Chapter 48

Jake I’m not a very talkative person… or well. I talk easily to those close to me, and then I act reserved toward newcomers. I’ve always been like this, even from a young age. This made it hard for me to make friends as a kid, but I was never bothered by that.

Winnie, my childhood friend and old neighbor, made me feel seen throughout my childhood.

Instead of ignoring me like everyone else did, Winnie included me in everything. We were partners in crime, and I fell for her because she always smiled and made my day better.

This is why Winnie has been on my brain for the past twenty-two years. People claim kids can’t fall in love and don’t know what those emotions are, but trust me when I say that I’ve loved Winnie for years. She has always been the one, but I’m starting to believe she doesn’t deserve me.

In the end, I never mattered as much to her as she did to me…

I try to push that feeling aside and focus on the tacos I’m making. I chop some vegetables and put some meat on the stove.

Winnie is sitting by the table, glancing at me whenever she thinks I’m not noticing it. Now that I’ve voiced my thoughts to her, she suddenly sees me, but karma is a bitch because I wasn’t born yesterday. It will take miracle for me to regain my interest in 1.

Vell…

ou don’t get over someone you’ve liked for ears in a day, but I’m certainly chillier ward her now. I asked Winnie to do rands with me because I was too chicken it to ask her out on a date. And what does she do? Break my freaking heart.

I’m still hurting….

However, she bought me the cookies we used to steal from the cupboard as kids, so my heart isn’t entirely frozen over. I’m also a nice guy, so it’s not like I won’t be her friend.

“Jake?” Winnie asks in a low voice.

I don’t look at her from where I’m standing by the counter. My sole focus is on the cucumbers that I’m chopping for our tacos. ” Mhm?”

“I’m an asshole.”

I almost smile. Almost. “Yes, you are.”

“I really hurt you, Jake, and…” Winnie is now getting up from her seat. “I want to make it up to you, so I will start by helping you chop vegetables. It’s the least I can do.”

‘I got this.” I really do. Winnie is a klutz and would probably end up cutting her own fingers.

“I want to help you.”

“That’s unnecessary.” I don’t want another reason to visit the hospital.

“Stop fighting it! I’m helping!”

I turn to stone when Winnie determinedly walks up to stand beside me. She is much shorter than me, head around my chest.

level. She is stinking adorable, and my heart flutters at the sight of her.

It’s frustrating.

My hands are itching to touch Winnie, but I can’t. I shouldn’t. I try to turn the other way, but I’m drawn in by her beautiful eyes. Fuck 1. Have there ever been a more tortured man?

Winnie is gorgeous, and it’s hard to stay mad at someone who makes your heart sing oudly in your chest. Simply looking at her nakes me start to forget my anger. Her blonde hair is a mess around her head, and I sigh when she grabs a knife without putting up her hair.

How has she survived this far? Those bangs make her half-blind, and if Winnie doesn’t put up her hair, the chances of her cutting herself are scarily high…

“Do you have a scrunchie around your arm or something?” I ask.

“Nope,” she beams up at me, all dazzling teeth and annoyingly cute freckles. My heart clenches, but I ignore that feeling. “But I don’t need one. Just tell me what you need help with!”

I roll my eyes at her. Winnie is definitely living a dangerous life, and I open a drawer to take out a rubber band. “First off, you need to put up your hair. I don’t want you slicing up your fingers, Mrs. Klutz.”

“Mrs. Klutz?” She blinks up at me.

I smile, just this once. “It’s what you are,” I step behind Winnie and mash down the instinct to pick her up. I’m mad at her, damn “I’m surprised you’ve made it this far in life.”

“I’m not that clumsy!”

“Remember when you ran into a pole in your second year of high school because you were so excited showing around the new kid?

The tip of her ears turns red, and she mumbles. “That was a one-time mistake…

shit happens…’

“You also fell on your ass like once a week on your way to school in the past. Pretty sure that’s why you started to hold on to my arm. ” I smile at the memory. It’s a fond one. And you picked me, not Mark, because according to you, I was heavier with a bigger chance of stopping your fall in case of an emergency.”

She gasps. “How are you remembering these things?!”

I snort, and Winnie turns tense when I gather her long blonde hair in my hands. It smells like fruity shampoo, and I have to fight every instinct telling me to hug the shit out of her. I’m not a cuddler, but my brain betrays me whenever I’m next to Winnie.

I distract myself by talking. “I just do… I also remember how you slipped and fell on your ass earlier today at the hospital.”

“Oh my god!” Winnie exclaims. “I didn’t think anyone saw me! I was on my way to the vending machine!”

I laugh. “I was heading there too and saw the whole spectacle. Kinda wish I had filmed the entire thing. It was funny.”

Her face turns redder, and I swallow uncomfortably. I want to touch her all over, see where else she can blush. Just inhaling the scent of her hair fills me with hunger, and when I’ve finished making her a ponytail, I have to look away by force.

Whenever I look at Winnie, I find more things to admire about her appearance, which is not good. I’m supposed to be mad at her, not count the freckles on her nose.

“Thank you for setting up my hair,” Winnie hands me a shy smile. “I’ve never had a guy do that for me before.”

“You’re welcome…” I mutter and nod at the lettuce. “You can cut up the salad and put it in a bowl.”

“Yes, sir!”

We finish making the food and eat in silence. Mark doesn’t join us. He said something about an appointment somewhere. Our mom’s accident shook us both. But Mark is more messed up than me, and I think he is trying to find someone to talk about it with.

“What is your favorite color?” Winnie suddenly asks.

I feel a twinge of curiosity and look up from my plate. “Are you trying to get to know me after twenty-two years?”

Guilt pierces Winnie’s features. Good. It pleases me that she has something of a consciousness.

“I’m sorry… you probably hate me for not paying enough attention to you and memorizing things, and I know I deserve that, but… I’m at least trying to make amends.”

“I don’t hate you,” I’m genuinely confused why she would think that, and I frown at her. “Why would you think I hate you?”

“Because of the way I’ve treated you?”

I sigh and pick up another taco shell. “Hate is a strong word. You’ve acted like a dick toward me, but that doesn’t mean I hate you. We are still friends, though that’s only because you bought me cookies.”

I’m planning on eating all of those cookies after dinner. I should be thinking about my form, but fuck it.

Bulking season is coming soon, anyway. It’s time to lose my abs, get big like a bear, and cut it later to get bigger. Cutting your body is hard, but I love bulking season. I can ALMOST eat whatever I like.

“I had almost forgotten what a sweet tooth you are…” Winnie stares down at the table.

I drink more water and decide it can’t hurt to converse with her. “There is a reason why I love baking so much. Eating whatever I make is the whole point. My cookie dough? It’s the best thing ever.”

“Oh, yeah,” she is grinning now. “Your cookie dough mixture is to die for. It’s almost sad it needs to be turned into cookies.

“I can make some without baking powder if you like?” I have nothing else to do today, so why not?

Winnie hums and pats her stomach thoughtfully. “It would be nice to eat that dough, but I don’t know if I should. I’m stuffed…”

“I see,” I rise from the table with my empty plate. “Well, I suppose you can head home then-”

Her eyes widen, and I see something resembling panic washing over her features before she speaks up.

“Now that I think about it, perhaps I should stay. That cookie dough sounds really tasty!”

Winnie couldn’t be more obvious if she tried.

She seems scared we won’t make up if she leaves my mom’s house.

I sigh heavily. “I don’t hate you, Winnie. I told you this already, and it’s fine if you leave. I won’t hold a grudge.”

“I’m staying,” her large eyes meet mine. Am I worried that things will just turn chillier between us if I leave? Yes. But I’m staying mainly because the kitchen is messy, and I would love to help you clean it up. Since you cooked me dinner.”

“Oh,” she is definitely lying about why she is staying around, but fine, two can play the same game then.

I smirk to myself. “Then how about I leave you to clean the kitchen while I shower? You can just leave after you’re done. I will bring the cookie dough to your parent’s house later and leave it by the door. That’s fine, right?”

To my surprise, Winnie doesn’t object. She looks a bit sad but then plasters on a smile.” I will make the kitchen sparkling clean!”

“Alright,” I say and head out of the kitchen. ”

Good luck.”