percent done with the third and final book. I just have to finish the last few chapters. And to be honest, I’m still not sure who she’s going to pick. It’s too heartbreaking to choose. When I started out, I had a clear vision of who she was going to be with in the end. But as time wore on, I fell for both of those guys. I just don’t want to make the wrong decision, you know?”
The way Jake’s green eyes are piercing mine makes me sit up straighter. That lightheartedness from a minute ago is long gone. What did I say? He shakes his head and his eyes soften again.
“You just have to let yourself feel , Evangeline. The right decision will come to you,” he says cryptically and sighs.
I turn back to the kids, watching them go tandem down the bumpy slide. Let yourself feel. Why do I get the feeling he wasn’t just talking about my book? Am I that transparent? Can he read my very inappropriate and shameful thoughts? Or is he thinking those same thoughts? Does he feel that pull, too? It’s there—it’s been there since we met. I feel completely drawn to him. When he looks at me, I feel it everywhere. It makes my palms sweaty, my body tingle and shiver. It’s like I’m on effing vibrate. I can’t deny it. I can’t . I also can’t do anything about it. And I don’t want to. Okay, that may be bullshit. But I have Cole and he’s enough.
Ugh . And this would be why I should’ve canceled this stupid mother effing play date. It feels like someone is wringing out my stomach like a wet dishtowel. I swear, being near Jake is gonna give me a damn ulcer. Maybe I just need to eat something .
At that thought, the kids come barreling over to us, pink-cheeked, sweaty, and starved. They chatter away as I open the picnic basket and set out everyone’s lunch. Peanut butter, honey, and banana sandwiches for the kids, and a roast beef, swiss, avocado, and tomato combination on ciabatta rolls for Jake and I. We keep glancing at each other over our sandwiches, absentmindedly listening to the kids rattle on about school coming to an end soon.
The scene feels domestic, intimate. It’s nice for a moment, but then I picture Cole. Once again, betrayal washes over me. My smile fades, and I quickly avert my eyes. The kids wolf down their food and drinks, racing back to the playground in record time, leaving Jake and I alone yet again. My heart is beating out of my chest so loudly that I’m worried he can hear it. I look up to him and meet his probing gaze. Shit, can he really hear it?
Deep breath in. I’m going to be taking a lot of those suckers during this outing. Then I remember this morning, and the fact that neither of us has mentioned it yet. Should I? I’m not so sure it’s a safe topic . No. No, I’ll leave it . But of course, it’s like Jake’s unfairly beautiful eyes can somehow read all of my frenzied thoughts, because he effing mentions it on his next breath.
“So, how long have you been doing yoga? You’re very—um— good .” I swear he blushes, but it disappears so quickly I’m not sure if I imagined it or not. His eyes are full of amusement again, and he’s wearing the cheekiest of grins. I love that look on him. Like. I like that look on him.
“I started a year after my dad—you know. My therapist at the time suggested it. Thought it would help me cope. Push out the negative energy, bring in the positive. I’ve been doing it religiously ever since. How long have you been a peeping Tom?” I ask teasingly, trying to bring back that light that left Jake’s face when I mentioned my dad. It worked . He lets out a full-bellied laugh. I seriously love that sound. Shit. Like. I like that sound.
Very much.
After the laughter wanes, through shining green eyes, he admits, “Yeah, I deserve
The way Jake’s green eyes are piercing mine makes me sit up straighter. That lightheartedness from a minute ago is long gone. What did I say? He shakes his head and his eyes soften again.
“You just have to let yourself feel , Evangeline. The right decision will come to you,” he says cryptically and sighs.
I turn back to the kids, watching them go tandem down the bumpy slide. Let yourself feel. Why do I get the feeling he wasn’t just talking about my book? Am I that transparent? Can he read my very inappropriate and shameful thoughts? Or is he thinking those same thoughts? Does he feel that pull, too? It’s there—it’s been there since we met. I feel completely drawn to him. When he looks at me, I feel it everywhere. It makes my palms sweaty, my body tingle and shiver. It’s like I’m on effing vibrate. I can’t deny it. I can’t . I also can’t do anything about it. And I don’t want to. Okay, that may be bullshit. But I have Cole and he’s enough.
Ugh . And this would be why I should’ve canceled this stupid mother effing play date. It feels like someone is wringing out my stomach like a wet dishtowel. I swear, being near Jake is gonna give me a damn ulcer. Maybe I just need to eat something .
At that thought, the kids come barreling over to us, pink-cheeked, sweaty, and starved. They chatter away as I open the picnic basket and set out everyone’s lunch. Peanut butter, honey, and banana sandwiches for the kids, and a roast beef, swiss, avocado, and tomato combination on ciabatta rolls for Jake and I. We keep glancing at each other over our sandwiches, absentmindedly listening to the kids rattle on about school coming to an end soon.
The scene feels domestic, intimate. It’s nice for a moment, but then I picture Cole. Once again, betrayal washes over me. My smile fades, and I quickly avert my eyes. The kids wolf down their food and drinks, racing back to the playground in record time, leaving Jake and I alone yet again. My heart is beating out of my chest so loudly that I’m worried he can hear it. I look up to him and meet his probing gaze. Shit, can he really hear it?
Deep breath in. I’m going to be taking a lot of those suckers during this outing. Then I remember this morning, and the fact that neither of us has mentioned it yet. Should I? I’m not so sure it’s a safe topic . No. No, I’ll leave it . But of course, it’s like Jake’s unfairly beautiful eyes can somehow read all of my frenzied thoughts, because he effing mentions it on his next breath.
“So, how long have you been doing yoga? You’re very—um— good .” I swear he blushes, but it disappears so quickly I’m not sure if I imagined it or not. His eyes are full of amusement again, and he’s wearing the cheekiest of grins. I love that look on him. Like. I like that look on him.
“I started a year after my dad—you know. My therapist at the time suggested it. Thought it would help me cope. Push out the negative energy, bring in the positive. I’ve been doing it religiously ever since. How long have you been a peeping Tom?” I ask teasingly, trying to bring back that light that left Jake’s face when I mentioned my dad. It worked . He lets out a full-bellied laugh. I seriously love that sound. Shit. Like. I like that sound.
Very much.
After the laughter wanes, through shining green eyes, he admits, “Yeah, I deserve
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