I’m glad that Jack found a new person to focus his attention to. I enjoy having him around, but if Jake is over protective, Jack is worse. There was one time on the school grounds where he threatened a schoolmate of mine because the kid accidentally spilled coffee on my shirt.
Jack looked genuinely interested in Tina. He was ecstatic when Tina agreed to go out with him. On the other hand, Tina seems to be interested in him too because every time I walk into their shop, her first sentence is always ‘is Jack with you?’
Lee’s attitude towards me got worse within the span of a week. One day, when Ben was out because of his Mom, Lee assigned me to change oil of three cars… all on my own. If his goal is to become an ass, he is practically in the lead and on his way to ranking first. However, I’m my mother’s daughter. I am as stubborn as she is. At least, that’s what my Nonna said whenever I’d do something mischievous when I was little.
Tina was oblivious to Lee’s bullying because Jack kept her occupied. Lee is good to her, maybe it’s because she’s the daughter of the owner. I don’t know why he hates me so much, but I guess having someone to put my animosity into was helping me in a way.
Weekend came, and I was itching to drive to boot camp. It was a four-hour drive from town and a glimpse of Jake will ease my misery. However, being the righteous person I was - barely - in my mind at least, I decided to go to the car shop and ask Tina to go shopping with me.
When there is Tina, there is Jack. I didn’t want to be the third wheel, so I ended up working at the shop on the weekend. Chris’s entire family is present. His wife Angela took Tina’s place by the counter. His sons Patrick and Anton were just like Ben, funny and cool.
Lee was there too, but he acts like an outcast around the big guys. I still don’t get what his problem is. His attitude is like a puzzle that I can’t solve. Although, I see the bigger picture now. He is close to Ben, but with Ben always talking to me about cars and school, he became the outcast.
I have the Stanley family’s approval, at least that’s what Anton told me when I talked him out of an irate customer. It was not about my charm; it was because Mr. Johnson was Grandad’s friend and I assured him that their mistake won’t happen again. He got angry because the tint Anton placed on his car was not dark enough for him. It was kind of funny, actually. When Mr. Johnson saw me, his crumpled face turned sweet, and even ended up buying us lunch.
The shop is closed now, and Chris invited me to a simple barbecue in their backyard. I met their extended family, Dahlia, Patrick’s wife, and their two-year-old son Daniel.
“Beer?” Anton handed me one to me. Ben was resting beside me, drinking his green apple juice, sulking. He is still underage for booze and he’s pouting like a child.
“Thanks.”
“Who would’ve thought that such a pretty girl like you knows more about cars than Tina?” Patrick mentioned nonchalantly.
The older Stanley siblings are both equally good looking, like Chris. They got their father’s charm with the same emerald eyes and raven hair. Anton is a year younger than Patrick, yet his body is a lot sinewy.
“Did you know about the trick question I gave her?” Chris spoke. All people seated around the outdoor dining table shake their heads, including Lee. All the guys are lounging while Dahlia and Angela take care of the barbecue.
I offered to help, but they threatened to throw me out if I dare touch any of the food. Both of them are too sweet and didn’t want me to sweat out and smell like barbecue. I was their guest and I have to relax with the boys. Those were Angela’s exact words.
“I asked her if she knows what a Dead Cat Hole is.”
It puzzled both Ben and Lee while Anton and Patrick burst out laughing.
“What is it, Dad?” Ben finally asked while his brothers toned down their laughter.
“Ben, are you serious?” Patrick shakes his head with a disappointed gaze towards the younger Stanley. “I’m ashamed you’re my brother.”
Ben threw a chip towards Patrick, which he caught in his mouth. Lee was toning down on his furious stares. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I’m seated with the Stanley’s or Mr. Johnson’s incident or that I’m the deceased Mayor’s granddaughter.
~~
“I can give you a lift home,” Lee approached me while I impatiently tap my sneakers on the pavement. Jack was running late, and it’s already nine in the evening.
It’s either I wait here till my raven hair turns white or accept a ride with Lee. I chose the latter and to my surprise, Lee opened the door for me.
In a time when Lee brought his car to life, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
“Hey, Bee... are you still out?” Jake’s voice quickly infused with concern.
“Yeah. Lee is giving me a lift home, I think Jack was stuck in traffic,” traffic my ass.
“Bee, where is Jack?” I knew my alibi was no good.
“He’s on a date with Tina. Don’t worry, Lee’s harmless.”
I heard faint curse words from the other end of the line. “I’m going to kill him when I get back.”
“Do that and you’ll end up in jail,” I mumbled, giggling.
“This is not funny, Bee, I’m so far away and I can’t protect you. Do you know how hard this is for me?”
“I know, Handsome,” I sighed.
“Call me when you get home, okay? I need to call my dickhead brother.”
He was really mad, Jake’s overprotectiveness is sweet, but sometimes I feel like he’s always on the watch for me. After my grandparent’s accident, he turned into my boyfriend/guardian/protector.
Lee was awfully quiet the entire ride to Jake’s place. I don’t know how to start a conversation with him. Afraid that he might snap at me at any moment.
“I’m sorry for the way I’ve acted around you.”
Surprise will not even be enough to describe how I feel as Lee’s car halted in front of West residence.
“It’s okay. I understand,” I held the car door and was about to hop out of his truck.
“You don’t.” He shook his head. “Ben is my best friend, and I thought he has his eyes on you. The last time he dated a privileged girl like you, he ended up in the hospital. He worked nonstop just to buy the bag that she wanted for her birthday.” I unbuckled my seatbelt as he continued. “It’s not my story to tell, but I was there the whole time he’s overworking his body for some damn designer bag.”
I know who he was talking to. It was Maggie. She dated Ben for about six months, but she was not even faithful to him.
“I’m sorry, Bobbie. Can we start over?” he held out his hand for a shake.
Reaching for his offered hands, the calloused feel of his palms made me wonder just how hard working he is. “I get where you’re coming from, but I can assure you, Ben and I are friends, nothing more. I’m glad that he has a friend like you, Lee.”
“We can be friends too, you know?” his slightly slanted eyes winked at me playfully as I hopped out of his truck.
“Of course. Thank you for the lift.”
I walked into Jake’s room and dialed his number as soon as I stepped in. He was probably worried sick about me. He picked up on the first ring and his voice was a little muffled. A door was unlocked and soon a silent creaked of it being closed sounded as well before Jake spoke.
“You got home in one piece?” he tried to cover his wary voice with a joke, but we both know how his mind works.
Ignoring the way excitement and weird tingly sensation bubbled inside my chest when he said ‘home’, I sighed. “Yes. You don’t have any idea how my day went, Handsome.” I started my narration of my interesting day to him through using my headset while cleaning myself up. Jake was drinking our favorite hot chocolate on the other line. His comment is the same though, it’s not the same as the one from my kitchen and because he’s drinking it alone.
“Can you believe that Ben went through that for Maggie?” I wore one of Jake’s shirts again and snuggled myself under his duvet. His minty-forest scent surrounded me instantly, relaxing my entire body.
“I know about it, Bee.”
“What? You did?”
“Yeah, I even paid a visit to Ben at the hospital. Anton and Jack knew each other, so Ben and I became friends.”
“Is that why you didn’t protest against me working for their shop?” I yawned.
Jake hummed. “They are good people Bee and I trust them not to hurt you. That guy Lee, on the other hand, I’d like to meet him.”
“I’ll introduce you to them when you get back. Just promise me you won’t get all hulky with Lee. He apologized, and he seemed sincere, Jake.”
Jake sighed. Too deep that I can imagine the relief in his voice. “Just tell me things like that next time, Bee. I hate not knowing that someone’s giving you a hard time at work.”
I can feel my eyes giving out as I continued to listen to Jake’s voice.
“I love you, Bee. Good night.”
I promised Jake that I will take the day off on Sunday, which I did.I went home.Allowing myself to reminisce every memory I have of my Grandparents the moment I set foot in Nonna’s garden.Thick and lush foliage Marigold is a huge contrast to the little sunflower softness of her daisies. Variety of orchids clung to the driftwoods that she specifically ordered from Italy. Two-lipped ray florets of gerberas in bountiful colors nestled under the beauty of greens. As I reached the double doors, the mingled scents of jasmine and roses did it for me.I am home.I sighed deeply, unlocking the door. Soon I was engulfed by the fresh roses and jasmine that our house cleaner handpicked from the garden. Nonna loves having the fre
When I pulled away from him, he kissed the top of my head and guided me downstairs. Matt’s cool cologne is accentuated with faint smoldered jet fuel flames and coffee. He must’ve taken a commercial flight instead of using the family plane. The two huge luggage with airport’s stamps nestled in the middle of the living room was proof.“Are you staying for a while?” I asked once I trusted my voice to come out properly and poured him a glass of water.“Yeah, Mom asked me to stay with you for a while. Dad will be taking care of everything in Italy while I check some possible business investment here... until your graduation.”This is good. I need to have my mind working on other things than dwelling with the wound in my chest. Mission of the hour, a decent meal for Matt. I was ru
I willed myself to focus on study and work. Just to get my life moving forward. Just to stop myself from drowning in sorrow.Chris even gave me an early bonus. I don’t know what bonus he was talking about, but he said that the clients were pleased with my work and dropped fat tips on the tip box. That’s how it works in their shop, together and as a family. What one has, the others should have as well. Everything is divided equally, be it work or tips.I sent messages to my best friends using my new phone, and I told them I was okay. That I have the Stanleys, Lee, and Matt with me.“Do you want me to put rat poison in his drink?” Mellissa rolled her cool blue eyes, bitching on the other line of facetime.“Poison is too tame, Mel, I’ll c
Anton, Ben, and Matt found someone to dance with. Wide grins displayed on each girl’s features, enjoying their time in my cousin and friend’s arms.Lee announced his presence behind me by tapping my sweaty shoulder. When I turned around, he scratched the back of his neck. “Can I?” a sheepish smile splayed on his lips, a hand offered for me to grab.Returning Lee’s smile, I wound my arms around his neck and swayed my body to the remix tune of Lady Gaga’s ‘Just Dance’.With my arms around Lee’s shoulder, I felt the heavy sigh he let out. Who knew Lee was a shy guy. Leaning my forehead on his shoulders, he loosened up a bit and moved in the same beat that hazed my body. We laughed, danced, screamed and laughed some more, enjoying this night with my friends.
Is it too soon to entertain someone? Is there a time frame before I allow myself to go out with someone else? It’s just a date that Cole is asking. It’s not as if he asked me to be his girlfriend.“Hm, I just got out of something,” I replied, my chest expanding in a mixture of excitement and fear. “I don’t think I’m ready for something serious at the moment, Cole.”A sigh left Cole’s lips. His thumb kept rubbing soothing circles over my skin. “We can take things slow. Get to know each other.”Meeting a stranger in a club who was willing to get to know me and not hit on the first chance he sees is refreshing. I’ve been to high school parties and mostly, the party crashers would want to make out as soon as they laid their eyes on a girl in a tight
I dressed Jake’s bruised knuckles and let him sleep on my bed. He kept murmuring the same things, but I just can’t get myself to believe him. Jake fell asleep quickly, and I took a warm shower before walking downstairs. Matt is making hot chocolate by the kitchen for the two of us. Clothes already changed as well.“Jack went to sleep in the guest room,” he informed me while I took a sip of the warm drink. “I know I have no right to say anything about your relationship with Jake, but I think you should give him a chance to explain himself, Bobbie.”I nodded my head and rubbed my temple. “Maybe,” it has been a long night.I slept in my grandparent’s room and cried myself to sleep. It was the first time I entered their room since the accident and their mixed scent w
The three of us, Mel, Candice and I were shopping at the mall on Sunday. Well, they’re shopping and I’m just here for moral support and my expert opinion, note the sarcasm please.After having lunch, we walked around the mall again, hunting for the perfect waterproof mascara. The competition which is due next Friday is making my best friends a bit edgy. Must be the nerves. This is the first time they’ll be cheering without me, somehow responsible for giving them more pressure at my absence in the team.My foot is aching even though I was wearing my comfy Chuck Taylor. We ate a lot, strolled around the mall three times and ate some more.Ready to head home, we stopped by the restroom to freshen up a bit. We head inside the cubicle and glad that the restroom was empty even on a Sunday.
“I love you,” I breathe out the words I’ve longed to say. This is the reason seeing him kiss another girl broke me more than it should, the agony in my heart, for I love this boy. “I love you the moment you punch Chuck for asking me out. I love you since you were teasing me on my pink tutu, Jake.”He chuckled and the sound of his laughter made me feel my heart thumping with happiness inside my chest.“I love you, Bobbie. So damn much,” he pulled me to devour my mouth with a loving kiss. “I don’t want anyone kissing you again, Bee. I’ll kill anyone who takes what’s mine.”It’s my turn to giggle. I got my Jake back. The life in his tawny eyes is back.“Am I? Yours, Handsome?”