Page 53 of Play For Keeps

I’m nervous waiting for her answer. I need to know if she’s okay with the pace I’m moving at. When I showed up at her door last night, I never expected to be where we are today— a marathon of sex, a sleepover, and a morning-after breakfast— so I want to hear it from her that I’m not rushing things.

“No, Jake. I like the way things are.” She searches my gaze, the flecks of gold in her irises sparkling under the sun. “I’m good. I will tell you if I’m not. Promise.” My eyes dip down to her lips. Now that I know how good they feel and how perfect they taste, I’m an addict. So, I kiss her in front of everyone on First Street. Every reason I’ve ever had for hating PDA falls to the wayside as I grab her by the waist and pull her into me. She kisses me back, opening for me, our tongues softly gliding together. Neither of us move, my hands wrapped around her back, her chest pressed up against mine. A girl giggles as she walks by with her mom, dragging us back to reality. We break the kiss, remembering where we are, wrapping it up before we’re putting on a show. It’s for the best… my dick was starting to get ideas and the busiest street in the city is not the place for a hard-on.

Everly hides her pink cheeks into the curve of my neck, and I can feel her smiling. A few minutes later, we fall into step, walking the sycamore-lined streets, the sun warm on our skin. Nodding my head towards the restaurant I want to take her to for breakfast, I open the large pink door, motioning for her to go first. She raises an eyebrow at me when she notices the lineup outside of people waiting to get in, but she ducks under my arm anyways when I tell her it’s fine. We inhale the delicious scent of waffles and coffee as we step inside.

“It’s so cute, Jake,” she says stopping in the entryway to admire the laid-back atmosphere with pink suede seating, wicker lamp shades, and rich green palm leaves in large ceramic pots. “I’ve heard of this place, but I haven’t been. I’ve heard it’s impossible to get in to.”

The place is packed, and with good reason. Not only does the food smell amazing, but the unobstructed view of the ocean is jaw-dropping. We wouldn’t usually be able to just walk right in, but my good buddy owns the place, and I called him before we left Ev’s house this morning asking if he could save me a table.

We are taken to the patio by a hostess where my friend Sam greets us with two champagne glasses and a twinkle in his eye.

“Mimosas on me,” he says smiling brightly, clapping my shoulder. “It’s good to see you, man. Thanks for coming in.”

Everly and I sit down, and I watch her eyes go wide at the view from our table on the edge of the patio: turquoise ocean sparkling like diamonds under the morning sun, sea birds perched on a rocky bluff 50 feet away. I’m thankful to Sam for hooking me up with the best table in the restaurant.

“It’s good to see you too,” I say. “I guess I have to come eat here if I want to see you these days. You need to start getting out on the trails riding with us again.”

“And show you guys up?” he laughs. “I wouldn’t want to make you boys look bad.”

I laugh, hand to my chest like he’s killing me. “Yeah, yeah. I guess I need to be nice to you since you hooked us up with this killer table.”

“Maybe you’ll pay me back by giving me a deal on my porch reno.” He smirks. “I’m going to be hitting you up in the spring.”

“We’ll see how good breakfast is, and then I’ll let you know.”

“Jake Matthews… you never change,” Sam chuckles, before his eyes drift over to Everly obviously hoping for an introduction.

I’m not sure how to introduce her. I mean, it’s pretty clear we’re on a date, and after last night we are definitely seeing each other. But is she my girlfriend? Can I use the label? We didn’t technically get that far last night. I was too eager to get my hands all over her. Without a lot of time to think on it, I stumble my way through an introduction.

“Sam, this is Everly. A good friend of mine,” I say. It sounds all fucking wrong and I hate it. “Everly, this is Sam, my buddy I met in college.”

The word friend tastes sour on my tongue. I want to take it back but it’s too late. Friends is what we were weeks ago, but after last night she’s so much more.

Sam offers a hand and Everly takes it. “It’s great to meet you, Everly. You two look like great friends.”

Everly laughs, blushes and then lets go of his hand. But there isn’t any awkwardness. She seems to be rolling with it, unlike me. “It’s nice to meet you too. Thank you for the mimosa.”

“My pleasure. Check out the menu and I’ll have Carrie take your order asap. I know you two have somewhere to be.” Sam taps the table with his palm before walking away.

After Sam leaves, Everly looks at me with eyebrows raised. “We have somewhere to be?” she asks with a grin. I sip my drink, meeting her eyes over the rim of the glass. “Maybe,” I tell her. “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”

When I called Sam earlier, I told him I needed a table as soon as possible and that we would be eating and running because I have some plans. I want to treat Everly today. I know how tired she’s been, working so many late shifts at the restaurant and getting up early with Birdie in the mornings.

She’s sipping from her champagne glass, a light breeze blowing strands from her hair across her face. Her cheeks are tinted pink, her skin sun-kissed. “I talked to my mom earlier,” she says, setting her champagne glass on the table. “We’ve got all afternoon, so there’s no rush. My parents want to keep Birdie for the day, they’re taking her to the pool.”

“Perfect,” I say as the server arrives to take our order. I decide on eggs benny while Everly orders waffles and strawberries.

“You are spoiling me, Jake. This view makes me feel like I’m on vacation.”

“That was kinda the point,” I tell her. “I wanted to take you somewhere where there aren’t highchairs and crayons on the table. I thought you’d probably like it here.”

“I love it. So much.” Everly’s eyes twinkle. “I haven’t had a lot of time to get out and do things like this. I rotate between the grocery store, work, Birdie’s school, the park, or the beach. There’s so much I want to do.”

“We can do some of the stuff on your list together.”

“I like that,” she says, looking adorably excited. “Where are we going after this?”

I shrug, trying to fight off a smile. “Nice try. It’s a surprise, I’m not telling you.”

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