Page 39 of Waiting to Lose
Jake took a deep breath and tilted his head to the side as he considered whether or not he should tell her. The concern on her face made it clear. “Would it make you feel better if I told you I have a gun?”
“You do?” Madi asked as her body stiffened.
“I do. I got it after you were attacked. I wanted to be able to protect you. I wanted you to feel safe.”
“I do feel safe. You make me feel safe.Gunsscare me.”
“They shouldn’t. As long as you know how to use them, it’s fine. People who don’t respect them are the ones you need to worry about.”
“Do you know how to use it?” she asked.
“Of course. I’ve been to several ranges. Mostly before I’d come into work.”
“Where is it?” she asked.
“Did you notice the new shelf in the family room?”
Madi squinted as she thought. “There are two. On either side of the TV.”
Jake nodded in appreciation of her observation. “The shelf on the right has a button. There’s a key that looks like a magnet next to the TV. If you press it to the shelf, it opens. The gun’s in there.”
Madi nodded as she seemed to follow the directions in her mind.
Jake smiled. “Guess you don’t know everything about me.”
Madi huffed. “I know the important stuff.”
“Yes, you do,” he said with a smirk.
Madi turned back to the fire and Jake placed his arms around her once more.
“Nothing’s going to happen to me—or to you, for that matter,” he said reassuringly.
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do. I won’t let anything happen to you, ever.”
Madi shuddered and Jake ran his hands over her bare arms. “Are you cold?”
“No. Just got a chill.”
“Well, I’d offer you some clothing, but it seems you didn’t bring any.”
Madi turned and gasped as she placed her hand over her mouth. “Shit! Ang has my clothes.”
Jake laughed. “She coming by tomorrow. I told her you didn’t need them tonight.”
“You didn’t!”
“I did.”
“When did you talk to her?”
“While you were sleeping. By the way, your phone buzzed a few times while I was in the other room.”
“Kendra!” Madi jumped up and ran toward her phone.
Jake waited and heard her shrill. “I can’t believe you left my room before… Nate called him. Yes, he saw you. He thought it was me. Yes, I was mad. No, he’s not. Yes… Yes…” Then a giggle. “Twice so far.”
