CHAPTER 12—Olivia
It’s easy to tell the way Jake sees me has changed these past days. He looks at me now like a man would look at a woman.
I don’t know how to feel about it, but it makes me smile and my cheeks turn pink, which he of course teases me about.
It’s even evident in the way he opens the car door for me and waits to make sure I’m comfortable first before closing it.
No one has ever done these things for me, no one has ever made me feel wanted or needed like he does.
When he starts the car it brings me back to our predicament. Jake’s father invited us to his impromptu retirement party.
Jake must have seen my fidgeting hands on my lap because he reaches off and gives it a squeeze, “Don’t worry you’ll be fine, I’ll be by your side all evening”.
Somehow that calms my nerves and I flash him a smile. We drive off and hit the road when Jake puts on the radio to some country music.
I scowl at him before changing to a random station. I could endure anything but not country music for any reason. It reminded me of sometime long ago.
The memory is not entirely clear. All I remember is me sitting out on a porch while country music drifted around me.
Not even therapy could unlock that memory to explain further what happened in my life before the age of five.
I had tried several therapist hoping that in fact I did remember I would be able to find my parents.
Well until a certain someone drummed it into my ears that if my parents wanted me then I wouldn’t even have to look for them. They’d find me. Or wouldn’t have given me up at all.
The radio goes off completely and I realize that Jake stopped the car and was looking at me worried.
“I lost you there for a second, was it the music? I won’t put it on again” he caresses my cheek. I’ve never felt as vulnerable as I felt now.
I blink my eyes severally “It’s alright, I just really hate it.”
“Oh, for a moment I thought it triggered you” he sighs in relief before putting the car back in drive.
He wasn’t far from the truth, but I don’t comment on it.
“Remember don’t give out personal information, if you’re in a tight spot just ask whoever how their business is going?” he reminds me.
It’s very thoughtful of him, trying to protect me as much as he can from his family. But he’s wrong if there’s one I need protection from…it’s him and his green eyes.
When we get to his parent’s house my jaw almost drops on the ground. This has to be the biggest house I’ve ever seen.
The only house that beats Jess’s house hands down with the size alone. The exterior is white with Italian designs across the surface.
Immediately we step in his mother comes over to us, kissing both my cheeks in greeting like she wasn’t just judging me days ago across the table.
I plaster a smile and return the gesture “It’s nice to meet you again” I say to her, but she’s already turned to Jake and dragging him away.
Perfect! I just got here, and I’ve already being abandoned.
I wander around until I find where everyone is seated. It’s not until I see the name plates that I realize that there wasn’t a seat for me. Everyone is staring at me like I don’t belong here. I don’t.
“You can sit right next to me” Someone says, and I turn to a red head with a glass of wine in her hand.
“These functions are shit anyway, don’t take it personal” she says and gestures to the empty spot beside her.
I weigh my options, stay here and chat with red head or find a way home. The first is more appealing because I can’t even afford a cab.
She spares me a smile as I sit down and hands me a glass.
“The name’s Sharlene.”
“Olivia” I answer simply, and I see her eyes widen in recognition.
“Jake’s plaything?” There’s an edge to the way she says it and her brow is raised to dare me to say otherwise.
“Girlfriend” I correct smugly even though I felt anything but.
Sharlene laughs and I take a step back, it’s a beautiful sound coming from her.
“Not from what everyone has been saying” she replies, facing me completely.
That’s when I take in her short dress that has ridden up to her thighs and with the generous amount of bosom she was showing off.
She crosses her legs and makes it a struggle to take my gaze back to her face, “They can say whatever they want.”
Tapping her glass with the tip of her acrylic nails she regards me for a moment “There’s something about you.”
I don’t process how close she is to me until her words sends a shiver down my spine. She touches my shoulder and trails her fingers down my back.
Apparently wearing a show back gown didn’t go in my favor this evening.
She smiles when she sees my reaction to her touch as my lips part slightly, I can’t help it.
“If you’re so sure about your relationship with Jake then why don’t you tell him to leave my father alone” she says, and her flirty tone is gone.
“I don’t understand” I quickly look around for Jake and sure enough his eyes are already on me, and he looks like he’s in panic.
“See the man he’s standing with?” she cocks her head towards Jake and his father. I nod.
“That’s my father” she sips her wine.
I whip my head to her, “You’re siblings?”
She scoffs “God no”
I’m even more confused “But you have the same father?”
She laughs like I just said the most ludicrous thing ever, “That is not his father” she says but explains further when she sees my expression “Jake and his mother forced their way into our lives.”
“So you’re saying that’s not his biological father?” I ask.
“Ever wonder why there is no resemblance?” she refills her glass.
It’s only when she says it that I see it. Jake looks nothing like his father but when I look back at the red head beside me it’s undeniable that the man is her father. Same hazel eyes.
“Why are you telling me all of this?” I ask her, suspicion rising.
“I don’t know what he told you to make you agree to be here with him but…” her eyes are sharp and accusing when the stare me down “Get yourself out the game, you don’t know who he is.”
I laugh. It couldn’t be sweet Jake that she was talking about.
“You don’t believe me, do you?” I don’t need to answer because she knows it all.
“I don’t know what’s going on in your family, but I don’t want any part in it” I say.
She laughs at that, and I capture the sound and lock it somewhere in my heart.
“Considering you’re getting married into the family you don’t care at all? or maybe this whole thing is a faux and you’ll leave the moment shit hits the fan. Because trust me it will…soon.”
Two can play this game. “And what if it is?” she raises her brow, so I elaborate. “Let’s say this whole thing is a facade like you said, will you run into the sunset with me then?
For the first time this night Sharlene looks like she lost control even if it was for a few seconds, “What are you playing at?”
“Just want to know if I can drop your brother for you, you’re quite easy on the eyes,” the last part is a lie.
She’s not easy on the eyes, she’s drop dead gorgeous and exactly the kind of girl I’ll take home on the first date.
There are no more words said between us and I hate that I don’t know what is going on in her head.
There’s a tap on a mic and I turn to the makeshift stage where Jake and his father is standing on.
His father starts a speech and I zone out until I hear him say “My son Jake here has a special announcement.”
The crowd claps and Jake steps forward mic in hand. He taps it just like his father did and greets the audience.
Next thing he’s telling a story of a beautiful girl with black eyes and curls whom he met at the gym. He goes on telling how he immediately knew she was the one for him.
He says it all looking at me and I know then that the world is unfair. His eyes are raw and vulnerable, conveying the emotion behind every word he spoke.
The problem?
I believe it all, every single word that came out of his mouth even when I knew better than the audience he was feeding the lies to.
I let myself pretend that I’m really the woman he’s talking about. That I worked out at an elite gym and plan on starting my own business.
I pretend it all so much that when Jake calls me to the stage I’m all smiles and excited for his proposal.
When he pops the question I jump in surprise as he got on one knee. I yell yes and let him put the ring on my finger.
At this moment when he kisses me I pretend to be a girl who loved boys and not one that would convulse at the mere stare of a man.
“That was incredible” Jake says into my ear as everyone toasts to our engagement.
I nod because if I said one word he would know the thoughts going on in my head. That a part of me wanted what happened now to be truth.
My smile is a sad one until they meet Sharlene’s eyes when she comes to congratulate me, There’s amusement there and she pulls me into a hug and subtly licks the back of my ear without anyone noticing.
“Congratulations brother” She says to Jake and her voice was so sweet that it felt like I imagined all she said about Jake and his father.
Just before she’s out of sight she winks at me, and I keep thinking about it till we get home and I collapse in Jake’s warm arms from exhaustion.