Page 36 of Jake and Conner
Ifelt like the biggest fool on the planet as I watched Conner leave. Everything I'd wanted for so long had been within reach and I... just couldn't do it.
Not like this.
I rubbed my eyes, my face still damp from the cold shower. I needed a change of clothes and I needed to get home. Just as I thought this, I heard the roar of my car's engine as it drove away.
Fantastic.
I towel-dried my hair and walked back into the main room where the fire was still crackling in the fire place. Basking in the warmth, I sat on the floor in front of it, holding my hands out before me. My wet pants and sweatshirt clung to my skin and reminded me what a disaster the day had been. I hadn't calculated the risk that Conner might experience another heat at all. Not taking advantage of it was both hard and incredibly easy at the same time. I wanted to feel Conner's naked skin sliding against mine, I wanted to taste his sweat and I wanted to bury myself inside of him.
But I didn't want any of that if I didn't know that he wanted it just as much. I didn't want it as long as there was a chance that he might regret it.
I buried my face in my hands and inhaled deeply. There were still traces of Conner's scent in the air. I drew it into my lungs and savored it.
I'd reach my goal eventually. I only needed to keep believing that. He'd liked the scrapbook at least, hadn't he? That was a step in the right direction.
Thinking that it would be a shame to leave it lying on the floor, I picked it up and placed it on the table, smiling as my eyes caught on the stick-figure drawing on the cover. I really wasn't a great artist. The whole thing had been a silly idea, but Conner used to like my silly ideas so I'd given it a shot anyway.
And it had very nearly gotten me laid too.
I walked over to the coat rack and fished my phone out of my coat's pocket.
Who could I call on a Saturday afternoon? My sister was out with her lame boyfriend, so not her. Maybe Aaron? He was probably busy with his kids, but it was worth a shot.
I dialed my friend's number.
"Hey, neighbor," I said when he picked up.
"Jake?"
"Yup. Listen, could you do me a huge favor?"
"How huge are we talking?" he asked.
"I'm kind of stuck at my family's cabin out in the woods."
"How did that happen? Car troubles?"
"No, the car works fine, but I let Conner take it." I stifled a laugh, realizing how ridiculous my situation must be sounding to anyone on the outside.
"Oh," Aaron said, as if my mentioning Conner's name explained everything. In a way, it did. Aaron had known me long enough to know that I didn't always act rationally where my favorite redheaded omega was involved.
"Could you come get me?" I asked. "Otherwise I'd have to call my parents and that would be really awkward."
"You think you could stick it out up there for about an hour? I'm on baby duty while Laurence is out with Raph."
"Sure. That's fine. Thank you, man. I'll send you my location."
"All right. I'll text you when I'm ready to go."
I thanked Aaron again and ended the call. It was good to have friends. After the day I'd had, I really didn't want to discuss the cabin and its uses with my parents.
* * *
By the timeAaron's car pulled up to the cabin, my clothes had mostly dried. Thank God. I'd also combed my fingers through my hair to make it look less disheveled, but my friend still eyed me critically.
"What exactly were you doing out here?" he asked as I got into his car.
"Being a stupid idiot?" I suggested.
