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,

“I want to make it up

I really do. Winnie is a klutz

2/13

fingers.

to help

unnecessary.” I don’t want another

to visit the

fighting it!

to stone when Winnie determinedly

beside me. She is much shorter than me,

adorable, and my heart flutters at the sight of

It’s frustrating.

try to turn the other way, but I’m

  1. Have there ever been a more tortured

man?

stay mad at someone who makes your heart sing oudly in your chest. Simply looking

4/12

I sigh when she grabs a knife

has she survived this far? Those bangs make her half-blind, and if Winnie doesn’t put up her hair, the chances of her cutting herself

a scrunchie around your arm or something?”

she beams up at me, all dazzling teeth and annoyingly cute freckles. My heart clenches, but I ignore that feeling.

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

She blinks up

this once. “It’s what you

behind Winnie and

up. I’m mad at

surprised you’ve made it this far in

life.”

that clumsy!”

you ran into

second year of high school

so excited showing around the new kid?

tip of her ears

was a one-time

shit happens…’

school 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

emergency.”

are you remembering these

6/12

things?!”

snort, and Winnie turns tense when

long blonde hair

telling me to hug the

me whenever I’m

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

god!” Winnie exclaims. “I didn’t think anyone saw me! I was on my way to the vending machine!”

laugh. “I was heading there too and saw the whole spectacle. Kinda wish I had filmed the entire thing. It

want to touch her all over, see where else she can blush.

Chapter 48

I have to look away by force.

find more things to admire about her appearance, which is not good. I’m supposed to be mad

count the freckles on her nose.

hands me a shy smile.

for me before.”

and nod at the

cut up the salad and

in a bowl.”

“Yes, sir!”

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