Chapter 10

I glance away shyly as he unlocks the door, letting in an irate receptionist. She looks from him to me and back again before turning cherry red and making excuses to disappear. Jake watches her go but leaves the door standing ajar; neither of us has the energy for this anymore. He puts his hands in his pockets, and his shoulders hunch like he’s been deflated. Instead of making him look more vulnerable, all it does is make him look so much stronger and much more male. A pang in my chest hits hard, almost winding me.

“I’d probably deserve it,” he says, shrugging and looking me up and down. I can’t read anything on his face, only that he’s no longer angry. “Don’t go, Emma. Please.” He sounds so sincere. It’s so unexpected that it causes a lump to catch in my throat.

“I haven’t decided on anything, Jake. I need space to think, not you charging in here yelling at me and ordering me around. I need time to figure things out,” I respond firmly, watching him, aching for him.