“You’re his sister? Can you get me his number? I’ll give you a hundred bucks!”
“He’s not dating anyone till he’s thirty,” I lied.
<
They backed off a bit, but kept flirting. Later,
they returned, dejected. “Your brother is so
cold! He barely speaks!”
I tried to sound nonchalant. “He’s pretty nice to
me.”
“Well, yeah, you’re his sister.”
“I’m not his sister. I’m…” I turned to find Jake
standing behind me, a smirk on his face. I
clammed up, pretending to study. My heart
pounded. He stood beside me.
“Why are you writing math formulas in your
English notebook?”
“Mind your own business,” I mumbled.
- 29.
Night fell, the shop quieted, the wind chimes
tinkling. I watched his reflection in the glass,
nominun to look dirontly at him
Whan tha
too nervous to look directly at him. When the
last customer left, I took a deep breath.
“Jake,” I said, “can I ask you something?”
“Shoot.”
“What kind of girls do you like?”
“Haven’t really thought about it. Someone I click with.”
I stared into his eyes, blushing, pushing my luck. “Do you…click with me? Even a little?”
He laughed. “You’re in high school. You even
know what love is?”
“Yes! Of course!”
“And who was telling everyone I wasn’t dating
till I was thirty?”
<
“I didn’t want anyone to steal you!” I whispered.
“Focus on your studies. If you don’t, you’re not allowed back here.”
“You’re such a fuddy–duddy,” I muttered, packing my bag. Tears welled up.
His face softened. He handed me a tissue. “Don’t cry. We’ll talk after you graduate, okay?”
- 30.
Fueled by his words, I threw myself into my studies. The moment I got my college acceptance letter, I rushed to “Old Harbor.”
That night, we had a barbecue on his rooftop. He wouldn’t let me drink, but I insisted, needing liquid courage for my second confession.
“Jake,” I said, “if you don’t become my
boyfriend. some colleae auv is going to steal
<
- me. Aren’t you worried?”
He stubbed out his cigarette. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“So…do you like me or not?”
He pulled me onto his lap. “Are you sure about this?” he asked, his voice low. “You’re going to college. You want a long–distance relationship?”
I’d been in love with him for years. “I don’t care.
I want you.”
He nuzzled my shoulder, chuckling. “Your ears are so red. Cute.”
“Stop it,” I mumbled. “So…is that a yes?”
He kissed me softly. “Yes.”
I’ll never forget that kiss, that night, those stars.
<
We took our first photo together.
- 31.
That summer was pure bliss. We watched sunsets from “Old Harbor,” hunted for old movies, drove to the beach, him carrying me through the waves. Sweet watermelon, the endless drone of cicadas, and Jake’s gentle presence it was a perfect summer.
–
I was prepared to travel back to see him in college. But I didn’t have to. He drove to see me. We saw each other several times a month. He was always there for important events. I loved being in his arms, feeling safe and warm. He took me on trips during breaks.
My friends had initially thought he looked like a player. Now, they called him the perfect boyfriend. Once, I got sick and ended up in the hospital in the middle of the night. He drove for hours to be with me, arriving exhausted, his
<
eyes bloodshot, but refusing to leave my side.
My dad finally found out about us. He was wary
of Jake’s tattoos and his…aura. But after they
talked, Dad never objected again. He even apologized for slapping me years ago, saying he’d done it for show, to protect me from my stepmom.
Jake got a tattoo on his chest
–
a beautiful,
intricate bow with my name woven through it. I
got a matching arrow, one he designed, symbolizing how I’d “pierced his heart.”
My Jake. He was the best. But…I hated that “but.”
- 32.
My senior year of college, my birthday fell on a weekday. I had an internship. Jake drove all the way from C City to see me. He waited for me outside my dorm, wearing a black coat and the
<
