Whatever It Takes (8 page)

Jake orders a steak, garlic mashed potatoes, and a sweet tea. I simply order a Dr. Pepper and the house salad. Every few bites, Jake looks over at me and I melt. I want to crawl over the table and rest in his arms. After the fifth time, I say something about it.

“
Why do you keep looking at me like that?”

“
Like what,” he replies innocently.

I raise my eyebrow and wait for him to answer me.

“
I'm sorry that my looking at you like a lovestruck puppy is bothering you. I'll stop this nonsense right now.”

Okay, now I feel bad.

“
Sorry. Look all you want. It's just been awhile, I guess. You caught me off guard, so to speak.”

He seems hurt by the comment.

“
I caught you off guard by looking at you with love in my eyes?”

“
Just ignore me. My mouth doesn't seem to be functioning correctly with my mind.”

“
No, no. This is serious, Sweetness. If I look at you that way, you shouldn't wonder why I am. You don't doubt that I love you, do you?”

“
Not at all. You are extremely affectionate. It's just that today you seem overly so. I guess I was just trying to figure out why. I should stop talking,” I finish as I see the look that strikes his eyes.

I look down at my empty plate. It seems as if Jake is speechless. I feel horrible. We are just getting back on solid ground and I decide to jump and make a few cracks.

“
We should go. You have to be at the rink in a few minutes.”

“
Yeah,” is all he says. He pays for our supper and I can't help myself. I keep my eyes focused on the ground. Jake stares straight ahead and I can’t look over at him. Silently, Jake opens the door for me and I get inside.

I look down at my hands resting in my lap as he walks around, gets in, and drives to the arena. We park alongside the building and I'm out of the car before Jake can open the door for me. The bitter air nips at my skin. It's a much welcomed distraction that I don't want to ignore. I cross my arms as goosebumps break out across my skin.

I feel hands land on my hips and turn me around. Jake tilts my chin up to make me look at him. His forehead rests against my own.

“
Sweetness, I'm sorry for my reaction. I don't want you to be taken by surprise when I show more affection than usual. I love you,” he adds wrapping those strong arms around me.

“
It sounded worse when I opened my mouth than it did in my mind. I'm sorry love.”

“
I've got to get inside.”

Neither of us move though. I kissJake and took his hand.

“
Let's go. You've got a game to win.”

Before I can get inside, Drake calls me.

“
Hey, Emily!”

“
Hey, buddy. How are you today?”

“
Good. Has Jake's game started yet? I was wanting him to help me with my homework.”

“
No, not yet. I was just about to go inside.”

“
Okay. Well, can you call me when it's over and tell me the score?”

“
I sure can. I'll talk to you soon.”

“
Bye.”

I lean against the cement wall. Jake disappeared inside when I answered the call. I look down the walkway and see Kyle walking my way. A smile spreads from ear to ear as he catches sight of me.

“
I'm happy to see you,” he says when he reaches me. “I wanted to come to see how good your boyfriend is. I wasn't entirely sure if you were going to be here or not.”

“
He is one of the best,” I state proudly.

We walk over to the booth to buy our tickets. Inside the arena, we find our seats. It seems as if Kyle's knee is glued to mine. Every time I try to move it away, his always follows. An uneasy feeling rises in the pit of my stomach.

The players are skating around on the ice. I find Jake and wave when he looks my way. Soon, the game starts and my focus is completely on the ice. During second intermission, Kyle asks if I want to walk with him and get us something to drink.

“
Sure,” I reply.

There are a lot of people mingling about. Kyle grabs my hand and tugs. I’m not paying attention and soon find that Kyle has led us into the janitor's closet.

“
What are you doing?”

Kyle pushes me against the wall and starts kissing me. Instinctively, I kiss Kyle back. Kyle? I push him backwards as I come to my senses.

“
What the hell Kyle? I have a boyfriend!”

“
Sorry. I just couldn't control myself. It won't happen again.”

I leave him in the closet and return to my seat. What just happened? That didn't really just happen. Kyle wasn't that type of guy. Right?

I don't really know Kyle that much. Am I dreaming? Kyle is the nice guy who has been giving me helpful advice. No. Kyle is the guy who just kissed me!

The rest of the game is lost on me. I am distracted. Kyle left, I assume. He didn't return to his seat beside me. I am still lost in thought, standing beside Jake's car when he comes up to me.

“
Did you see that last shot? It was epic!”

Jake gives me a kiss and tosses his duffel bag into the trunk.

“
Sorry. I missed it. You should call Drake and tell him though. I'll drive.”

I learn the details of the final period as Jake talks with such excitement to Drake. The entire drive home, I debate whether or not this is something to tell Jake about. After my shower and Jake's, I slip under the covers.

I am in another world, a world where Kyle's lips are against mine, and I'm sure Jake can tell.  Jake always knows when something is adrift. He pulls me against him, kisses my shoulder and asks what is wrong. Here goes nothing.

“
Kyle sort of bombarded me at the game.”

The muscles against my back go rigid.

“
What do you mean?”

“
He dragged me into a janitor's closet and kissed me.”

I wait in worried silence as Jake takes in my words. Suddenly, Jake rolls me over to face him. Anger rages like a thunderstorm in his eyes.

“
He did what? How did he drag you into the closet?”

“
We were going to get drinks and next thing I know, we were in the closet and he had me pushed against the wall. Like you had me earlier.”

“
Do not compare what happens between us to that. I could beat his ass. Doesn't he know that if you wanted him, you would be with him and not me?”

I rest a hand on Jake's arm.

“
Let's forget it ever happened.”

“
You want me to just ignore the fact that he basically sexually assaulted you?”

“
Yes, I want to ignore it all. It was a bad experience that I don't want to talk about any more.”

Jake's storming eyes tell me that he isn't going to forget it so easily. I lean forward and place a kiss on his lips.

“
I love you.”

“
I love you too Sweetness, but...”

“
But nothing. I want to fall asleep in your arms feeling safe and loved. Let's do that, okay?”

After a hesitant pause, Jake nods and pulls me against him. It's not long before I fall asleep.

8

Jake

Emily is asleep long before I am. I can't get the image of that jackass kissing
my
girlfriend out of my head. When I saw Kyle touch her knee the other day at Coffee Beans, I knew something wasn't right. Like an idiot, I ignored it and now my girlfriend had been violated.

A little extreme? Maybe. However, Sweetness was on the receiving end of an unwanted kiss and I am pissed off about it.

When I awake in the morning, I am still pissed off. I'm going to hunt Kyle down. For Sweetness, I won't beat the guy senseless. On the contrary, I am going to make sure he knows that he should keep his distance from Emily from now on.

I find Kyle inside Coffee Beans. His demeanor is calm and collected when he sees that I'm walking towards him.

“
May I speak with you outside,” I ask calmly.

“
Sure,” Kyle replies.

We step outside and he follows me to the alleyway on the side of the building. I swiftly turn on my heel and face him.

“
Stay away from my girlfriend.”

The arrogant bastard has the nerve to laugh.

“
That's it?”

I throw my fist which connects with his jaw. Kyle staggers a few steps backwards.

“
That was for kissing Emily when she clearly didn't want it.”

Kyle stands up straight and smirks.

“
From the way she kissed back, I doubt that she didn't want it.”

My hand grabs his shoulder and I throw a punch to his gut. Only, Kyle was able to right hook me seconds before. I hit him once more in the gut before backing away.

“
Leave her alone,” I tell Kyle's hunched over body.

Turning, I walk away. My schedule returns to normal. I wish I could go straight home after practice, but work calls. On the way to work, I
call Emily to see if Kyle has been around today.

“
No. I saw him earlier, though. His lip was busted.”

Emily waits for me to explain that it was I who gave him that busted lip. I'm not giving anything up.

“
Really? That's odd. Wonder what he got himself into.”

“
Jake,” Emily begins.

“
Sweetness, I'm at work now. I'll talk to you later. I love you.”

Emily sighs and I can't help but smile. “I love you too. Oh, and wipe that smile off of your face.”