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Jake Larson had his hands on me three days ago, and I can’t get my mind off of it.
My hands can’t stop shaking every time I think about it. I never thought I’d see him again, or even interact with him again. But the universe has some weird vendetta against me to the point where I have to see him everywhere.
I’m back home for Christmas and New Year’s, and this is what I’m left thinking about. Our tryst in the Malibu Princess bathroom didn’t even end organically. It was literally a ‘wham, bam, thank you, ma’am’ and I wished him a Merry Christmas.
I vowed to never interact with Jake Larson after that. His hot and cold act is so confusing to me, and it’s frustrating. This is a guy I dated for two months. And yet...in those two months, it seemed like a lifetime. I got to know him, and I fell for him. I fucking hate myself for opening up to him.
“Leia? Are you doing okay, love?” My sister, Lia, breaks into my thoughts. I forgot that I was in my parents’ living room with her and her boyfriend, Ethan, putting up ornaments. Mom and Dad are out doing Christmas dinner shopping, while we decided to stay back and finish setting up last-minute décor.
“Yeah, I’m alright. Sorry, I just got...preoccupied for a second.”
No one knows about my love life. No one even knows how my freshman year of college is going. When everyone finds out I have a weird relationship with a popular college senior, that will become a full family discussion that I’m not sure I’m prepared to have.
Lia gives me a look of concern before handing me my mug of hot cocoa. “Drink something. You look pensive, and that’s not good for the holidays.”
I smile at that. Leave it to her to try to cheer me up. I love my sister. She’s such a pretty girl. Her hair is a lighter brown than mine, and she’s a bit shorter than I am. She has a fuller body than I do, and she’s certainly happier than I am.
“Thanks, sis. I keep checking out, sorry.”
She gives me a knowing smile before sitting next to me. We look up at Evan, as he continues putting up ornaments on the tree. He doesn’t seem to be paying attention to the conversation.
She looks back at me, a knowing look in her eyes.
“You seem upset about something.” She knows me too well. We’ve had the best relationship growing up, and we’re super close. She’s always been there for me. “Hey, Ethan? Could you give us a second?”
“Aww, but I was just about to put the angel on the top!” He sounds so much like a toddler, I almost laugh. He gives me a playful glare that I return.
“This is sister time, dweeb. Take a break,” she jokes. He rolls his eyes, runs his hands through his brown hair, and steps down from the chair.
“Don’t whine, just take a break.”
He walks over and kisses her on the cheek. “Don’t take too much time.” He gives me a knowing smile. I admire their relationship. I can barely sustain a friendship with Jake fucking Larson.
“Now talk to me. What’s got you in a weird mood?” I raise my eyebrows at her. “I know you, Leia. I know when you’re sad. You go into silence when you’re either thinking about something or you’re sad. Something tells me it’s both.”
I guess I can’t skate by this Christmas. “I...just have boy drama.” The minute she hears that, she gets excited. She moves closer and squeals. “It’s not as exciting as it sounds.”
She gives me a frown. “Okay, what’s the issue? Is some guy giving you mixed messages or something?”Pretty much.
“Well, we have a thing. But it’s kind of confusing because he has baggage.”
She gives me another frown. “I’m not following, babe.”
I sigh with frustration. This is going to be a long story. “Okay. Brace yourself.”
She gives me a nod, and I start from the beginning.
I tell her about how I met him at the beach last summer, how we made out at a summer party, we hooked up again this fall, the drama that happened in Slovakia, what happened a few days ago, and how we ended up in a weird, undeclared situation.
By the end of it, Lia’s giving me a stone face. I wait for her to give me a response, but the silence is making me nervous. It’s a lot to take in since it’s such a weird situation.
“So you’re seeing a hockey stud. Congratulations, first of all,” she says. I roll my eyes. She laughs at me and continues. “Second of all, I fail to see the issue here. You guys saw each other a few days ago, and he...touchedyou? Did you like it?”
I widen my eyes at that question. I cross my legs and clear my throat. I don’t know if I want to dignify that with an answer.
“I mean, yeah. If anyone touches me,of coursemy body will respond.”
