Page 70 of Long Story Short

I stood on the pavement and looked up at the building in front of me. It was an Edwardian apartment building in Knightsbridge and the contrast to my shared flat in Clapham couldn’t have been starker. I wavered about what to do. I had obtained Jake’s home address from Ellen after seeing how he’d dedicated his book to me. Now, I felt like I should have text or called him instead of just showing up. Maybe a neutral ground would have been easier in hindsight. This displayed once again how different the two of our lives were. And yet, I didn’t want to walk away. Did it matter that our lives were different? Clearly opposites attracted when it came to us. New York had proved that. And we both still thought about it. I told Jake as much and now he had said he felt the same.

Pulling out the proof copy ofWhen I Met Youhe’d sent me, I re-read the dedication and that spurred me on.

I walked inside and was greeted by a concierge. I asked for Jake’s flat and had to give my name so there was an awkward couple of minutes while I waited for him to call Jake. But the concierge waved me up, and I hurried into the lift, relieved Jake hadn’t refused to see me. Nerves settled in the pit of my stomach as the lift climbed to the top floor to Jake’s penthouse apartment. My heart was pounding inside my chest.

The lift doors slid open so I stepped out and the door ahead, the only one on the top floor, opened up and there stood Jake.

‘Freya, this is a nice surprise,’ he said, breaking into a smile as I walked up to him. His smile eased my nerves a bit. He looked the way he had outside Hayley’s office the other day: his facial hair unkempt, circles under his eyes, pale skin and his hair was tousled. He wore jeans and a white t-shirt, the most casual I had seen him since we first met. The style suited him but I didn’t like the fact he seemed unlike himself.

‘Are you okay?’ I blurted out before I could phrase it more tactfully. ‘You look tired.’ I bit my lip immediately, hoping he wouldn’t take offence.

Jake stared at me for a moment, those piercing eyes of his looking deep into mine. Then he started laughing. ‘Like I said, you’re not like anyone else I know. Are you coming in?’

I smiled, relieved I hadn’t pissed him off. ‘Yes, please.’

Jake stood back while I walked inside, and he closed the door behind us. I looked around his large flat, drinking in everything eagerly. The flat had high ceilings and sash windows that let the summer sun stream inside and pool on the shiny floorboards. The walls were also light and there was a stunning fireplace in the living area. There was a wall of bookshelves and I immediately wanted to look at all the books he had. There was a big sofa and an armchair with a reading light. A record player and stack of vinyl. In the corner was an antique desk with Jake’s laptop on it. And next to the living area was a large, navy kitchen with an island and bar stools. The flat was stunning and Jake had made it cosy. The place also smelled like him, deep and musky, and it was neat, tidy and clean. I remembered he said that whenever he was procrastinating with work, he cleaned.

‘What can I get you? Tea, coffee, soft drink… It’s after 5p.m. so I’ll add wine to the list too,’ Jake interrupted my thoughts as he wandered into the kitchen.

‘Um, you know what? Wine sounds good if you’ll have one too?’ I said, turning to follow him over there.

‘I think I could be persuaded,’ he replied, giving me another smile.

I still clutched the proof copy of his book so I put it down on the island as he went to the fridge to get us a drink. ‘I got a special delivery at work.’

Jake came back over with two glasses of wine and saw his book. ‘That explains your surprise visit.’ He passed me a glass. ‘Cheers, Freya.’

‘Cheers,’ I echoed and we smiled at each other as we both took a sip. ‘That was a big surprise for me,’ I said, feeling a little bit shy now we were alone. ‘And your Post-it note.’

‘Why was it a surprise?’

I raised an eyebrow. ‘Because I thought you were happy that we’d stopped anything between us, so for you to say you felt like I had in New York and to dedicate your book to me…’ I swallowed, trailing off because he was giving me a smouldering look and it was making it tricky for me to concentrate on what I was saying.

‘How could you think I was happy?’ Jake said, shaking his head. ‘I’ve been miserable since we came back. Especially dealing with all this book stuff and not being able to ask your opinion about it. I wanted to call you so many times, and get your advice. I’ve wanted to see you so much.’

‘But when we spoke outside Hayley’s office, I told you how I felt and you didn’t say anything…’ I found myself blurting out then wondering if I’d said too much again.

‘I was stunned. I thought you had decided there was no hope for us. Then suddenly, you were telling me you’d felt the same way that I had. So, I wondered if there was a reason to hope but I didn’t have time to respond before you walked away. Once I’d come to my senses, I followed you but then of course I walked in on you and Hayley…’ Jake ran a hand through his hair. ‘I was worried I’d overstepped during that meeting, butting in and making demands; I thought maybe you were annoyed with me. But I still couldn’t stop thinking about you, and us, and hoping there still was a chance. So, when it came to writing a dedication to my book, I had to use it, and the note, to tell you how I feel.’

Jake came around the island so it wasn’t in between us any more and put his glass of wine down. I copied him. He reached out and touched my arm. The touch was gentle and only lasted a second but my body instantly craved more. ‘I know we met long before the airport but I told you, I wasn’t myself in those few months. I felt like I saw you properly for the first time that day. I was shocked when you mentioned it had been like a meet-cute because I thought there was no way you’d be interested in me. Then we got closer and you did seem interested. When I saw you and Davis at the end of conference party, I let all my trust issues take over. I thought you didn’t feel the same, that again, I had put my trust in the wrong person…’

I stepped closer and Jake’s words died on his lips. ‘Jake, I did the same thing. I was scared that I was starting to think what we had was something out of a romance novel. That maybe the happy ever after I had always wanted but never thought might happen could actually be possible. So, when I thought you didn’t feel the same, I shut down. I didn’t want to get hurt. I got hurt anyway, though.’ I sighed. ‘You said that we were too different and I thought that we were. I had always been intimidated by you, and it just made me think that you’d never want to be with someone like me so I shut you out.’

‘I thought the same. Why would you want to be with me?’

‘Um… why would you want to be with me?’ I countered.

49

We both stared at one another.

Then Jake chuckled and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me towards him. My breath hitched as I looked up at him and reached up to hook my arms around his neck. My body felt better for being able to touch him again.

‘I already told you, Freya, you’re a breath of fresh air. You’re honest and clever and ambitious; it’s like you brighten up every room. You told me truths about myself that no one ever has. It made me want you so much. You drive me crazy and I was desperate for you to be in my life in whatever way you’d allow. And, my God, you’re gorgeous. Look at you.’

He reached out to touch my lips. I shivered at the contact, my eyes dropping to his lips, wanting to taste them again. Jake gave me a sexy smile.

‘Hmm, and your body… I’m not sure I’ve thought about much else since I first touched you. That time in your hotel room, it was so hot; we were so perfect together.’ Jake leaned in towards my ear, moving my hair away so he could whisper, ‘My good girl.’

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