Page 27 of Learning to Love

I look at Sasha, and we both squeal! I give Sasha a wink. I want to see what his reaction will be.

I'm so sorry. My ex showed up shortly after Toby did. I can't go out tonight. Raincheck?

She looks at me dumbfounded. "I want to see what Jake says. If he's okay with it, we're in summer fling mode. If not, we could be heading towards serious mode."

"Dani, I understand you need to see it for yourself, but he's about to flip his shit. Excuse my language. But seriously...he's not going to be okay with this."

The sound of my heart is thudding in my ears. Why am I like this? "But he hasn't replied yet. What if I ruined everything being childish? Should I text him?"

She has a blank facial expression. Sasha doesn't have blank facial expressions! I'm freaking out! Why isn't she answering me? Answer me, girl! I hear him before I see him. The people of Egypt could hear his banging on our front door. I want to hide, I’m so embarrassed. Maybe I can fake the flu. Why did I do that? Why did I think it was cute? Is this even real life? I hear him yelling my name and Sasha's eyes are big, but at least she doesn't have that damn blank expression on her face anymore.

I rush out of my room as I hear Toby tell him I'm getting ready and that he needs to calm the hell down. "Toby, it's fine. Jake, it's fine! Calm down. It was just a terrible joke. I see that now." Jake stares me down. His face goes from mad to desire filled in 2.5 seconds. Why is he looking at me like that? Oh, dear Lord! I'm in my bra! I haven't put on my pretty happy shirt yet.

I want to shout, scream, pitch a fit! Don't mind me. I'm just in my bra! Every eye has witnessed the outline of my medium-sized breast, and they are looking at me in shock. I finally hear Jake speak again. "Stop looking at my girl, you idiots!"

That wakes me out of my trance and I can finally move. I run to my room without looking back and lock the door. I’m never coming out. Nope. Not ever. I will die of embarrassment right in here by myself! I hear a knock on my door. "Go away. I just want to die alone in here." A heavier knock comes this time. "I'm trying to die in peace here! Please, just go eat without me."

Another series of knocks come. This one is more impatient. This one comes from Jake. "Georgia, let me in."

"Nope."

"Georgia, come out, or I'm coming in!" I say nothing and he says, "Georgia, I mean it!"

Silence is key. If I go silent, he'll just leave. Right? There is no more knocking, only silence from the other end. I have a smug look on my face. That wasn't that hard. I strain to hear one more time but there’s not a sound coming from anywhere. They must have left. A sigh of relief flows from my lips, and I turn off my phone. I'll talk to all of them tomorrow. Maybe! If I don't change schools in the middle of the night, that is!

I start to take off my jeans to get comfortable, as I hear the sound of a drill! This infuriating, beautiful boy! I button my jeans back up and finally put my happy shirt on. "Alright! I'm coming!"

The sound stops as I fling open my door. He is on bended knee with a tool in his hand, which I'm assuming is a drill, but since I speak girl, I'm not sure. He jumps up quickly, ushers me back into my room, and shuts the door. He grabs my chin and lifts it, not forceful but more in a commanding way. I love his caveman-ness sometimes. "I understand that was a joke, but that wasn't funny, at all. You're mine. I don't know why you don't get that."

I swallow hard. "I have a confession. I know we agreed always to be honest."

He moves his hand from my chin and drags me to my bed. We sit down, and I look anywhere but him. "It wasn't so much a joke as me testing the waters. I don't know what you expect from me. Is this just a summer fling to you? Do you think it could be more? I'm not good at not knowing the outcome of things. I tried to be okay with this. I read the end of the book before I read the front. I like knowing what I'm getting myself into."

I've tried to lie to myself. I wanted to be carefree, but that's not me. Whether Jake says what I want to hear or not, I'm glad I told him. Relief fills every fiber of my body. He says nothing so I try to get up. He grabs my wrist and pulls me gently back down before I can get away.

"Dani, I can't tell you that we'll be together forever because I don't know the future. However, I can tell you that this is not just a summer fling for me. I crave you."

I gasp. "You crave me?"

He nods. "I do. Georgia, when I saw that text, my entire body turned completely numb. I just knew I had to get to you and that I needed to let your dumbass ex know who I was. I could think of nothing other than beating the shit out of whoever he was. I don't share well with others, and I won't share you at all."

I laugh nervously because that's what I do in intense situations. I'm cringing on the inside. I feel the fierce pull that compels me to draw closer and closer to him. "I'm sorry. I won't do that again. Thank you for telling me how you honestly feel. I crave you, too, and Jake, that scares me to death. We've only just met, but these feelings are intense and real. I can't go back out there, though. Everyone saw me in my bra. I'll face them another day."

His eyes darken. "I could beat the shit out of them for ogling you. Baby, you're perfect, and Dani, you're not alone. Honestly, these feelings are real, and they scare me, too."

I giggle and ignore his confession. It makes it too real. "Why do you always gotta be so violent?! You must be blind. I've got rolls."

"You make me crazy. I don't want anybody to ever see you like that but me. Dani, you don't see yourself the way I do. First of all...that rack! Not too big, not too little. Just right." I shove him. I'm blushing from head to toe now!

"Baby, I like your chubby. As I said, you're perfect. I like that with you, I have something to hold onto and snuggle up with at night. You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen."

I attack him with my lips. Words can't express how much I care for him. We kiss until we're breathless. "Thank you," I mumble in between gasps.

He starts kissing my neck, then lapping his tongue on the spots he's kissed. I'm on fire. I let out a slow moan, running my find through his hair. Hmmm. My favorite. A knock sounds, and Jaxon bursts through my door. We jump ten feet apart, which makes him laugh.

"I'm sorry, friends. But your boy is hungry. And a Snickers won't cut it tonight so come on before I get hangry! Jake, I want a steak! Right now. Georgia, we're not leaving without you. So, come on. It was only your bra. That's just basically a bikini top."

We laugh, and I smile at Jaxon, my dear friend. Now it won't be awkward for me to see him. He's broken the tension. I guess it was only a bra. Jake grabs my hand, and we head out my door for the living room. I don't look at any of the others as we walk toward the parking lot. I climb into Jake's truck and start singing with Dolly. Toby, Sasha, and Dallas are riding with us. Dolly's my favorite.