Page 9 of The Kiss Keeper
“Speaking ofothermistakes and imperfections, how’s your Jake? You’re on Jake number two, right?” Tera asked, cutting into her little daydream.
Nat’s cheeks heated. It was the second guy named Jake she’d dated since she’d started working at the school and the sixth Jake she’d gone out with since she’d graduated from college six years ago. But she wasn’t about to cop to that. Jake or Jacob was a common enough name. It couldn’t be that weird that she’d dated a half dozen of them.
“Jake’s great!” she answered, smiling as she secured the plastic lid.
He did seem pretty great. Jake number six, not that she ever called him or any other Jake by a number, traveled a lot for his work as a pharmaceutical sales rep. But he’d agreed to clear his schedule for an entire week to come with her to Maine for her grandparents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary, being held at Camp Woolwich.
And oh, how she was ready to return to the trails and fresh sea air where she’d spent her summers growing up.
Thanks to her chaotic schedule and a paycheck that barely covered the rent, it had been nearly ten years since she’d last returned to enjoy Maine in the summertime. To earn a little extra cash over the years, she’d taken on some freelance graphic design projects which took up much of her time during the summer and over holidays.
Still, fifty years of marriage was something to be celebrated, and she was thrilled when an airline voucher arrived with her grandparents’ invitation, along with a handwritten note from her grandmother encouraging her to bring a date to the celebration. Everything seemed to be falling into place. At twenty-eight years old, she craved finding a love like the bond shared between her grandparents. The kind of love that maybe, just maybe, she could find with Jake number six—not that she ever called him that.
Tera lifted her large portfolio bag propped against her suitcase.
“You’re bringing art supplies on vacation? The last thing I want to see over my summer break is school supplies,” her friend said, eyeing her closely.
“Teaching art and creating art are two very different things. I haven’t painted or sketched for myself in ages. I was hoping to get back to it when I’m in Maine. I’ve missed it so much.”
Tera unzipped the canvas bag and gasped. “Oh, my! What art project requires these?”
Her friend swung a lacy black G-string around her finger.
“Put that back, Tera!” Nat shrieked. “That’s for Jake!”
“Jake wears lingerie? Wowza! I’d never pegged you as one for the kinky stuff,” Tera answered, pulling out the matching lacy bra.
Nat bolted across the room and snagged the sexy undergarments. “I was going to do the whole high heels and a trench coat with only lingerie beneath for the plane ride.”
Tera’s jaw dropped. “You? Little Miss Art Smock is going to try to pull a sexy trench-capade?”
She glanced down at her dress that, unfortunately, could best be described as an art smock.
This wardrobe switcheroo may be the craziest thing she’d ever done, but something in the back of her mind kept telling her she needed to up her game with Jake number six—not that she called him that.
Natalie slid the slinky underwear into the bag next to her fire engine red open-toe high heels. “I was going to change once I got to the airport and throw my dress and sandals into my suitcase before I checked it. Do you think I’m crazy?”
“No way! It might be fun to spice it up and cut the tension. You are bringing a boy home to meet the family. This is big, Natalie.”
It was a big deal. She and Jake had been dating for five months and six days. They hadn’t done the wholeI love youbit yet, but maybe this trip would take their relationship to the next level.
“Which reminds me. I need to text him,” she said.
Nat pulled her cell from her pocket to find no new texts and tried to ignore the twist in her belly. The plan was for Jake to fly back into Denver, meet her at the airport, and then the two of them would fly off to Maine together. He’d been out of town all week and hadn’t replied when she’d texted him this morning, trying to confirm where they’d meet at the airport. That sinking feeling doubled when she scrolled through her text feed to find that he hadn’t responded to any of her messages that week. It had been so crazy, finishing up the final few days of the school year, that she hadn’t noticed until now.
She glanced at her friend, then hammered out a quick text.
Can’t wait to see you! Text me when you get this!
That was fine, right? Not too clingy or desperate? They were about to travel more than halfway across the country together and spend a week with her family. Meals had been planned, and a headcount had been taken to ensure enough seating, food, and drinks for the event. It wasn’t strange or obsessive to try to confirm that.
She ignored the sinking feeling and hit send.
“You’re making a face,” Tera said, crossing her arms.
“It’s nothing,” she answered, pocketing her phone.
“It’s something. I usually make that face when I have to interact with my stepmother or any other member of my extended family.”
