Take a Breath (Take #1) - Jaimie Roberts Page 0,21

outburst even funnier. “Do they have those? If so, I’d totally fucking go,” Tom jokes, and both he and James fist pump each other.

“Ugh. It’s like watching two twats in high school. Don’t you guys have mothers to go home to? Surely it must be feeding time by now.”

Tom looks at my breasts suggestively. “Are you offering?”

I make a disgusted sound in the back of my throat. “You’re vile, Tom.”

“You’re sexy, Ana. Let’s get vile and sexy together.”

I turn and start walking away. “In your dreams!”

I hear their laughter. “Oh, you will be!” I hear Tom shout back.

My phone takes that precise moment to start ringing, so I stop to retrieve the phone from my bag. When I look down, I see it’s Jake. “Hello.”

“Ana, it’s Jake. I’m on my way home, and I was wondering if you’re there or not?”

“No, I’m just in the shops, but I was making my way home now.”

“She’s a bit tied up with me and James,” Tom says, hovering over my shoulder and laughing like the fool he is. I turn and slap him across the arm. Unfortunately, all that does is make them both laugh even harder.

“Who the fuck is that?” Jake hisses. His tone makes my body go rigid.

“Just Tom and James being dicks. I was in the shoe store, checking out when these arseholes turned up.”

“Where are you? I’m coming to get you.”

I frown and scoff down the line. “Don’t be silly. They’re just being jerks. I’m on my way home now.” I flip both Tom and James the bird and start walking towards my car. Luckily, they’re not following me this time, but I can still hear them laughing.

“Ana, tell me where you are.”

His voice takes on a tone so commanding, it makes my insides turn to mush. “I’m just over at Dulles Town Center. In fact, I’m coming down the escalator now. Both Tom and James are gone. They’re nowhere to be seen.”

I hear Jake take a deep breath. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so abrupt. I just know how those two think.”

I laugh. “Yes, I have an inkling of that myself, but they’re harmless. They would never hurt me—not intentionally, at any rate. They’re just a bit crude at times. That’s all. Besides, I’m just as old as you, remember? I can take care of myself.” I get down the escalator and start walking towards my car with a smile.

“Eleven years is a big difference.”

“Not to me,” I blurt.

Shit! Why did I say that?

The line goes deathly silent. Not a sound can be heard—not even his steady breathing.

I’m about to make up some lame explanation when Jake suddenly says, “I’ll see you at home.” Then, the line goes dead, and I’m left standing by my car, feeling like a complete idiot.

Does he think I meant that he isn’t too old for me? Of course, that is how I feel, but did he take it that way?

Shit. Going home to Jake is going to be even harder than I’d imagined.

6

I had been out so long that by the time I get back to the house, it’s already past seven. I walk in the door, heading for the display table by the entrance. I place my keys down on the top of it and lean my bag against one side. The smell of Chinese food greets me, hitting my nostrils as I follow it into the kitchen.

“There you are. Sorry about earlier. I know I sounded blunt.” Jake’s sitting at the table, eagerly awaiting me.

I take a deep breath and smile as best as I can. “Don’t worry. I know you were just doing your fatherly thing.” I emphasize the word and roll my eyes, but not before I catch Jake slightly cringing at my remark. Maybe he regrets saying that now.

“Yeah, that is probably not the sort of thing I should be saying. Especially when we’re basically the same age and all.” He winks at me, and I almost collapse in a heap.

Why? Why the fuck does he have to be so damn fuckable?

With a cocky grin, he hands me a pair of chopsticks and pulls the little boxes out from the plastic bag in front of me. “Please, sit. I got you your favorite, chicken in curry sauce. I hope that’s okay?”

My tummy growls with anticipation. “Yes, that’s more than okay. Thank you.”

We sit for a while, savoring our dinners. For once, I’m feeling happy. I know being with Jake can be torture, but I feel comfortable