“Oh, we are in the mood to charm today.” A hundred pounds, my ass.
“I’m in a good mood.” Jake shrugged, his boyish smile causing heat to spark in me. I wish it wouldn’t. He was acting an awful lot like the old Jake and I had to admit, I’d missed him. “I’m not allowed to be in a good mood?”
I pushed my books to the side, knowing I definitely wasn’t going to get any studying done with him sitting across from me. “Of course you are. I’m just wondering what it’s all about. You’re extra Jake-like today.”
“Extra Jake-like?” He smiled and shrugged. “What is extra Jake-like?”
“I don’t know.” I fiddled with my pen as I tried to pinpoint what it was exactly that was making him extra Jake-like. “Lighter,” I said suddenly. “You’re lighter. Like you used to be. Ever since … and even now, you seem …”
“Seem what?” His amusement had left him and he was leaning across the table, his eyebrows drawn together.
I didn’t know if it was wise to finish my sentence, but since we’d been teetering on a lot of cliff edges lately, I didn’t think one more would make a difference. “More serious. Which is only natural with everything … and you being older …” I trailed off.
He huffed and sat back in his chair. “Only natural,” he agreed.
Silence fell between us and I wished to God I hadn’t said anything. I’d ruined his good mood.
“I do feel lighter lately, though.”
I couldn’t look at him. If I looked at him, I’d only find ways to make it seem like that meant something, something to do with us. Honestly, I just really needed to start remembering there was no longer an “us.”
“Good,” I muttered, pulling a book back to me. “I’m glad.”
When I didn’t say anything else, Jake shifted in his chair. When I still didn’t say anything, he shifted again. Finally he threw a pen at me.
“What, are we twelve?” I threw his pen back.
“I wanted your attention.” He was back to boyish Jake. Pity I found him irresistible.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I relaxed back in my chair. “Okay, well, you have it.”
“So,” Jake leaned forward, hands clasped in front of him, as if we were sitting down to discuss something of great import. “Have you noticed what’s been going on with Beck and Claudia?”
I choked on a giggle. “You want to gossip with me?”
He lowered his voice, “It’s better than studying.”
“Okay, I’ll give you that.” I pushed my books out of the way once more. “They’re definitely into one another but Beck seems reluctant to start a relationship.”
“That’s because Beck doesn’t do relationships.”
Jake gestured me closer and when he spoke, it was a whisper. “Shit family life. I’m the closest he’s got to family. It’s messed up his whole thinking but I leave him to it. Still, I’ve noticed he’s been agitated lately. In particular these last few days …”
I nodded knowingly. “Claudia started dating this Scottish guy.”
Jake sighed. “I wish Beck would pull his head out of his ass.”
“Should we help him?”
“Pull his head out of his ass?”
“Yeah. I know Claudia cares about him and it’s obvious he cares about her. Maybe there’s some way we could give them a little shove?”
“Would you like someone to give you a little shove in your relationship?” Jake looked less than convinced.
I shuddered at the thought of someone interfering with mine and Jake’s fragile friendship. “Okay, good point.”
“I just wanted to know if you knew if Claud felt the same way, that’s all.”