Imperfect Love (21 page)

Holly waved at Amelia, who’d taken Holly’s spot next to her dad.

Jake honked before the car disappeared out the gates. She turned, keeping her gaze on his family until she couldn’t see their house anymore.

“You are blessed, you know that?” she whispered.

“To have such a beautiful girl at my side? I know.”

“No, not that, but thanks. I’m talking about your family.”

“Yeah, they’re not too bad, I guess.”

Holly shook her head gently, but smiled at him regardless.

“Well, you are.”

“I know. They absolutely adore you, you know.”

“They do?”

“Please. You think my mom has ever treated any of my girlfriends the way she treated you?”

“She didn’t?”

“Heck, no. She didn’t even like Mel. She just pretended she did. Believe me, I know when that woman pretends, and she’s totally herself when you are around.”

“How many girlfriends are we talking about?”

He chuckled. “Holly, not that many. Actually, I can count them on one hand. Only two girls met my parents, and you are one of them.”

“Really?”

“Of course. What did you think? That I took every stranger I came across to meet my parents?”

“Some do.”

“Well, I’m not some. I’m just Jake.”

Holly grinned broadly. “That you are.” Becoming serious, she asked, “You scared about tomorrow?”

“No,” he said, an underlying chuckle evident in his voice.

“Then why all of a sudden do you need to revise your work?”

“Oh, I don’t want to revise a damn thing. It was the only way I could get you all to myself.”

“Sneaky! But, really?”

“Yes. I need quality time, Holly. Not quantity.”

Jake parked when they arrived at the county park and took out a blanket and a book from his trunk.

“You read?” she teased him.

“Ha-ha,” he kicked her, playfully, and walked hand in hand toward the lake.

Now that she knew he didn’t want to revise for tomorrow’s test, she felt herself relax, glad that she would spend at least another eight hours with him before she had to say goodbye.

They looked around for the biggest oak tree they could find, closest to the lake, and after deciding they’d picked the right one, Jake spread the blanket beneath it. Making themselves comfortable, Holly laid her head on his stomach as he read William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to her. She never could understand what Shakespeare had meant by
‘But soft! what light through yonder window breaks?’
phrases, but the way Jake spoke every word it almost made her want to cry.

When the sun began to set, it was decided that they should pack up and go back to his place.

During the journey, Holly made small talk. “I didn’t know you loved Shakespeare.”

“I do, but don’t tell anyone. I don’t want to have to kill you.”

Holly smiled at him.

“You wouldn’t know what to do with yourself without me.”

“That is true,” he replied, kissing every knuckle on her hand softly.

Pulling up at his house, Jake parked the car, and shortly thereafter they made quick work of getting to his room. As soon as they were inside, clothes seemingly disappeared. They were like rabbits; couldn’t get enough of each other. When they collapsed afterward, wrapped in each other’s arms, Holly remembered Mara’s request.

“Jake…” She didn’t have a clue as to how she was going to explain this one to him. But it was her body, and although she would have loved to have kids before the age of thirty, she had to keep her promise to Mara.

“Yes, Bee Puke?” he replied in a tired voice.

“I really think I need to go on something.” She leaned on one arm and looked down at his face.

His eyes flew open. “What do you mean… like the pill?”

Holly didn’t like the serious tone in his voice, but forged ahead anyway. “Yes, we hump like rabbits. I can’t get pregnant, not now.”

“Holly.” He sighed, looking at her. “No.” He pushed himself up on the bed, flung his legs out and when his feet hit the floor, sat with his back to her.

“What do you mean, no?”

He faced her. “I really won’t mind if you get pregnant.”

That took her by surprise. “Well, I would,” she lied.

“Listen, your sister died of cancer. I just don’t think you should be exposed to the extra hormones. There’s a lot we don’t understand, like what causes cancer.” He was adamant, yet it was something Holly didn’t understand one bit.

“But, Jake. I can’t get pregnant, not now,” she repeated. “So, whether you like it or not, I’m going on the pill.”

“Then why the hell did you tell me?”

She couldn’t believe this, they were going to have their first fight over the pill. Usually, roles were reversed, but she couldn’t break his mother’s trust, not after he’d told her that Mara really liked her.

“Gee, I don’t know. Because, maybe, just maybe I really don’t want to do anything behind your back!” she yelled as she got up, grabbing her clothes and stomping to the bathroom. She locked the door behind her, leaned against it, and took in huge breaths.

She couldn’t believe how mentioning the pill had turned out. Brandon had begged her at one stage to go on the pill. Men were typically the ones to suggest it. She had never expected this kind of reaction from Jake. And if she were honest, she never knew what she was going to get with Jake, but never in a million years had she expected him to be so totally against it. He’d reacted almost like she was a child, one who wanted a really expensive doll for Christmas, and he’d said no.

A SOFT KNOCK ON THE BATHROOM DOOR DREW HER out of the rage bubble she’d found herself in. Holly hated being treated like a five-year-old, instead of the adult she was. Not having his girlfriend fall pregnant—the one he’d practically just met—should have been at the top of his list, too.

She opened the door slowly, just a crack, and stared into his beautiful face. He’d pulled on one of those pajama slacks that hung nice and low on his hips.

She turned away and stepped clear of the door, bracing herself, because she knew she really should stand her ground on this.

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to fight with you, Holly, but I’m just worried about what effects it could have on you.”

“Jake, I can’t get pregnant right now.”

“I know,” he sighed.

Deep down, she knew everything would change if Jake had to wear a condom. He already struggled to reach an orgasm, and she didn’t want to think about what she would have to do then for him if he wore one.

“I’ll talk to my dad. See which one is effective, but not as harsh, okay?” He stepped toward her and placed his hands gently on her face.

She was still upset that he’d treated her like a child, but she knew that when he looked at her with those ice-green eyes, her heart would melt and all would be forgiven. Their lips touched, the kiss they shared tender.

“I’m really sorry. I’m just worried about the risk, and frankly I’d rather risk us having a baby than risk the chance of you getting cancer.”

Holly swallowed.
She didn't like the fact that although he sounded kind of worried, according to him, either her getting pregnant or getting cancer both fell under the 'risk' factor. It seemed like no matter what, she'd be a burden to him
.
S
he couldn’t help but wonder if he was even going to be in her future.

She merely nodded.

Opting to eat out, they had a nice dinner at a small Italian restaurant, after which Jake took her home. It wasn’t that late, but Jake did want to go over his notes one more time before the next day’s big test. Or, that was just the excuse he chose to use. She hoped it was the truth and not Jake starting to doubt where their relationship was heading.

She lay in bed, contemplating what would happen next. They’d almost been together for two months. She was starting to worry that he would call things off now that they’d had their first fight.

On that thought, her phoned beeped. She reached over and picked it from the nightstand.

Jake: Sleep tight. I’m off to bed now. Sweet dreams. Hope I’m included in them. Love you.

She froze.
Love you.
She kept staring at those two words for what seemed like forever.

Had Jake really just told her he loved her? Her heart ached for him again. In all the time she’d spent with him in bed, he’d never even whispered those words to her softly. Now, after their first real fight, he seemed to have just blurted them out.

Jake wasn’t someone who threw those words around. Granted, he showed his family and friends how much they meant to them, Holly included. He’d treated her like gold these past two months. Now that he’d said them, all sorts of emotions flooded her mind.

It went without saying that
Jake was gorgeous and seemed to have everything a girl ever dreamed of in a guy, but he was more than that. He was smart, kind, and had an absolutely amazing personality. Holly really didn’t want to see his dark side, if he had one, yet she couldn’t recall Leo speaking ill of Jake in all the time she’d known him.

The question was, did Holly love him?

Her thoughts went to the fight they’d had that day. Would she have gone on the pill if his mom hadn’t asked her? This made her think long and hard, and for a long time.

“No,” she said out loud. It wouldn’t even have bothered her. She did love him, a lot, so much in fact that she was sure if an enraged ex-girlfriend or someone tried to shoot him in the middle of a mall, she would jump in front of that bullet.

“Fuck!” Holly slapped her hand over her face. A part of her wanted to cry with the realization that she would take a bullet for him
.

By the time Monday came around, Holly had received no messages, which she found a bit weird. She glanced at the clock on the wall and noticed that it was already nine o’clock. She’d been so busy all morning that she’d forgotten to wish Jake good luck. And now it was too late. She figured she would speak to him later in the afternoon when he called her. She was sure he would.

At around one, her phone finally beeped. She smiled, knowing that she would be able to message him back. She picked up her phone.

Jake
:
You’re awfully quiet. Was it because of what I said last night? Two little words?

It was then that it hit her. She had been in such shock over what he’d said, she never replied. She rushed over to the land line and picked up the earpiece. Thankfully, Marabella didn’t have a problem with Holly calling from work, because she knew Holly wasn’t the babbling type and would be as quick as possible.

As she’d never called him from work, he wouldn’t recognize the number. She prayed he’d pick up, anyway. He picked up on the fourth ring.

“Jake,” he answered.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted. “To be honest, I was a bit shocked last night with your message. I had been struggling to fall asleep, but when your phone beeped and I read your message, it caught me off guard.”

He laughed. “That’s okay. I won’t hold it against you.”

“No, it’s not okay. I should’ve replied. I know one thing for sure, Jake. I hate fighting with you.”

“Bee Puke, that was hardly a fight.”

She giggled. “Still, I don’t like it.”

“Yeah, it sucks. Listen, I’m quickly going to see my dad, so I’ll speak to you later, okay?”

“Sure. How was the test by the way?”

“Easy as pie.”

Holly snorted.

“Bye, Bee Puke,” he said, in a sing-song voice.

“Okay, love you, bye,” she replied, and put the phone down.

Only when the connection was broken did she realize what she’d told him; she found herself smiling from ear to ear.

Marabella walked in and looked at Holly. “So, how is Jake?”

“He’s good, why?” She frowned.

“Holly, you only smile like that after you’ve spoken to him.”

Holly blushed. “Oh. Guess I can’t help it.”

“You can’t. He sure is able to raise your temperature.”

Holly grinned and continued doing so until Marabella left.

At three, she moved over to the restaurant. The receptionist only worked until three, so Holly had agreed to take over, answering calls for general inquiries, as well as noting reservations.

Marabella had some paperwork to finalize and with all the guests gone, it was a good place to concentrate. She had worked with Marabella in silence on numerous occasions. Besides, they were so much alike that Holly couldn’t envision what her life would be without her in it. Both Marabella and her daughter were more like family to her, not just her employers.

They chatted a bit more about Jake, and Holly told her about his reaction when she mentioned the pill.

“Babes, I told you before, when you meet the right one, all morals go out the door.”

Holly laughed as it kind of rhymed, but it was exactly what she was experiencing.

“Hello, gorgeous!” Marabella yelled at someone on the verge of entering the restaurant. Probably just Jerry. They had such a sweet relationship. “Talk about the devil, and then you step on his tail. How was your test this morning?”

Holly almost spat out the juice she’d just taken a sip of.
What the hell is Jake doing here?

“Nice to know you talk about me.”

Marabella got up and kissed him on both cheeks. She was such a warm person. “Your lovely is right here.”

“Thanks,” he said, chuckling.

Holly, too, got up and pecked him on the lips.

“Marabella is really friendly today.”

“You’ll get used to her.”

“I heard that. Can I get you something to drink?” Marabella’s voice came from the bar.

“I’m good, thanks. I’ve got water.” Jake shook the bottle in his hand. He dropped a brown paper bag onto Holly’s desk.

“What’s this?” Holly peeked inside and found a circular container holding small, little round tablets. Looking up at him she said, “Well, that was fast.”

“I’m a fast guy.”

“What did you tell your dad?”

He gave her the look. “I’m twenty-seven years old, Holly. Besides, he thought it was very responsible of me.”

“Well, thanks.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him, making him laugh as it was her idea in the first place to go on the pill, which made him not so responsible at all.

“I’ve got to go. I still have my license to sort out before they close. Talk to you later.” He kissed her briefly, but managed to nip her bottom lip all the same. It only served to make her stomach tie into a knot. “Bye, Marabella.”

“Bye now,” Marabella sang back.

Holly put the bag away, shoving it into her purse, and let out a sigh of relief.

“I don’t know how you manage to keep your hands off that one, Holly.”

Holly bust into laughter. “Who says I do?”

“Holly Scallanger!” Marabella’s eyes were huge, but winking she said, “I’m so glad to hear that.”

Both snickered and joked for a couple of minutes, until Marabella went back to sorting out her paperwork. When Holly had a bit of a break, she took a closer look at the object in the paper bag. It was made up of small, red pills.
Just one a day and I will be fine, eventually.

Holly skimmed the leaflet, electing not to read the whole thing. It didn’t take a brain surgeon to remember to take one pill a day. The leaflet said to start a week after her period began, but she figured the sooner she started the better. She popped one out of the container and placed it in her mouth.