“Not really, but we do need to talk after dinner.”
“Sure. We’ll go back to your place. I’m sure we will have a lot to celebrate,” he replies.
What the hell does he mean by that?
This night just keeps getting worse.
Ben picks up his drink and takes another sip before engaging his brother in conversation. Dinner is delicious, and when dessert is brought out, something catches my attention. The chocolate sauce is swirled into letters.
Four very important words.
Will you marry me?
Chapter Four
Stephanie
I’m staring at the words before me.
Marriage?
To him?
I never thought his feelings were this strong.
My heart is thumping so loudly, I can hear it in my ears. Looking around the restaurant, I find the entire room staring back; everyone is waiting for my answer.
My entire body starts to shake as I slowly turn my head. I find Ben kneeling on the floor with an open ring box. His face is full of hope as he waits patiently for my answer.
“Are you going to answer me?” he asks.
“I…I…I’m sorry, Ben. I can’t do this.” I grab my purse and race away from the table, not looking back.
When I’m far enough away from the restaurant, I allow myself to collapse against a wall down a side street off Courtenay Place. My breathing is tense, heavy and fast. My vision blurs as the area around me spins faster and faster until I feel my stomach contents rising into my throat. My body shakes as I hyperventilate. Bile rises further.
“Steph!” a familiar voice hollers, followed by footsteps.
No, Jake can’t be here. Not now.
I don’t want him to see me like this.
Strong hands wrap around my shoulders as they try to steady me, but nothing can stop the vomit from making its appearance. I try to avoid Jake but manage to cover him in it regardless. I stay hunched over, unable to face him in this moment. I’ve embarrassed myself twice tonight.
“Steph, listen to me and sit down.” Jake shuffles us sideways, away from the vomit and lowers me to the ground, then squats before me. “Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.” He clasps my hands in his and breathes with me until I’m back in control.
I hang my head in my hands as the tears break their banks and flow free like a river. Jake wraps his arms around me and allows me to lean against his rock solid body. I cry until I can’t anymore.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper to him.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. What’s happened?” he asks. I look up into his emerald green sparkling eyes and his face. He genuinely wants to help me, and I wish I could tell him what’s happened.
“I’ve been a bitch, but that’s all you’re going to know.”
He shrugs. “Alright, but you are not a bitch.”
“Trust me, I am.” I stand up. “I think I’m good. Please don’t let me hold you up for the rest of the night.”
“You aren’t holding me up from anything. I’m taking you home right now because it seems like you need a friend right now.” He collects me off the ground, and we begin to walk away together. The last thing I see is Ben coming towards us from the direction of the restaurant. The moment he spots me with Jake, he doesn’t take another step. His face says it all. I’ve wounded him worse than I thought.
It wasn’t supposed to go like this.
Jake
“Stop looking at me like that,” Stephanie snaps, from the passenger seat.
“Like what?”
“Like you want to know what’s going on. I’m not going to tell you.”
I shrug. “I know, I’m just worried about you that’s all.”
“While I appreciate the sentiment, you’re not Aria.”
“I’m glad of that. Listen, I know I’m no good at this girl-talk stuff, but I am here if you need me.”
I pull the car into her driveway, and she unbuckles her belt.
“Thanks for the ride home. I’m good from here.”
I sigh. “Like I said earlier, I’m not going anywhere, nor am I leaving you alone in this state. You can bitch at me all you want but call it doctor’s intuition.”
“I do not bitch,” she baulks as I open my car door.
“Yeah, you do.”
I get out, grab my spare gym bag that has clothes in it, and let her lead us to the front door of her house. She leaves it open, and I follow her inside, closing it behind me.
She reappears within moments with a pink fluffy robe thrust out to me. “Here, put this on. That way I can wash your clothes.”
I smile. “You don’t have to do that. I can change into the extra clothes I keep in the car.”
She arches an eyebrow at me and asks, “You carry spare clothes in the car? Why?”
“I was meant to go to the gym this afternoon, and I didn’t quite get there.” She looks at me with a smile. “If you don’t mind, I’ll go change into this, but you should put the robe on.”
“Jake Thompson, you better not be having a dirty thought about what I’ll be wearing beneath it.”
“Too late.” I waggle my eyebrows and throw her a grin as I walk away from her. I change in the bathroom. When I reappear in the lounge, I find Stephanie sitting on the couch, changed into what appears to be cupcake pyjama pants and the fluffy pink robe.
Bloody temptress.
She leans over, opens the bottle of wine on the coffee table in front of her and pours herself a glass. I join her on the couch, take the bottle from her and pour a glass for myself.
“And just where do you think you’re going to be sleeping tonight?” Stephanie asks, taking a sip of her drink.
I hold my arms out across the couch. “The couch looks comfy unless of course, you’re willing to share your bed.”
“Looks like you’re on the couch.”
She sits back and flicks through the channels until she finds something on TV to watch. I lean over and snatch the remote from her.
“Hey!”
“No way in hell are we watching some girly shit.”
“My house, my remote.” She pokes her tongue out at me and snatches the remote back.
I put my glass down on the table and remove hers from her hand, placing it down beside mine, then proceed to wrap myself around her and grab the remote.
She squeals, “Jake!” then twists herself around in my arms and climbs on top, so her thighs are straddling me. I really want to know what she’s wearing beneath this robe. I untie the belt and pull it apart. Beneath it is a light pink tank top with a cupcake on it. I should’ve known it would match the pants.
Her tits are shown off very nicely in the shirt. It hugs them in all the right places. Her nipples are hardened beneath the material. My mouth dries, wanting to pull it down and lick them both to pretty pink peaks. I’d rip the material right down the middle just so her breasts could spill into my waiting hands.
I slide my hands up her thighs, the silky material of her pants so soft against my palms as it rides along with my movements. She shivers against me, her hips jutting out in short quick bursts. She’s silently begging me for more, and I want to give it to her. I swear I can feel the heat between her legs as she rubs against me.