saw it.
There, right in front of my gaze was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. Jammed between two big-ass SUVs, barely visible to the human eye, sat an extremely familiar, sleek, black Mini Cooper.
My heart stopped and relief flooded my veins.
A smile the size of the Taj Mahal erupted across my face as I took in the tiny slip of the vehicle in front of me. Finally.
I'd never been so fucking happy to see a Mini Cooper in all my damn life.
I just sat there, frozen to my seat, paralysed and beaming like an idiot as I stared at the compact car.
Finally, after hours of endless searching, I'd fucking found her.
God bless Lafayette Elementary school.
~UH~
BPOV
"See you Monday, Dawn," I called over my shoulder, as I moved my bag onto my other one and pushed open the main door of the school.
"Will do! Bright and early, ready to tackle the little monsters," she chuckled sarcastically, in a 'yeah, right' tone. "Oh! You're seeing Jaymie this weekend, right?"
I nodded and smiled. Jaymie was my five-year-old goddaughter, but in all honesty that little girl was more like my daughter. Even though she was only five, she was extremely smart and aware of things. She wasn't close to her parents, who were two friends of mine I'd met in college, and they didn't really seem all that interested in the whole parenthood thing. So every other weekend I'd have her stay with me and we'd go and do something fun together. After all, the poor thing was only five, it wasn't her fault that her parents were more interested in buying the latest fashions than getting her clothes or taking her out and spending some quality time with her. "Sure am. Taking her to the new indoor jungle gym that's just opened up in central Seattle. Should be fun," I said proudly. Talking about Jaymie always brought a smile to my face. I loved being around that little girl. I loved seeing her smile and knowing I was the one who put it there; there's nothing else like it in the world.
How her parents could treat her any differently was beyond me.
Dawn smiled in awe and clutched her hands to her chest. "Aww, I bet she'll love that," she whispered in a dreamy sigh. "Well, have a nice weekend and take pics! I wanna see pictures of the little cutie!"
I chuckled and shook my head in amusement. That woman was all kinds of crazy, but she was lovely. "I will. See you Monday."
Walking towards my car, I was hit by the bitter Seattle air nipping at my skin, causing me to shiver. I had stupidly opted to forgo my black cardigan because my awesomely annoying best friend had taken it away from me, claiming today was going to be warm and I needed to get some sun on my scarily white skin. I scowled at her words, and the fact I was now freezing my ass off, and took out my keys from my bag. Clearly, she was wrong.
Unlocking my car, I with great care and effort opened the door and squeezed my body through the tight gap and climbed in. Sitting in my seat I huffed, rolled my eyes and adjusted my slightly disheveled clothing. I guess this was what I got for helping out devastatingly handsome single fathers, and being late to work. After placing my bag in the passenger footwell, I took my key, put it in the ignition, turned it and let my brand new car roar to life. Mini Coopers were my dream cars. I loved how they held such elegance and femininity about them. So when I'd saved up enough money, with a little help from my promotion, I went to a dealership and purchased this little beauty.
A slight sheen of drizzle coated my windshield, blurring my vision and making it extremely hard for me to see. However, just as the pads of my fingers touch the windshield wiper switch, something flapping around and wedged in between my wipers caught my eye.
With my brows drawn together in confusion and curiously, I wound down my window and reach out to retrieve the damp piece of paper.
Pretty Bella lady,
My dad is really nuts about you, and I kinda like you too. Could you call him? He's making me crazy talking to me about you. He won't shut up and I can't answer him. You have to save me, pretty Bella lady. My dad's number is: 206-556-7471. Please put my dad out of his misery and call him. I'm counting on you, pretty Bella.
Love forever, Ethan.
P.S. I really liked the pacifier. Good choice.
I sat in my car paralysed, frozen to the seat. My fingers clung to the white piece of paper, while my amazed eyes remained glued to the number staring up at me, begging me for attention. A maelstrom of emotions attacked my body: happiness, elation, shock and disbelief flooded my being in tidal waves.
I couldn't believe it. My chest felt like it was going to explode, my heart swelled with delight, and my mind raced a mile a minute.
"I can't believe he's found me," I breathed breathlessly into the silence surrounding me, my body going through the various stages of shock.
I gulped hard and placed the letter on the passenger seat, needing a minute to compose myself. I had no clue what to do. Should I call him? Do I leave it a few days and then call him? Play hard to get? No, no, that wouldn't be fair. After all, I had asked him for this. I challenged him to find me and he had. That had to mean something, right? That had to mean he was interested.
I sighed in annoyance towards myself and squeezed my eyes shut. This was ridiculous. I'm a grown woman freaking out because some guy I helped has shown an interest. I mean, for Christ's sake, this wasn't fucking high school.
Deciding to take just take a leap of faith and live on the wild side, I pulled out my cell and dialled his number.
Here we go, I thought nervously. It's now or never.
I brought the cell to my ear, took a deep and shaky breath, and waited anxiously to hear the voice that had me all kinds of messed up.
"What's up?" came his beautiful, husky, masculine voice.
I swear, in that moment, my heart stopped.
Quickly, I swallowed the lump of nerves residing in the back of my throat and answered. "So, I understand a certain little guy is in need of rescuing?" I began, smiling.
"You heard that, huh?" God, his sexy, thick baritone made my heart sing. My smile intensified as I absorbed the heartwarming hints of humour in his tone.
I sucked in a deep, soul cleansing breath and sunk my teeth into my lower lip. This man was like a breath of fresh air and I adored that.
"Yup, sure did."
"And how, may I ask, did you hear about that?" The humour in his voice continued as he questioned me. He was playing with me. I smiled again. That was incredibly sexy.
"Little guy left a cute note on my car," I stated casually, while glancing out of my windshield.
What a charmingly rubbish day.
"Oh he did, did he?" The cockiness and playfulness in his voice gave him away instantly. He was smirking. I knew it. Don't ask me how I knew, I just did.
I blushed, my face warming instantantly at our flirty little game, and nodded. Why I nodded I had no idea. It wasn't as if he could see me. Rolling my eyes at my own stupidity, I answered him. "Sure did. So, wanna tell me why the little guy needs my help?
"Why don't you tell me what he said in the note?" Sneaky, Jake. Very sneaky.
"Well, he might've mentioned that his daddy keeps talking about me, and it's driving him around the bend. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?" I teased.
"I might, but that's confidential information." He was smirking again; I could hear it in his tone. "Did he say why he was hounding him?" Ooh that little...
"He mentioned it, but that's confidential information," I replied, mimicking his previous words, while biting my lip and smiling. Uh-huh. Two could play at that game.
"Nicely played," he chuckled, the depth of it doing some seriously dangerous stuff to my feminine parts. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you broke the rules just this once."
"I s'pose I could do that - just this once," I said suggestively, while glancing down to my lap, and fiddling with my fingernail. "He might've mentioned that his daddy has a slight soft spot for me."
Now, I wasn't one hundred percent sure on this, but I could've sworn I heard him scoff and murmur, "Soft spot? Understatement of the freakin' year, if you ask me." But then again, my treacherous ears could have been playing tricks on me. It wouldn't be the first time.
"What was that? I didn't quite catch it," I asked, hoping he'd repeat.
"S'nothing," he mumbled, sounding a little flustered and embarrassed that I'd caught him. I smiled. He was so cute. "I was just thinking that I have an insider's view, and I'd say he's pretty into you."
My ears perked up and my heart slammed against my chest at his revelation. "He is, huh?" I couldn't help but blush. The guy certainly had a way with words.
"Sure, sure. I happen to know that he's been asking Ethan all kindsa things. Y'know, looking for advice I s'pose." My brows instantly furrowed together. He was asking his son for advice? Advice on what?
"Advice?" I repeated his words in confusion. "Advice about what? Maybe I could help?" I offered.
"Trying to figure out the best way to get next to you-again. I think you made quite the impression on him."
My jaw hit my lap. Did he really just say that? "Is that so?" I asked, amazed, though inside I was friggin' ecstatic! It was then that something snapped inside of me. "I think I might be able to help him out with that."
"Yeah?" His voice rose a little, I think in disbelief. "How would you do that?"
I wasn't good with taking the initiative, but considering he'd actually gone to all that trouble to find me, it was the least I could do. I closed my eyes, took a shallow, shaky breath and decided to throw caution to the wind. "Well, how about I make good on that steak dinner?"
Please don't say no. "Steak dinner?"
I chewed on my lip nervously, with my eyes still shut tightly. I didn't have it in me to open then at this precise moment. "Yeah. Steak dinner. You think that would help?" I asked wincing, praying I didn't get shot down in flames.
"I think it just might," he breathed huskily, sending a shiver of desire down my spine. "What kinda steak dinner are we thinkin' of?"
"Well, there's this place that's pretty neat a few blocks from here. We could go there and check it out. Just me, him... How does that sound? Would he be up for that?"
"Oh I guarantee he'd be up for it. He'd be happy to take you to dinner."
My eyes snapped open and my face fell into a deep frown. No. I wasn't having that. I wanted to take him out. "How's about he lets me take him? Ya know, seeing as he went all out to find me. Think of it as a reward."
There was a brief moment of silence. I took the pause as him thinking my proposal over.
After what felt like decades, but in reality was mere seconds, he replied to my question.
"You want to take me-him- to dinner? Really?" he whispered in amazement, while quickly correcting himself. My heart clenched painfully. There was no way a guy like him should be asking those kinds of questions. I shook my head and closed my eyes. How was this guy was so unaware of how damn sexy he was? Why wouldn't I want to take him out?
However, deciding not to freak him out with what I really thought, I shrugged and went with the diluted version. "Yeah. Why not? I mean, after all, he did find me."
He scoffed once again and shocked me further. "I doubt he's ever been taken to dinner by such a pretty lady before."
My heart literally melted.
It was now my turn to scoff, but this time incredulously, refusing to believe a guy as precious and gorgeous as him had never been taken out before. "Really? A handsome guy like him has never been taken out? I find that hard to believe."
There was another moment of silence.
"You think he's handsome?" I'd said all of that and all he'd picked up on was me complimenting him? Yup. Some serious confidence issues lurking below the surface. I was going to make it my priority to ease those.
"Very," I stated confidently and without hesitation.
Obviously he didn't want me to elaborate on my attraction to him as he diverted the conversation back to my prior question. Did me finding him attractive make him feel uncomfortable? God, I hoped not.
"Well, he's kinda shy. He's not really used to the whole dating thing. And you know, being the guy and all...you know how social rules are."
Rules? He was worried about social rules? Fuck the damn rules. "Well, if it makes him feel any better, he doesn't need to feel shy around me. I think he's amazing. And to hell with the social rules." Christ, was this what this world had come to? A girl couldn't even take out the guy she liked without it being labelled as 'weird' or 'strange'? That was messed up.
"I think you might be just the lady to put him at ease. I'm pretty damn sure that he'd be more than thrilled to let you take him out to dinner."
"You sound awful confident about that, but ok." If he was ok with it, who was I to argue? "So, do you think he'd be free tonight?" I asked, praying that he was. I really didn't want to be knocked back.
Jake replied almost instantly. "Oh yeah, he's free. I'll make sure of that."
I couldn't help but smile. "So...would he be good to pick me up or...?"
"Sure, sure. I think he could handle that. If you like, I can give him the directions to you. You don't mind telling a stranger where you live, do you? I mean, you know that Ethan trusts me. His dad does too."
"Well, if Ethan and his dad trusts you then I can't see any harm in it. I live in the Joule apartment building on Broadway Avenue. Apartment seven."
I could hear some faint rustling in the background I took as him writing it down. "Okay, I've got that down. Should I tell him to be there around six?"
"Sure thing. Six is perfect for me."
"Sweet. I'll make sure he's there at six sharp."
"Ok. 6pm it is. Could you do one thing for me?"
"Anything. Name it."
"Tell him that I said thanks for finding me, and that I can't wait to see him again." It was the truth. I really was looking forward to seeing him again. Something about him and that little boy had me hooked.
"Sure thing. I'll make sure he gets the message. I'd be willing to bet that he can't wait to see you again either. I think I'm jealous. Maybe I'll just pocket this message and show up myself. What d'ya think? Could I steal you away from Jake?"
Was he testing me? Should I be insulted or flattered? "Nope, sorry. See, I'm kinda into him. I'm a one man woman."
"Well, damn. Okay then. Guess I'll do the honorable thing. I learned that much from Jake. Not nice to go where I'm not invited."
"Well if Jake's as into me as Ethan says, I'm not so sure he'd want a third wheel. Especially if its just me...and him...together."
"I can guarantee he's into you that much and more. Don't blame him for not wanting a third wheel. And yeah, you and him...together...that sounds kinda nice."
"It really does," I said, dreamily. "Ok, well I s'pose I should get home and get ready. I guess I'll, uh, see him later."
"You sure will. I'll make sure he's there, with bells on."
I laughed. "Bells on? Really?"
"What?" he chuckled, knowing exactly what I was referring to.
"Bells? Bella?"
"Sorry. Couldn't resist," he laughed. Oh, I was so going to get him for this, and I was going to get him good.
"Yeah, I'll bet," I chuckled and shook my head. "Ok, well, I should go. I guess I'll see you around."
"You sure will. Take care of yourself, Bella. I know you'll take good care of Jake and Ethan."
I smiled, awe-struck. He already had faith in me, and that was a nice thing to hear. And he was completely right. I would take care of them because that deliciously handsome daddy and his unbelievably adorable little boy were quickly becoming my world.
~UH~
JPOV
Pacing frantically around my bedroom, I was freaking the fuck out. I had a date with Bella tonight, and I had no damn clue what to do. What was the norm? 'Cause I'm pretty damn sure it wasn't the girl taking the guy out.
Fuck.
Should I have just insisted on taking her out? But she seemed pretty adamant, and the last fucking thing I wanted to do was upset or piss her off when I'd just found her.
Christ, I needed some help.
Dropping down heavily onto my bed, I pulled out my cell and dialled my sister.
While I waited for Becca to pick up, I collapsed back onto the bedding and closed my eyes, running my hand through my hair-which seriously needed a fucking cut.
Mental note: haircut.
"What's up, baby bro?" she chirped, greeting me in her usual bouncy manner.
"Hey Becs, listen, I need to call in a favour."
"Sure, what do you need?" Gotta love my sister. Sure, she can be a total diva sometimes, but if anyone needed her help, she was there, no questions asked.
I sighed, not really wanting to ask this, but I didn't have anyone else. "Are you free tonight?" I asked, nervously.
Seriously? With the fucking nerves?
"Why do you wanna know?"
I bit the corner of my mouth anxiously. "I kinda need a sitter."
I heard a loud stunned gasp come from the end of the line. "Does my lil' bro have a hot date?!" she squealed in excitement.
I huffed in annoyance. Great, this was all I needed. I have a shitload of stuff to do before meeting Bella, so I really didn't have time to listen to my sister getting all loco on my ass. "Becca," I warned.
"Hey, don't give me all that! It's not often I get calls from my brother asking for dating advice; it must be serious..." I could practically hear her ears perking up, looking for her next scoop of gossip.
I rolled my eyes and growled. "Becca, would you be fucking serious for one damn minute?"
Her laughing and teasing immediately came to a halt. "Ok, ok, I'm listening. So what do you need help with?"
I shifted uncomfortably on my bed, while glancing over at my already pressed jeans and shirt. "You're a chick."
"Well spotted, Sherlock," she retorted, dryly.
Ok, seriously? Her attitude was pissing me off. "Becca," I growled in irritation.
"Alright! Sorry, go on," she apologised.
"What the heck am I s'posed to wear? What do chicks dig?"
"Well, it depends on where you are taking her."
I cleared my throat awkwardly, "Uh, I'm...not."
"Not what?" she asked, confusion swimming in her voice.
"I'm not...taking her," I mumbled, begrudgingly. "She's taking me..."
The was a moment of awkward silence, before she burst out laughing.
I scowled and clenched my jaw in frustration. This wasn't a fucking laughing matter. I needed her damn help and all she could do was laugh? This was the reason I was slightly hesitant to accept Bella's offer. It wasn't because I didn't wanna go out with her. Shit, that couldn't be further from the truth. I wanted all the time I could get with her. I just didn't want people whispering and saying shit about us and making her uncomfortable.
So this little laughing fit my sister was having at my damn expense wasn't helping.
"Becca, I swear, I'm about five seconds from hanging up on your ass."
She gasped for air. "I'm sorry, that's hilarious!" See what I'm working with here? Fucking unbelievable.
"Losing patience here."
Her laughing died down to choked chuckles. "I'm sorry. I've just not heard of that one before. Uh, ok, clothes. Where is she taking you?" she asked.
"She said something about a steakhouse."
"She's taking you to dinner? I like this girl already. Ok, uh, go casual. Jeans, t-shirt, sneakers, etc."
I chuckled. I wasn't sure why, but it actually meant a lot to me that my sister approved of my date-even though they'd never met. Okay, Black. Slow it down. Don't freak the girl out and fuck this up.
"Ok. Casual. Got it. What about when I pick her up? Do I get her flowers?"
"Yes, flowers. Absolutely. You'll impress her and she'll feel special if you buy her flowers. Roses. Get her roses. Every girl loves roses."
I nodded, making a mental checklist in my head: haircut, flowers.
"Ok. Casual and flowers. Got it." Cue brief, uncomfortable pause. "Becs?"
"Jake."
"Why did you react that way when I said she was taking me out?" I fucking hated how raw, exposed and vulnerable I sounded, but I needed to know.
"It's nothing bad. I've just never heard of the woman taking the guy out before. It's actually a really nice gesture. This girl seems different. I mean, I've not even met her, but the fact she's taking you out, it's just different. You might wanna hang on to this one. You have a rare one here, Jake. Don't ruin it."
I didn't plan to. I would never hurt her. Shit, just thinking about that beautiful brunette upset or hurting made my damn blood boil. I would beat the fuck out of anyone who even tried to hurt her. That woman deserved to be cherished and worshipped, and that was exactly what I was gonna do. If she gave me the chance, that is.
"Yeah, I know. I don't plan on ruining it. I actually really like her. She's different," I confessed. And I'm not even sorry that I sounded like a total pansy. "So should I offer to pay? Or split it? I don't really want her paying for everything," I asked, unsure.
"If she's asked you out, let her pay for the meal, but if all goes well, say you're paying for the next one. Or buy her something. Those restaurants usually have people hovering around selling single stem flowers. Buy her a flower, and watch the smile appear on her face. Trust me, that'll win you major points," she said, sounding pleased with her suggestion.
Okay. I could do that. Granted I wasn't thrilled with the prospect of my date-shit, how weird did that sound?-forking out money for everything, but that didn't mean I couldn't romance her in the meantime.
"Right. Ok. I think I got it all," I replied, nervously.
She chuckled softly, obviously sensing my tension. "Just be yourself, Jake. Don't pretend to be something you're not. It will backfire badly. She needs to get to know YOU. Do that and you'll do just fine."
I smiled, silently thanking the gods that this gem was my sister.
"Sure, sure. Listen Becs, I gotta shoot. Got some flowers to go buy," I announced with a new sense of pride. I smirked. This feeling felt good. A guy could get used to this. "Can you get here by five? I'm not sure how long I'll be out so you might wanna bring some overnight stuff."
"Sure thing. I'll be there at five. Don't worry about a thing. It'll all be fine," Becca assured me, gently.
"Thanks, Becs."
"No worries. What are sisters for, huh? Oh and Jake?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm real proud of you," she said in awe, making me smile.
Unfortunately, my defensive mechanism kicked in and I automatically retorted, "Fuck off, Becca."
She gave an exasperated sigh. "I'm serious. I know it can't have been easy. You did good, lil' bro."
"Sure, sure. I gotta bounce. I'll catch you later. Thanks for this, Becca."
"You love me really. Ok, go. Go buy your flowers, and I'll see you later."
I pressed the end button on my cell, and threw it carelessly on my nightstand.
Pushing myself up and off the bed, I went to get my sleeping son, and then headed out to get my hair chopped and pay a visit to my local florist.
There we go! I hope it's enough to keep you satisfied until my next update. Next two chapter will include the date! :)
Don't forget to review! Reviews keep me inspired! :)
Until the next time, Cat.