Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,27
that!” I hissed.
“I don’t think so,” he leaned away from me, stretching back in the chair. He hit the ANSWER button and said, “Hello?”
I heard Jared’s voice rumble on the other end.
Rollo snorted. “No, this is Rollo. I’m gay, definitely not trying to get in your girl’s panties so stop giving me the third degree for answering her phone.”
Jared chuckled.
“Give me the phone!” I tried to grab it from Rollo.
“Not yet,” Rollo told me and returned to the conversation with Jared. “We’re at Mario’s, having pizza, you should join us… that is if Katyrina hasn’t eaten it all by then.” A pause. “Good, see you in a few.”
Rollo hung up and handed my phone back.
“I hate you so much right now,” I glared at Rollo. “Like, seriously, hate you with a burning passion.”
Rollo rolled his eyes. “Puh-lease, baby cakes, once Jared and his perfect ass gets here, you won’t be hating me anymore.”
“No, I’m pretty sure I will,” I glared down at my slice of pizza, suddenly not hungry anymore.
“Well,” Rollo said, “you better turn that frown right side around, real quick. Hot bod just pulled up.”
“Shit,” I whispered under my breath.
I heard the door open from behind me and my body instantly jolted awake, like someone had struck me with a live wire. Every part of my body, even ones I’d long ago believed dormant, were aware of Jared’s presence.
Even before ‘the event’, no one had affected me this way.
“Hey,” Jared said, standing awkwardly beside the table. He was dressed casually in dark blue sweatpants and a tee. He wore a baseball cap low over his eyes.
“Hi,” I squeaked. I felt completely awkward after our… whatever you wanted to call it, because I refused to think of it as a date.
“I was just heading out,” Rollo stood. He looked at me and winked. “See you later, baby cakes. Take care of my girl,” Rollo clapped Jared’s shoulder.
Jared smiled at me and hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “I’m going to go get some pizza,” he turned to head to the counter but suddenly he was back in front of me. “Please, don’t run, Katy. Especially when I have my back turned.”
“I promised you, no more running. I’ll be here,” I played with my napkin.
“Okay,” he slowly eased away. I could see in his eyes that he was sure that I’d leave as soon as he turned around.
As much as I may have wanted to do that, I couldn’t. Not to Jared.
His back bumped into the counter and with a chuckle, he turned to give the gaping girl behind the counter his order. She was obviously starstruck by Jared, and honestly, I couldn’t blame her. Forget his good looks; there was just some kind of magnetism about him that drew people in, including me.
He finished giving his order and turned his head slightly to peer at me from the corner of his eye. When he saw that I caught him peeking, a grin took over his face. He shook his head and paid for his pizza, dropping the change in the tips jar.
“I’ll bring your pizza out to you when it’s ready,” the girl blushed. “Oh! And here’s your drink!”
“Thanks,” I heard Jared say, before he made his way back to the table.
He grabbed up Rollo’s paper plate and drink cup and tossed it in the trashcan. I blushed, knowing that I should’ve done that.
“So,” Jared said, taking the seat across from me, “what have you been up to today?”
“Um… classes… and some other stuff,” I mumbled, playing with my hair.
“Care to elaborate on this other stuff?” He leaned forward and those chocolate eyes bore into me, pleading with me to spill my guts.
“Not really,” I finally answered.
“Aww, come on, kitten. I honestly want to know and I’m not the kind of person to judge. You know that,” he batted those super long lashes at me.
Oh Lord, I was putty in this man’s hands. What had happened to me?
I took a deep breath and decided to take the plunge. “I was seeing my therapist.”
“I see,” he said, taking a sip of his Mountain Dew. “Been there, done that.”
I blanched.
“Shocking, I know. But as I have eluded to, my past isn’t all that great,” he waved his hand through the air. “A therapist can help… if you open up and talk to them. Unfortunately, I always had trouble with both and I’m going to go out on a wild limb here and say that you do to.”