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.”

almost smile. Almost. “Yes, you

hurt you, Jake, and…” Winnie is now getting up from her seat. “I want to make it up to you, so I will start by helping you chop vegetables.

a klutz and would probably end up

2/13

fingers.

to help you.”

unnecessary.” I don’t want another

visit the

it! I’m

to stone

to stand beside me. She is much shorter than me, head around

heart flutters at the

It’s frustrating.

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

  1. Have there ever been a more tortured

man?

to stay mad at someone who makes your heart sing oudly in your chest. Simply looking at her nakes me start

4/12

sigh when she grabs a knife without putting up her

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

scrunchie around your arm or something?” I

My heart clenches, but I ignore that feeling. “But I don’t need one. Just tell

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

Klutz?” She blinks up

just this once. “It’s

and mash down

pick her up. I’m mad at her,

it this far in

life.”

that clumsy!”

ran into

second year of high school

showing around the new kid?

her ears turns red, and she

“That was a one-time

shit happens…’

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

emergency.”

are you remembering

6/12

things?!”

and Winnie turns tense when I

her long blonde hair in my hands.

every instinct telling me to hug the shit out of her.

me whenever I’m next

do… I also remember how you slipped

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

whole spectacle. Kinda wish I had filmed the entire thing. It was funny.”

I want to touch her all over, see where else she can blush. Just inhaling the scent of her hair fills me with hunger, and when I’ve finished

Chapter 48

I have to look away

look at Winnie, I find more things to admire about her appearance, which

count the freckles on her nose.

hair,” Winnie hands me a

that for

mutter and nod

up the

in a bowl.”

“Yes, sir!”

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255