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“Oh, I know you. You’re arrogant, pushy, and obviously can’t take a hint. I don’t want you here,” I say in exasperation.
Jake sighs as he types out a text. “Okay. I am sending Jessica a text, asking her to come home. As soon as she gets here, I’ll go.”
“Thank you.” I push myself further into the pillows on the couch, trying to get more comfortable. The pills are causing some drowsiness, so I’m going to rest my eyes for a minute. But no way am I going to allow myself to fall asleep with him sitting there. If he thinks he can just come in and boss me around and take over, he’s going to learn quickly that it doesn’t work that way.
That’s my last thought as sleep slowly overtakes me.
I wake to the sound of a door closing. Night had fallen while I was sleeping, and the living room lamp casts a soft glow around me. I situp and look around, wondering if Jake is still here. I’m frustrated that I allowed myself to fall asleep with him sitting beside me.
No sign of Jake, no voices. Maybe he did take the hint and leave. Even though that’s what I wanted him to do, I feel a sharp sense of loss. All of the conflicting emotions I feel are making my head spin.
As I’m sitting up and preparing to get up from the couch, I hear the front door open. I turn to look, and Jake is quietly walking in, his hands full of bags.
“You’re still here?”
His eyes whip to mine in surprise. “I didn’t mean to wake you. I hope you’re feeling better after your nap. I just had some soup delivered. Are you hungry?”
He closes the door and makes his way to the kitchen, where he drops the bags onto the counter. As he walks over to me, he smiles hesitantly and leans down. Knowing that he intends to kiss me, I turn my head enough that he kisses my cheek.
He pulls back, and I notice the slight narrowing of his eyes, and his smile falters a bit. But he shakes it off quickly and sits in the chair.
“Where’s Jess?” I ask.
“She responded to my text a while ago. She asked me to stay with you for a little longer. She’ll be here soon.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” I say grumpily.
“Of course you don’t. I’m just here to keep you company.”
“I also don’t needyourcompany,” I snap.
Jake is silent for a moment. Then he murmurs, “Well, maybeIneed company.”
When my eyes meet his, the look he gives me has my toes curling. I want to remain unaffected by his closeness, but being in the same roomis torture. We are physically close, yet mentally and emotionally miles apart. As much as it rips me up inside, I need to create more distance between us.
The heartbreak of the last several weeks has been too much, almost more than I could bear. And I know that I can’t survive it happening again. The sooner that Jake realizes how incompatible we are, the better. We need to make a clean break.
“I appreciate you staying with me and getting me food. But I think we should talk.”
“I think we should talk, too,” he cuts in. “I’ve been thinking. You should probably come and stay with me for a couple of weeks. I can take care of you better that way.”
For a moment, I don’t know what to say. Of all of the things he could have said, I never would have expected this.
“Jake, no. I can’t do this.”
“Do what?”
“Us. I can’t do us!” I tell him fervently. “A few weeks ago, you hated me. Now, all of a sudden, everything is good?”
He throws his hands up in frustration. “Do you know what I went through on the way over here today? When I thought you were hurt?”
“It doesn’t change anything. Do you know what I went through when you wouldn’t let me explain that day in the office? When everyone was looking at me like I was the villain? When I was walked out by security? And then to find out the next day that my name was smeared through gossip magazines?”
“So, that’s it? You think we should just give up?” he asks. Curiously, there is no hint of anger or remorse in his voice.
“You gave up on us first. I tried to explain. I know I was in the wrong, but you didn’t want to hear it.Look, we had a great time together, but it’s over. We are not compatible in the ways that matter. We don’t make any sense as a couple.”
“In what ways are we incompatible? I seem to recall many very compatible times we had together.”
