Pretty Sweet - Christina Lee Page 0,55

you wanted cosmetology school.”

“No, the piano is just for me, if that makes sense. It’s relaxing, and I like sharing it with people, but I don’t want a career in it.” Feeling brave, I scooted closer to him. Jake watched as I slowly reached for his arm. He let me lead as I lifted it, then crawled under it to nuzzle his side. He chuckled and wrapped his arm around me. I wouldn’t have had the courage to do that with anyone else other than Jesse, but this felt weightier because while Jake and I were friends too, I wanted more than that with him.

I used my left foot to take my right shoe off, then did the same with the other, before folding my legs up on the couch, my knees over his lap. Flicking my cap off, I set it on the coffee table.

“And we know you like cuddling,” he said into my hair.

“I do…I like touch from people I feel safe with. There aren’t very many. Does it bother you?”

“No,” Jake said softly, rubbing his hand up and down my arm. “I like it too. Makes me feel kind of…important. Does that sound silly?”

No, it didn’t at all. I got it. “We all need to feel important.”

“What else do you like?”

“Cats. I want one.”

“Tucker—you saw him at the shop; he’s my buddy—he’s been telling me he’s surprised I don’t have any animals.”

“You should get a cat!” I would say we could get one together, but I knew it was too soon for that.

“Maybe I will. You should get one too. What else?”

Part of me knew he was asking because no one did, because my likes and desires didn’t matter to my family, and it made me care about him more, cuddle closer into him as we talked about silly things like my love of chocolate cake, animal blooper videos online, and art galleries. Eventually, I said, “Oh, and bonfires by the lake. When my dad was alive, we’d rent a lake cabin once a year and sit by the fire. It was one of the few times my mom let go. She wasn’t as uptight, as…perfect.”

“Really? Now we’re talking. That sounds like fun.”

“I haven’t been since I was a kid.” I got closer to his chest. Pressed my lips to it.

Jake was quiet for a moment, then kissed the top of my head. “We should go sometime.”

“Really?” I asked, embarrassed of the hope in my voice. Why had I never done something like that again? Even if it was something I did on my own.

“Yeah, of course. It’ll be fun.”

“Okay,” I replied softly.

“What was your dad like?”

I closed my eyes, thought about him. “Great. He was so different from my mom. He always hugged me and every day told me he loved me. He liked to have fun and was the kind of dad who would keep me home from school. We’d play hooky, go do something Mom didn’t approve of. He always took the blame too. Mom says I’m just like him…emotional, not very responsible, needing someone to make sure I don’t screw up.”

“No offense, but I’m not sure how I feel about your mom. And it doesn’t sound like she knows you very well.”

“She tries.” I knew she did. “It’s hard for her to let herself get close. She used to with Dad when it was just the two of them. He’d tell me stories and say Mom was scared to get hurt. Her parents left her, and she hadn’t had friends growing up. I…I loved him. I wish I was more like him. He wasn’t afraid of anything. He had a wild streak. He liked fast cars, and skydiving, and just…experiences.” It had been so long since I talked about my dad. It felt good to do so now.

“Can I ask how he passed away?”

“Helicopter crash,” I admitted. “Mom didn’t want him to go. I was supposed to go with him. He wanted me to experience it. They got in a huge fight before he left. Mom was never the same.” Neither of us was.

“Shit. That’s tough. I’m sorry.”

Yeah, it really was. “But enough about me. What about you? Tell me what you like.”

Jake nodded and began telling me about working on cars and staying in shape, enjoying yard work and tinkering around the house, simpler things that didn’t surprise me—they made him who he was. He rubbed his hand up and down my arm as he spoke. Every once in a while he’d