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“Hello,” I answer the phone roughly.
“Jake,” whispers the voice that’s been haunting me for the past two hundred and seventy days and two hundred and sixty-nine nights.
“Don’t you leave where you are Larissa,” I grouse.
“I’m not. I promise, Jake. I’m… ummm… I’m at your condo,” she says, with uncertainty in her voice.
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes, Larissa. Do not fucking move,” I demand, and then hang up. I’m already halfway to my car and on my way to her.
Chapter Four
Larissa
I should have gone home first, well — not that I have a home. Really, what home do I have? My roommate rented my room out. I wasn’t exactly expecting her to keep it while I got my life together. Instead, I came right to Jake’s place. I didn’t even stop by my parents’ house. Not that their welcome would be warm and fuzzy. We haven’t spoken in years. One falling out about me wanting to go to college and better my future, instead of staying in our small town and working at the family hardware store. They looked at me like I thought I was better than them. When really I just wanted a career. Something better for myself. They told me to leave and never come back. So, I didn’t, and I refused to turn to them now.
Instead, I ran straight to Jake, expecting him to be home, especially this late at night, only to realize he wasn’t here, and the doorman wouldn’t tell me if he was or not. He blatantly refused to call Jake one way or the other. I put my big girl panties on and did what I had to.
I called him.
There’s no backing out now. I’m lost in my own thoughts, staring at my shoes, thinking I really need to wash my beat-up canvas shoes when the door swings open and I see Jake for the first time in months. My breath hitches in my throat. He’s still so damn handsome. His hair is dark brown in color. Cut short on the side, yet the top lays haphazardly. His eyes, that I remember looking into all night long so many months ago, are blue in color and I can see the fire blazing in them. He’s angry. No, not just angry. There’s hurt and pain in his eyes. Pain that I caused. Tears instantly gather at the corner of my eyes.
I missed him. He stopped ten feet away from me. My body has changed so much, yet I’m still the same me. It’s as if he’s waiting to see if I’m real or if I’ll actually come to him. I leave all of my apprehension and run towards him, as much as I can. I leap into his arms and he holds on tight. Something big and intruding is making me not able to wrap my legs around his waist like I’d love to be able to do. I want to be held by Jake. His hand goes to my now round stomach and the other cups my cheek.
I look into his eyes and whisper, “I’m so sorry, Jake.”
He hushes me and we look into each other’s eyes. My arms are wrapped around his neck, he’s stooped in his stature that is usually well above my height and we stay lost in the moment.
I know his forgiveness will take time. I can see the hurt and anger. I did this to him. I did this to us.
He picks me up as if I’m his bride and strides to the elevator. I bury my face in the crook of his neck and let the tears flow down freely. I wasn’t sure if he’d want anything to do with me. If he would have turned away from me, it would have destroyed me. Probably as much as it devastated him when I walked away.
Once we’re inside the elevator. I wiggle out of his hold and stand on my own two feet. He doesn’t let me leave his side though. He brings me back into the warmth of his body, his arms wrapped around me as we wait to go up to his place.
“We have a lot to talk about, Rissa,” he murmurs into my ear. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. He’s absolutely right. There’s so much that needs to be said, yet I’m not sure how I can without breaking his heart all over again.
My sharp inhale has him searching my face, for what, I’m not sure. I try to tuck myself deeper into him, but he stops me.
“I’m not letting you leave again.” His voice comes out harsh, but I know everything about Jake and how he talks and the tones he uses. I can hear the strain in his voice trying to contain his emotions.
“I won’t leave. I promise,” my voice has a rasp to it.
