Double Clutch - Реинхардт Лиз (книги полностью бесплатно TXT) 📗

“Why do I change things?” I had a good idea what the answer would be, but that didn’t mean I didn’t want to hear it from him.

“Because I’m going to be able to drive you home. I won’t be so worried about you getting back and forth to school. And I’m going to take you on real dates. Like dates where I pick you up and drive you somewhere nice.” His voice mapped out so many delicious possible ways we could spend more time alone together.

“Jake, you know my parents aren’t really okay with me dating yet.” I was, all at the same time, so ready for Jake to drive and so nervous for that time to come. I imagined sitting close to him, making mix CDs to listen to, parking and kissing. But I also imagined having to tell Mom and Thorsten that I was dating Jake and begging permission for him to come pick me up. I was desperate for the one equally as much as I dreaded the other.

“You have two whole months to get them ready for it. I couldn’t stop thinking about you today.” I heard springs squeak on his end, like he’d turned over on the bed.

“Really? Why’s that?” I turned over on my stomach.

“I don’t really know. I was helping harvest pumpkins in the snow, and I couldn’t keep my mind on work.”

“Do you mean to tell me even pumpkins in the snow couldn’t take your attention away from me?” I teased.

He laughed. “Smartass. I mean I couldn’t keep my mind on work. I was thinking about how much I wanted to kiss you again. And I was worried as hell about you getting home.”

“It was fine,” I lied quickly.

“It will all be different soon,” he promised. “Then I’ll come pick your cute little butt up and kiss you senseless in my truck.”

I felt a warm tingling. “You’ve got a one track mind.”

“I like you for more than the physical stuff, Bren,” he said, suddenly all serious.

“No, not me.” I felt a tickle of pure giddiness. “The truck.”

“Well, she’s a great truck.”

“Ugh,” I groaned. “You’re referring to your truck as a ‘she.’”

“You would too if you could see how pretty she is.” The note of wistfulness in his voice was half endearing, half completely frustrating.

“This conversation is too romantic for me, with all of the pumpkin and truck love. I’m going to bed.” I smiled and cozied down, ready for sweet Jake dreams.

“Not yet,” he said, his voice low again. “I was trying to tell you, before you interrupted, that I couldn’t get you out of my mind all day.”

“Are you complaining to me again?”

“Not at all. I’m telling you I really care about you. I worry about you all the time. And I like you. I like talking to you on the phone. I never wanted to talk on the phone to anybody before. And I like looking at you working in class. I like reading the same books as you. I just feel like we’re going to be great together.”

There was a lump in my throat. “Thanks, Jake.” My voice quivered. “I feel the same. I feel like we’re so good together.”

“I agree. And now that I got that off of my chest, I’ve got a sexy girlfriend wearing almost nothing to go dream about until I get to see her in school tomorrow.”

“Oh, we don’t have school tomorrow, Jake. Snow day,” I said, remembering the news Mom had delivered.

He groaned. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but that sucks. Alright, this is scary.”

“What’s that?” I asked, and I couldn’t stop smiling. I heard him get up, and a few seconds later he opened the fridge, popped a can, and drank. “Are you drinking soda?”

“Yeah.” He laughed. “That’s all Dad buys. You sound so shocked.”

“It’s the middle of the night, Jake. That’s so not good for you.” I felt a little gross just thinking about chugging a soda before bed.

“Well, I’m not used to all this talking.” He paused and I heard him take a long drink and swallow. “I need to keep hydrated. And I’m in shock that I feel so sad about a snow day.”

“Are you missing me already?”

“Don’t joke about it. I really am.”

“I miss you, too.” I ran my hands along the wide, empty bed. I was suddenly so tired I couldn’t keep my eyes open. “Wow, I’m tired.”

“Sleep, then. Sweet dreams, Brenna.”

“You, too,” I said through a long yawn. “I’ll see you soon.”

And then, I thought I heard something, but maybe it was sleep deprivation. Maybe it was the stress of all Jake had dropped on me in one night. But it could have been real.

I thought I heard Jake say, “I love you.”

Chapter 9

The next morning, the sun was shining white bright against the snow, which was already melting. The weather had changed completely again, leaving a chilly, soggy day that was getting warmer by the minute.

“Hey sweetie.” Mom peeked in my room. “I got my office assignment today and was going to run down for a bit and set up. I know it’s early, but the other adjunct will be there, and I can get some serious work done. Are you okay for a few hours?”

I rubbed my eyes and blinked. “Of course. Go! Get set up. Do you need help?”

“Maybe later next week,” Mom mused. “But, no honey, not today. Are you sure you‘ll be okay all day alone?”

“Mom!” I groaned. “I love you, but you worry too much. I’m just going to veg and watch TV and read my new book. I have my cell on.” I held it up for her to see.

She kissed my face and told me to lock the doors and keep the phone by me, then left. I went to the kitchen and watched out the window as her car pulled backwards down the driveway. I was glad she had her job, but there was something lonely about it, too. I had been with her every single day last year, just the two of us and Thorsten. Now we were both getting on with our own separate lives, and something in me ached for the time we had before with just the two of us, even as I reached out for Jake. And maybe Saxon.

I pushed boys out of my mind for a while. I made my oatmeal and ate, then flipped on the television. After about fifteen minutes, I turned it back off. How could people get addicted to this crap? There was absolutely nothing good on.

I took a long shower and got dressed, then straightened my room. I was just thinking about calling Jake when I heard the mechanical whine that had scared me before. I checked my makeup in the mirror, then burst through the door and into Jake’s waiting arms.

“Jake!” I cried and pressed my mouth to his. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed back, opening his mouth and deepening the kiss like he was hungry for the taste of my mouth.