Chapter 57

Winnie I didn’t wake up on earth today; I woke up in heaven. Jake is snoring lightly behind me, and his muscular arms are around me. He is warm in the cold room, the perfect furnace.

My hand squeezes his enormous forearm that is crossed over my chest. He is holding me like I’m precious. A smile spreads over my lips, but it disappears when I hear banging on my bedroom door.

“Jake?!”

Its Mark.

“Go .I’m Jake growls at his brother, and when I jump in fright at his voice, it only makes him pull me back so that his naked chest turns into a hard wall behind “I wouldn’t fucking think so…” he mutters behind me in a voice that seems deeper in the morning.

“You’re staying with me. I’ve waited way too long for this-”

“Oh… is Winnie with you?” Mark still hasn’t left. “That’s good. I was worried about her-

“YES, Winnie is in here!” Jake interrupts, irritated with his brother. “Now, leave already! We are trying to fucking sleep!”

Loud giggles escape from my mouth. ” Trying to sleep?” My lips won’t stop twitching from my amusement. “How am I supposed to sleep when you’re yelling like that?”

Jake breathes a laugh and stretches until his lips are on my neck, nipping at the skin there. “I’m sorry…

Butterflies swarm my stomach when I receive countless kisses from the big man behind me. Part of me can’t believe I’m sharing a bed with Jake. My childhood friend, and honestly, perhaps my best friend?

My insides warm at that thought.

Jake has always had my back, and I’m starting to realize I like him. Not like like, but I REALLY like him, and that’s scaring Here is a man who got everything put together. Jake has a career, a big flat, eats healthily, has a body to prove it, and is an athlete superstar. Jake is a proper adult while I’m driving my mother’s old car.

Sigh, the hot guy who is busy making hickeys on my neck is out of my league. That much is clear.

Whatever this is, it might end in a big disaster.

Or it won’t?

Either way, I like to think there is a chance for us.

I have years of studying before becoming an attorney, but maybe Jake won’t mind the distance between our towns? Or that I’m not rich enough to pay for plane tickets.

My stomach plummets.

“Jake?” I ask while enjoying his big hand massaging my breasts. He is gentle yet confident in the way he touches me. It speaks of a man who knows I love his touch.

“Mhm?”

“I’m overthinking and don’t know what to do-how do I stop?”

He laughs, amused, and those arms of his hug me closer. “What are you overthinking about?”

It’s not or never, and I choke out the words. ” I want to ask you out…”

He is silent for a while but keeps stroking me. When he doe speak, he sounds playful and happy. “I’m failing to see the problem… why won’t you just ask me out?”

There is an amused chuckle, and my face heats to a billion degrees. I didn’t explain things properly. So I try again. “Asking you out isn’t the hard part… I’m… how do we… how do we make it work? Dating each other would be nice, but,” I snort. “I can’t even buy plane tickets…”

“Winnie.” Jake’s rumbling voice has become commanding, silencing me as he continues to stroke a lazy thumb over my naked breast. “I don’t want to overstep or anything; if I do, I want you to tell me. But I’m not expecting you to pay for shit if you date me. Don’t think I’m unaware we’re at different points in our lives. You’re studying. I get that. But I’m in a position to comfortably spoil my special someone, so when you’re with me, I’m spoiling you. Be it food, drinks, plane tickets, or whatever you need, I will take care of it. End of the story.”

Oh my god. I’m all for equality and all that, but this man? I could just, no, I fucking should!

I turn around and sit up on my knees. Jake peers up at me, curious about what I might be up to. Then, when I attack his lips and lock my legs on either side of his broad chest, he chuckles into my mouth.

It gets muffled by my hungry mouth, though, and his eyes twinkle when we break from each other. “You like that idea that much, huh?”

“Yes, because it means I can see you more often.”

His eyes soften, and my ovaries can’t take the sweet smile breaking over his lips. I kiss him again, harder this time. I’m unsure what Jake is doing to me, but it feels like I’m melting under his touch.

I love him to bits.

***

Three days later, I’m back to reality, and I already miss Jake. I spent three days with him, and it wasn’t enough.

We ate fancy breakfasts that Jake put together. We tested wine and pretended we were fancy at Tobias’s hotel. We watched movies but kissed instead of following the plot.

I still can’t take my hands off of that guy…

He is just so ripped.

Huge.

Big.

How did I get lucky?

Jake also bought me new clothes and insisted it was for his sake, and then we ended up on the first page of a sports magazine. Why? Because the guy is refusing to understand he is famous. I’m now his mysterious love interest-some women hate me now.

“Winnie?”

I look up and meet the friendly smile of a girl from one of my classes. I’m sitting inside the college library even though I’m close to graduating and don’t need to study. I don’t know why, but I feel at peace here. I guess that’s why I come here so often.

“Dana, right?” I say.

“Yes,” her smile grows. She is pretty with legs for days and beautiful brown hair cascading down her head. “So, I’ve seen the newspaper with you and Jake Andersson in it.”

Jake doesn’t use Ford like Tobias since they don’t have the same father, but it’s still shocking to hear someone use Jake’s last name.

Mask, “What about it?” unsure where this conversation is heading.

“Well…” she pulls at her sleeves. “Everyone knows you were friends with the hockey guys, like REALLY good friends with them, and… these rumors about you dating Jake can’t be real,” she laughs a little at that.” But I was wondering if you could give me Jake’s number… Or Mark’s? If they are single, I would appreciate-”

“No,” I interrupt, unprepared for the venom in my voice. I’m jealous, something I’ve never been before, at least not to this extent, and I glare at the woman. “Jake and I are dating, and I won’t hand you his number.”

At first, Dana gapes at me, but then she laughs. “Oh wow, you’re actually serious? How did you manage that?” Her eyes lit up. ” Wait, don’t tell me you buttered him up for this? I mean, you didn’t date him before he became famous, so good job-making him love you before THAT happened was such a smart move.”

Smirking, Dana turns around, and my eyes stay glued to her back. Her words rubbed me the wrong way, and I can’t help the anxiety washing over me. I’m not a gold digger… right?

Certainly, Jake can’t think that…