Page 60 of Crave

“What is this?” Not one to mince words, my mother gets right to the point.

“You remember Jacob Clark, Mama.”

“I didn’t ask you for his name. I know who he is. I ask what this is.” She points at our hands, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

“We’re a couple now.”

“A couple? He’s your boyfriend?”

“He is.”

“I am,” Jake chimes in.

“I sent you to deliver cake, not go get boyfriend.”

“She did both, ma’am,” Jake says, his lips twitching.

I squeeze his hand, but his lips immediately stop twitching once she turns her attention back to him. She takes a step closer and points her finger at him.

“Don’t be fresh. I told you to leave her alone,” she reminds him.

“I couldn’t.”

“You didn’t want to,” she challenges, crossing her arms over her chest.

“That too,” he says back, offering her a smile.

”Remember what I told you. Don’t hurt my daughter, or we will have problems. Deedee, we talk later. Get to work. You staying, troublemaker?” She’s already walking away as she asks that question.

“Did she just threaten me?” He asks, watching her walk down the long hallway.

“No. I promise you that wasn’t a threat.”

“Funny,” he says, turning his gaze back to me. Jake finally let’s go of my hand and I walk behind the counter. “It’s a good thing I have no intentions of hurting her daughter.”

“She’ll come around.” I grab a few pastries and put them in a bag and hand it to him before I pour him a cup of coffee. He leans against the counter, kissing me loudly kiss on the lips. “Bye, baby,” I yell as he walks out the door.

“You look pretty,” Jacob mouths to me as he points to the phone attached to his ear, rolling his eyes. I mouth a thank you, no longer feeling unsure about my outfit. It’s simple, but not too casual. It’s a pair of cropped white pants and a long, loose, off-the-shoulder pink top that ties around the waist. I styled my hair in loose, wavy curls and put three rose clips on one side of my hair. I listen in on Jake’s one-sided conversation as I put on my shoes.

“Why would I do that? I’d rather take my own car. You know I like to be able to leave whenever I want.”

“There will be drinks there, Mom. We don’t need to stop by for a drink since we are all going to the same place.” He looks at me and shakes his head in exasperation.

I admire his body as he listens to whatever his mother is saying. He has on a pair of khaki cargo shorts but hasn’t put on a shirt yet. I consider walking over and sliding my hand underneath his white, ribbed t-shirt, but I know if I do that, we’d never end up leaving the house.

“Yes, she’s right here, Mother.” He takes the phone away from his ear and presses something on the screen. “Go ahead. You’re on speaker.”

“Sandy?” Lilian Clark’s voice is tentative, almost as if she doesn’t believe I’m actually here.

“Hi, Mrs. Clark,” I say, standing up and walking over to Jake. I put my arms around him and he pulls me into his side.

“It’s Lil, dear. Just call me Lil. Listen, I’d love for you two to come over and have a drink before we head over to John’s house.”

“Mom, I just told you we can all have a drink together at Uncle John’s house.”

“If you two come over now, we can leave in about an hour.” She goes on as if she didn’t even hear what Jake had to say. “What do you think?”

“Sure. That sounds nice.”

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