Pretty Sweet - Christina Lee Page 0,22

You don’t have to make me breakfast.” I stood, and my legs felt wobbly.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m feeding you. How’s your head? I’ll get you some water and pain meds.” Blood rushed through my ears. My head was really thudding now, and I wanted nothing more than to savor this moment and his sweetness, to wrap up in it like a warm blanket. The look on my face must have changed because he said, “Sorry. I don’t mean to sound pushy. You can obviously leave if you’d like and—”

“No!” I rushed out. “I mean, it’s fine. You’re not pushy. I’ll eat breakfast. I just…need to go to the bathroom first.”

Jake smiled. “Go for it.”

I went in and locked the door behind me before leaning against it. I still felt wobbly, which I didn’t think was from my night, but from Jake. He made me feel off-balance. It was one thing to be gorgeous, which he was, but another that he was so kind and caring, and God, I wanted to spend more time around someone like that. Chill out, Seth. Don’t get in over your head.

So I tried to push those thoughts aside, took a leak, washed my hands. My makeup was a mess, so I opened a cabinet and thankfully there was a washcloth inside. I totally should have taken this off last night.

I cleaned my face, used some of their mouthwash, then made my way back to the front of the house. I heard Bonnie’s voice and smelled coffee and bacon.

“Hi,” I said softly, walking into the kitchen.

“Tylenol and water are right here. You can take Tylenol?” Jake asked.

“Yeah, I can take it.”

“My son is a bit of a papa bear. And I’m not as young as I used to be. I feel all foggy.”

We all laughed.

I took the medicine and drank the whole glass of water before asking, “Can I help?”

“No, I got it.” Jake had put a shirt on, likely to keep his chest from getting popped with grease, and I’d never hated bacon more than I did in that moment. His chest was so, so, so sexy. I really wanted to see it again.

“Make yourself some coffee,” Bonnie told me, and I did. Then the two of us sat at the table, where we could still see Jake while he worked. I must have been staring hard—duh—because she said softly, “He’s a good man. I’m lucky to have him.”

I jerked my eyes away from him and toward the table. “Yeah, I can see he is. But he’s lucky to have you too.” They were lucky to have each other.

Bonnie reached over and placed her hand on top of mine in support. “A bit later we’re going to do some shopping to get things for my new apartment. I’m moving in next weekend. I’d love to have your opinion on things.”

“Oh, I’m not that gay guy. Makeup and hair I’m good at, decorating not so much.” My own apartment wasn’t even styled by me.

“Well, we’d still like your company.”

“I’m sure you guys don’t want—”

“Come with us. We wouldn’t offer if we didn’t want you there,” Jake added.

“Okay.” I smiled. Obviously I wanted to go.

“It’s settled, then,” Jake replied. “Are scrambled eggs fine with the two party animals?”

Bonnie looked at me, and I nodded. “They’re perfect!” And then she and I both giggled, though I had no idea why.

The three of us had breakfast not long after. Jake talked about work, and Bonnie about things she wanted for her apartment and setting up furniture delivery, and I took it all in. Every few minutes I would find myself smiling because it felt so nice, so right, being with them.

After breakfast, I insisted on doing the dishes. Bonnie helped, and then we all got dressed, me in the same clothes I wore the day before. Bonnie gave me a new, unopened toothbrush. I put it in the holder afterward, not sure what else to do with it.

They followed me to my apartment, where I left my vehicle, and we rode together in Jake’s truck.

The first stop was a discount furniture store. Some of it was dinged up and less expensive. Others were older models that had been discontinued and things like that.

We walked through together as Bonnie calculated prices and picked out pieces she liked. It wasn’t something I ever had to do, and I suddenly felt very embarrassed over that. It wasn’t like I didn’t appreciate what I had, but I’d never had to work for it.