Page 76 of Lost on Ice
“Don’t forget you’re the one with a stalker,” Jake grumbles. “Who’s to say he isn’t the fucker?”
I frown. I can’t say the thought hasn’t crossed my mind. But still, he doesn’t seem like he’s the type. Weird, but not like that. “I don’t think so,” I murmur.
“How are you so sure?”
I nibble my lip and squeeze my purse a little harder. “Well, I guess it’s just a gut feeling.”
He snorts, side-stepping a chair someone suddenly pushes away from a table. “That’s not really convincing me.”
Sighing, I shake my head. “Look, it’s fine, okay? Please don’t worry about him. I’m not. I swear.”
He doesn’t appear convinced, but he grumbles, “All right. Just keep your guard up around him, okay?”
“Okay,” I assure him. And as I look over Jake’s shoulder, I realize Stuart has already left the restaurant. Thank God. I let out a long breath of relief and relax into my seat.
“Okay, okay.” Jake smiles. “Listen, let’s talk about better things. You know, I never properly thanked you for standing up to my family.” He stares into my eyes, and smiles softly. “You don’t know how much that meant to me.”
Remembering how thoroughly he pleasured me in the car after that awful dinner, I actually think I’m all too aware of much it meant to him. I shift back and forth in my seat, rubbing my thighs together. “I think you thanked me plenty.”
His eyes gleam with heat, clearly remembering as well. “You know what I mean.”
Biting my lip, I glance down shyly, then peek back up at him again. It’s so strange that we’re here right now. The circumstances aren’t exactly ideal - Jake’s really only in my life again because he feels the need to protect me. Still, he seems different than before. More level-headed and grounded somehow. More serious and solid.
I know I need to be careful. I can’t give into my growing feelings for him so easily this time. I don’t want my heartbrokenagain, plus there’s Lilah to consider. If Jake finds out —whenhe finds out — that Lilah is his and that I chose not to reach out and try to tell him these past three years, he might hate me.
And I might deserve it.
“I’ve been enjoying having you around,” I confess, my cheeks burning. “I’m not going to lie, I dreaded the idea of you being in town, but…it’s been nice spending time together. And I really appreciate you stepping in to protect me. Or whatever you want to call it.”
He gives me a crooked little smile and reaches across the table to take my hand, brushing his thumb over my knuckles.
“I’m glad we both came back,” he softly says. “And I promise I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep you and Lilah safe. Nothing will happen to either of you while I’m around.” He pauses a moment, looking thoughtful, as if choosing his next words carefully. “I know I never showed it in the past, but I care about you, Abbie. You and Lilah. I was never interested in having a family, but with you two…I don’t know. I guess I see a different future for myself.”
There’s an unshakeable resolve behind his words and I believe him, wholly and completely…and that kind of terrifies me.
Is there really a possibility of a future here, even a small one? Could we ever really be together? Be a family?
I don’t know. I’m not sure that I can trust Jake to still be here when there’s no danger. When life is normal and mundane and Lilah is grumpy because she didn’t get her nap, or I work late a few days in a row because the clinic is super busy.
He’s saying all the right things right now, but that’s not enough for me. Not anymore. I need to see it. I need action.
If I’m going to put my heart on the line, I need more assurance than just his word that he won’t break it again.
As we walk out of the restaurant after dinner, I feel like I’m floating on air despite my belly full of pasta and tiramisu. Jake is holding my hand again, and it feels good to have his strong, thick fingers wrapped around mine.
“So, did you like this place?” he asks as we step out into the cool night air. “Should we come back sometime?”
I grin up at him. “Yeah, I like it a lot. We definitely should come back…”
He tenses, his eyes going wide as his face drains of color. At the sudden shift in his demeanor, I freeze. Frowning, I turn to see what’s startled him so badly and I let out a gasp of shock.
Jake’s car is a horrible mess. His tires are slashed and the windows have all been smashed except for the windshield.
Across the glass in smeared red letters is a message:
FUCK OFF… OR DIE
“Oh, my God!” I whimper, stumbling backward. My heart is beating so hard I think it might burst, and a single thought pushes its way to the front of my mind — Lilah. I quickly dig my phone out, my fingers trembling as I swipe the screen to unlock it and I immediately call my dad.
