The Girlfriend Request Page 12

After pulling the door open, surprise made me choke on a mouthful of water.

  Jake stood on the front step, his smile turning to alarm as I kept hacking in his face.

  “Are you okay?”

  I held up the water bottle, nodding my head and holding up the index finger on my other hand in the universal “just a second” signal.

  Jake gallantly reached behind me to thump my back a few times, rather than simply running to his car at the sight of my bulging eyes and the dribbles running down my chin.

  Clearing my throat after the coughing fit finally diminished, warmth crept up my neck as he watched me. “I’m fine. Thanks.” I choked out, looking at him curiously. “What are you doing here?”

  When he shifted uncomfortably on his feet, it occurred to me how rude that probably sounded. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just surprised to see you, that’s all.”

  He looked relieved. His face relaxed, and the warmth returned to his eyes. “I tried calling you a couple of times,” he said. “When I didn’t hear back, I guess I got worried that I did something wrong. I didn’t know if you were upset with me for…” He rocked back and forth on his feet, not quite facing me. “For kissing you the other night.” He cleared his throat and finally looked directly at me.

  “No, I’m not mad at you.” Brilliant, Em. I smiled, hoping he would realize I was glad he stopped by.

  He grinned. “Well, that’s a relief.” He glanced around, adjusting the baseball cap on his head. “Um, can I come in?”

  “What? Oh, sorry!” I stammered, embarrassed that I’d made him stand at the door like he was selling something. I waved him inside. “Sure, c’mon in.”

  Just as he began to step forward, I suddenly jerked my hand out to his chest, blocking him. “Wait! No. I don’t know if you should.”

  His eyes widened and his brows drew together.

  “It’s not that I don’t want you to come in, but my parents aren’t home. And I don’t know if they’d like finding a guy they never met here in the house with me when they get back,” I said, feeling ridiculous. Plus, I had to fight the impulse to look and see if Eli was anywhere in sight. If he saw Jake at my door, it would most likely only cause more problems between us.

  I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do, let alone what I wanted to do. A part of me felt a tiny rush seeing Jake again, knowing I mattered enough for him to stop by to see me. But another part felt guilty even having those feelings.

  He stepped back again. “Oh. Okay. Well, do you want to go for a drive? Or a walk? Would that be okay?”

  I’d worried that someone in college wouldn’t want to be bothered dealing with something as annoying as parental rules. I couldn’t help but be flattered that it didn’t seem to distract him from wanting to spend time with me.

  “Um…I can’t.” I said softly. Sighing, I went on. “After last time, my mom and dad said if I went out anywhere with you again, they wanted to meet you first.” I offered an embarrassed smile. “They were a little worried because they don’t know you, and you’re older than I am. It’s not that I don’t want to,” I rushed on. He was sure to give up and bolt now. After all, he was asking me to go for a walk, not for my hand in marriage.

  Smiling a little, he asked, “Well, do you think they’d be okay if we sit on the porch and talk?”

  Relief washed over me. Grinning, I nodded and motioned toward the front steps. “This okay? There’s not really anywhere else to sit.”

  “Works for me.” He walked to the top brick step and sat down, stretching his long legs out in front of him. He was dressed more casually than when we went out Saturday night, in a pair of athletic shorts and a black hoodie. Under the hat, his hair looked slightly damp.

  I joined him, making sure to leave several inches of space between us. Suddenly feeling awkward about what I was wearing, I tugged self-consciously at the hem of my T-shirt.

  “I’m a wreck. I obviously wasn’t expecting company.”

  “Why do girls always think they look bad when they’re dressed comfortably?”

  I shrugged, and fiddled with the strands falling loose from my ponytail.

  He sighed. “Emma, you look fine. Adorable, even. I like this look on you.” He tilted his head and smiled. “Don’t you get it? Most guys don’t give a shit about all the makeup and fancy outfits. We want to know what a girl’s face really looks like under the junk they paint on.” He touched my cheek, “And when it looks like this? That’s a good thing.” He paused, staring directly into my eyes. “A very good thing,” he said more softly.

  My skin tingled under his touch, and my mouth went dry, despite the water I’d just drank.

  He must have sensed my nervousness, because he dropped his hand. “To me, getting to know a person is kind of like getting a present. Sure, a pretty package looks nice, but I’m more interested in what’s inside. The wrapping being spectacular?” He shook his head a little, considering. “Well, that’s a very appreciated bonus.” He grinned, his teeth shining white in the fading light.

  I looked at him, trying to figure out if he was telling me the truth or if it was just some really good come-on line. He met my gaze, his deep blue eyes seeming to convey that he meant every word. I smiled again, whispers of excitement tickling me all over. It made me feel special, wanted, to have Jake looking at me like that…saying those things to me.

  I had to break eye contact before I did something stupid like jump on his lap. I took a quick sip of water and mumbled, “Sorry I didn’t call you back. Things have just been kind of…weird lately. I’ve had a lot on my mind.” I looked up again, trying to gauge his reaction.

  “Can I ask a question?”

  “Sure.”

  “The stuff on your mind, does it have to do with your neighbor? I take it he’s the guy you and Sarah were talking about. The one you like so much.” His jaw twitched slightly, his pulse visibly beating in his throat. “I mean, you don’t have to tell me or anything, I just wondered. But you can tell me it’s none of my business.”

  Dropping my head for a moment, I tried to figure out the best way to respond. Obviously, Eli was on my mind. But, so was Jake.

  “Yeah, he’s part of it.” I finally answered softly. “But”—I raised my eyes, took a deep breath, and looked right at him—“So are you.” I bit my lip, suddenly feeling like I needed to try to make him understand. “Maybe I should explain something,” I said.

  Jake sat very still, waiting for me to go on. His look was open, not judgmental.

  “You see, when my family moved here ten years ago, Eli was the first friend I made. And ever since then, we did everything together.”

  Jake’s eyes widened slightly, and I hurried on. “No, not that!” We both laughed as my cheeks turned pink. “I mean, we became best friends. From first grade, Eli was there for me no matter what.”

  Jake nodded.

  “We told each other secrets, and played together all the time. He stood up for me if kids at school picked on me.” I paused. “And eventually, I guess I began to build him up in my head to almost super-hero status.”

  The sky darkened around us, causing shadows from the street lamps flickering to life to fall across Jake’s face.

  “And you fell in love with him,” he finished quietly.

  I leaned back on both hands, looking out at the trees along the street. “I thought I did,” I admitted. “But lately, I’m sometimes not so sure if it’s love, or some kind of infatuation.” I shook my head. “I’m not saying he isn’t a great guy, because he is. He’s the best. It’s just…” I sighed. “Maybe it was more a young girl’s crush that I became so used to having, I didn’t look any deeper to question what I was really feeling. I’m not sure.” I peeked over.

  He was looking down at his sneakers. His face was hard to read between the night and the hat.

  “Are you mad?” I suddenly felt like maybe I shouldn’t have said all of that. Maybe I revealed too much. He probably didn’t want to hear about my relationship wit
h another guy. Or, maybe he was wondering why I explained so much, since whatever was going on between me and Eli didn’t really concern him. Maybe I’d read too much into his feelings, thought something was there that wasn’t.

  I peeled the label off my bottle while I waited for him to respond.

  He lifted his head to look at me before answering. “No, I’m not mad.” He shifted on the step, moving slightly closer. “Emma, when I agreed to go out with you, I didn’t expect anything, or any of this.” He motioned to me, then himself. “I mean, when I first saw you, I obviously thought you were pretty.”

  The blush that was becoming way too common when I was around him began to rise again.

  “But I wasn’t really looking to get involved with anyone right now. At all. I’m really trying to keep my grades up, so I don’t lose my scholarship.” He shook his head a little. “College is different than high school, let me tell you. There’s no one there to stay on your ass and make sure you’re getting to class and doing your work. It’s all up to you. And I really want to get into a good grad school in a few years, so I need to make sure not to let any of my grades slide.”

  He reached up to take his hat off, and ran his hand through his hair, messing it up a little. It made him look sexy all tousled.

  “I’ve barely dated this year at school,” he admitted. “But when I came over to pick you up, and saw you running out of the house all nervous,” he laughed a little, “I don’t know. Something happened. And the more we talked that night, I realized I wanted to get to know you even more. I wanted to be able to keep listening to your voice, your laugh.” He suddenly stopped short.

  Wow. No one had ever said anything like that to me before. It sounded like something from a movie.

  “But you leave to go back right after spring break is over. Maybe us hanging out really isn’t a good idea.” Even as I offered up the counter argument, I was afraid that he’d agree with me, because a part of me wanted to get to know him better too.

  “Well, school is only a little over an hour away. And I come back with Tony a lot since I live with my dad in New York. He’s a doctor, and he does those doctors without borders trips pretty often since I graduated from high school.” He messed with his hair again. “I mean, I still go back home to see him once in a while, but to tell the truth, we haven’t been as close since my mom died a few years ago. It hit him really hard, and I don’t think he ever let himself to get over it. To try to move on.”

  “Oh Jake, I’m so sorry.” I reached out and touched his hand. I couldn’t imagine losing my mom, and rarely seeing my dad.

  “No, it’s okay. As awful as it sounds, it was better that she passed. She was in a lot of pain near the end.” He swallowed visibly. “She had bone cancer. She was really great, though. I was lucky to have her as long as I did.” His voice sounded hoarse. He cleared his throat, then went on, softly, “I think she really would have liked you.”

  I tightened my hold on his hand. “She sounds like she was an amazing person.”

  He dipped his head. “Yeah, she was.”

  A few minutes passed, neither of us saying a word. The street was quiet, with only an occasional car driving by.

  “My parents will probably be home soon,” I finally said, not really wanting to cut our time together short, but knowing it was probably a good idea to go inside before they got back.

  “I guess I should go.” He looked at my face, and I could almost feel his eyes tracing each feature—my eyes, my cheekbones, my lips. Finally he dropped his gaze down to where my hand still covered his. “Can we go out again? Maybe tomorrow?” His voice seemed hesitant, as if he still wasn’t sure how I felt about the idea.

  “I’d like that.”

  His head shot up again, his expression boyishly pleased. “Okay, great. What would you like to do? We could see a movie, or maybe play a round of miniature golf?”

  “Mini-golf isn’t open yet, but a movie sounds good.” I smiled, a rush of excitement shooting through me. I had been asked out, on an official date.

  “How about I pick you up about 6:30? That’ll give us time to get there for the early show. We won’t be out late that way, since I wasn’t sure how your parents are about you going out on a school night.”

  “Actually, tomorrow we only have a half-day, then our spring break starts too.”

  “Oh! Well, that’s even better. Maybe we can do something ahead of time in the afternoon.” He sounded happy. “If you want to, that is.”

  “How about I’ll text you when I get home, see if my mom has anything planned after school. Plus, it will give me a chance to tell them we’re going out again.”

  He turned his hand over so our palms touched. His fingers laced between each of mine. I swallowed. It was the first time a boy had held my hand, other than Eli. And somehow with Jake, it felt different. Tiny sparks traveled from each of his fingers to mine.

  “I’m really glad we’re going out again.”

  “Me too,” I whispered.

  He stood up, still not releasing his hold on my hand. We stood facing each other, hands clasped. I was a little dizzy, standing close enough to feel his breath on my face. I was acutely aware of each of his fingers between mine, the feel of his palm pressing against my own, like my senses were hyperaware.

  An image of the rose left on the front step crossed my mind. It had to be from him. Just as I was about to ask if he had left it for me, a car passed, and the driver blew the horn. A voice catcalled out the window, “Woo-hoooo!”

  I blushed, and he chuckled. “I guess that’s my cue to go.” He squeezed my hand gently before dropping his hold. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I echoed. I’d ask him then.

  “Goodnight, Emma.”

  “Night.”

  He walked down the steps. When he reached the bottom, he turned back to face me. “Go in and lock up before I go. I want to make sure you get in okay since your parents aren’t home yet.”

  Something in my heart melted a little when he said that.

  I smiled at him. “I’ll be fine.”

  “I know. Just humor me.”

  Laughing, I opened the door and stepped onto the threshold. “See? I’m good.”

  He laughed too. “Yes you are.” Winking, he hopped in his car. Before he backed out, he sat, waiting for me to go inside first.

  Shaking my head and smiling, I waved and began to close the door. Jake smiled wide and waved back.

  “Sweet dreams!” he called out.

  I couldn’t help but grin. Closing the door, I turned the lock before peeking out the thin pane of glass beside the door. His taillights glowed red as he pulled into the street.

  Giggling to myself, I whispered, “I have a date.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Emma

  “I can’t believe you’re going out with him. This is so awesome.” Sarah stuffed the last of a chicken wrap into her mouth and chewed, her head bouncing with each rigorous movement of her jaw. She wiped her mouth with one of the scratchy paper napkins the school so generously provided for the students. “I mean, after how long you’ve been mooning after Eli—”

  “I wasn’t mooning after him!”

  Sarah rolled her eyes. “Well, whatever it makes you feel better to call it.” Shoving the napkin in her now-empty milk carton, she glanced a few tables over to where Eli sat with some of his soccer buddies. “I mean, the last one with Jake wasn’t exactly official, but this? This is a real date.” She nodded. “But what about him?” Sarah jerked her head in Eli’s direction.

  I peeked over toward him too. He was half-turned on the seat, facing his friend, Kevin. There was no way to hear what he was talking about since they were too far away. Kevin was laughing at something. I wondered if it had to do with me.

  Eli hadn’t talked to me all morning. It was like we were taking turns playing hide and seek from each other. I hated it.

  Sighing, I shook my head. “I have no idea. I feel like I sho
uld try to explain things to him, maybe make him understand?”

  Sarah leaned back slightly and stared at me. “Em, it seems like you’ve done nothing but try to make Eli do one thing or another for weeks now. Maybe instead, it’s time you realized there are some things that aren’t in your power. And if you try to push too hard, something is going to slam you in the face.” She stood, picking her tray up from the table, and raised her eyebrow in silent question.

  “I’m coming.” I got up and followed her bright T-shirt through the throngs of shoving students headed to drop their trays off before the bell rang. As I passed Eli’s table, my eyes pulled in his direction.

  He sat completely still, as though he knew I was there and didn’t want to acknowledge my presence. His Flyers jersey had a blob of mustard on the front, which ridiculously caught my attention.

  Biting my lip, I considered what to do. I could continue on my way and pass by without saying anything, since it was obvious he didn’t want to speak to me. Or, I could confront him, beg him to talk if it came to that.

  My hands tightened around the edges of the brown plastic tray. Pressing my lips together, I took a step in his direction, then stopped. Kevin spotted me and nudged Eli. When he looked up, our eyes met for one never-ending second, until he dropped his gaze, choosing to stare at his bottle of green tea instead of acknowledge me.

  Straightening my shoulders, chin held high, I continued on my path to his table. As I approached, I cleared my throat. Kevin snickered. I gave him a clear “drop dead” look before tapping Eli on the shoulder.

  He may be upset, but he wasn’t the type to be flat-out rude. Turning his head, he once again looked at me, his eyes a kaleidoscope of color and emotion. “Hey,” was all he offered.

  “Hey.” My voice shook a little. “I was wondering if we could talk.”

  Eli glanced around his table, then at the large white clock on the far wall. “The bell’s going to ring any minute.”

  Shaking my head, I corrected, “No, I didn’t mean now. Can we talk after school?” When he didn’t answer, I continued, more softly, “Please, Eli?”