“A friend. You’ll like him. But we made plans for the weekend first. Besides, making you moan is marginally more entertaining than alcohol and chit-chat.”
“You’re terrible. Just when I think I’ve forgotten how you turned me to mush in that motel, you remind me. And I wasn’t moaning. Just…breathing hard.”
“You were moaning. And it was hot.”
He rolled his eyes and sipped his drink. “You’re such a bad boy.”
“But you like it.”
“Don’t cancel. They’re your friends and…I’d like to go.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I need to stop hiding all the time. My therapist–” He pinched his eyes closed and looked away, the flush creeping up his neck letting me know he was embarrassed about letting it slip.
I reached across the table and took his hand in mine just like I’d done in the restaurant, wanting him to know I valued him regardless of what he’d gone through. “You don’t have to hide from me.”
He looked at me for a brief moment, the pain in those beautiful eyes stabbing my heart. When he was ready, he’d open up and I’d be there to comfort him. “I don’t want to hide. I want to go with you.”
“Deal. I’m still going to pick you up after your shift. We will go to my place, shower then head out.”
“Okay.”
“I better get going. See you soon?”
“Yes.”
I hesitated for a moment, wanting to kiss him, but figured it was best not to draw attention. I walked back to the clinic with a skip in my step and a smile on my face. Things were going remarkably well, and I looked forward to doing a repeat of last weekend. It sucked that our weekdays were so busy and with his reluctance to sleep over, I’d have to be patient.
I thought about places I could take him, and the wonders I could show him. I’d already booked a slot at Alinea’s, one of Chicago’s top restaurants, but that wasn’t until spring. It was a shame he hadn’t gotten to do much as a child. I made a promise to show him the world, magic carpet, and all.
When I returned to the clinic, I found my father talking to Linda. He spotted me and smiled. “You look like sunshine today.”
I simply beamed. I felt like sunshine.
He followed me into my office. “Your Mom and I were hashing out Thanksgiving dinner plans this morning. She wants to do something a little different this year. A turducken, she said.”
“A chicken stuffed inside a duck, stuffed inside a turkey. I hear it's delish.”
“Yes, something like that. I mentioned you were seeing someone, and she insisted we invite him over. I told her he’s probably busy with his family, but she ordered me to at least make the invitation. So, we’re inviting…John?”
“Jake,” I corrected.
He nodded. “I will tell her I told you, but not to expect him. I don’t like playing a game of telephone. We haven’t seen you for a while, mister. He’s treating you well, I’m guessing?”
I fought back my smile. “It’s going well. We’re having fun. And I’m sorry I haven’t been by much. Tell Mom to keep a plate open for him. But she has to promise not to smother him. I mean it. He isn’t like a lot of my previous boyfriends. She needs to behave herself.”
“You should talk to her, yourself.”
“I will,” I promised. It was an important talk to have with her. I didn’t want to overwhelm Jake if he did decide to come, which I kind of hoped he wouldn’t if only because I was excited about dating him but meeting the parents was a huge ordeal. “Christmas might be a better option.”
He rubbed his palms together, looking happy. “Well, I hope we get to meet the man that is making you smile so much.”
A raunchy joke teetered on the tip of my tongue, but I bit it back. My father left and I sat back in my chair, blissfully in La-la Land.
Just as I was about to meet my appointment, Jank sent me a text to let me know drinks were canceled tonight, for lack of availability, but rescheduled for next week. It was both a plusand a negative, but no commitment meant I’d have Jake all to myself.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
