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

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

19

Chapter 48

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.”

smile. Almost. “Yes, you

want to make it up to

really do. Winnie is a klutz

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fingers.

to help you.”

unnecessary.” I don’t

to visit the

fighting it! I’m helping!”

turn to stone when

stand beside me. She is much shorter than

heart flutters at the sight of her.

It’s frustrating.

Winnie, but I can’t. I shouldn’t. I try to turn the other way,

  1. Have there ever been a more tortured

man?

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

4/12

around her head, and I sigh when she

Winnie doesn’t put up her hair, the chances of her cutting herself

a scrunchie around your arm or something?” I ask.

cute freckles. My heart clenches, but I

at her. Winnie is definitely living a dangerous life, and I open a drawer to take out a rubber band. “First off,

She blinks up

just this once. “It’s

behind Winnie and

her up. I’m mad at

made it this far in

life.”

not that clumsy!”

into a pole

year of high school because

showing around the new

her ears turns

a one-time

shit happens…’

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

emergency.”

“How are you remembering

6/12

things?!”

turns tense

her long blonde hair in my

fight every instinct telling me to hug the shit out of her. I’m not a cuddler, but

whenever I’m next

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

exclaims. “I didn’t think anyone saw me! I

laugh. “I was heading there too and saw the whole spectacle. Kinda wish I

I swallow uncomfortably. I want to touch her all over, see where else she can blush. Just inhaling the

Chapter 48

have to look away

admire about her appearance, which is not good.

count the freckles on her

Winnie hands me a shy smile. “I’ve never had

that for

mutter and nod at

cut up the

in a bowl.”

“Yes, sir!”

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