22. Jake: Big Brother Love

Chapter twenty-two

Jake – Big Brother Love

When I walk back into the shop, it’s well past noon. I go back to the booth to ask mom if they want to sleep over at my place or head back to the city. As soon as Bella spots me coming, she breaks into a knowing grin while making kissy faces at me.

“Why are you smiling like that?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“You’ve got a stupid smile on your face, brother, and one can only guess where you got the smile from. Or the cause,” she giggles, pointing a hand to my face.

I wipe my mouth, imagining it wiping off the ‘stupid face’ as I do so. Mom faces me, a worried look etched on her kind face. I knew the question would come though, seeing as how I rushed outside after Aurora told her she had to go home to her cat.

And that was an obvious lie I know to be complete baloney. So did mom, I figure.

“Is everything okay? You practically rushed out to catch Aurora. ”

“Judging by the smile on his face when he came in, I would boldly assume all went well with her,” Bella butts in.

She begins to sing the proverbial kissing song, and I tug at her hair to shut her up.

“So, why did you come out with Sophia? What were you discussing with her? Is that why Aurora came here looking sort of upset? You don’t engage your ex-girlfriend in a private conversation where your actual girlfriend is involved, Jacob,” mom fires in rapid succession, disappointment coloring her tone and nailing me with one of those ‘mom looks.’

“That wasn’t what happened, Mom. It was all a misunderstanding, and we’ve got it sorted out. I have nothing to do with Sophia,” I correct her immediately. “You guys have stayed long enough in one place. Do you maybe want to go sightseeing or back to my place? Or maybe just head back home to dad?”

“Let’s go sightseeing! I want to find some fantastic places. I have an idea in mind and want to see if I can involve it with my wedding plans. Ethan told me to go ahead and run crazy with ideas.” Bella giggles at her last statement.

“Oh, dear!” I say in mock shock, making Bella hit my shoulder softly.

She knows I’d damn well allow her to turn the whole wedding location into a zoo if she wanted to. Even if I wouldn’t, Ethan would. He’s so smitten, he’d get her the moon if she wished.

We flag over a lady at the counter to pay the bill and to order something to go for me. I haven’t had anything to eat all day, and my stomach is beginning to try to eat itself.

Another attendant comes jogging over to our booth. Noah probably finished his shift a while ago.

I order a sandwich and ask her to bring the bill, but she tells me it has been taken care of by Aurora. “Really? No, she shouldn’t do that. I’ll settle the bill.” I refuse politely. The thought of not paying the bill is highly unsettling.

“No, sir. She said it’s on the house as a first-time customer.” She gently declines, giving me a small smile.

“Aw, she’s so nice. She wouldn’t even let us pay for anything? The cakes are too delicious to be eaten for free at least,” Bella says in surprise, her voice tinted with a little bit of worry.

I know she feels bad that Aurora has covered the bill.

“She’ll only find other ways to repay you if you insist on paying. One time, a customer insisted on paying, and she kept giving her free pastries every time she came over to the shop. She had to apologize to Aurora deeply before the free stuff stopped,” the lady, Ava, as seen on her nametag, gently explains, a fond smile on her lips.

“Oh, really?” Mom laughs, her eyes twinkling in admiration at Aurora’s kindness.

“But what about the sandwich I bought just now?” I ask helplessly. At least I need to pay for something.

“It’s covered, sir,” she replies, a knowing smile on her face.

I groan inwardly. How does she make a profit when she gives out all her food?

“All right then, thank you, Ava.”

“You’re welcome. Have a nice day, sir,” she says respectfully. Turning to Bella and mom, she nods respectfully. “Have a nice day, ma’ams. ”

As we walk toward where I parked my car, we hear loud voices, as if two people are having a serious argument. I recognize one of the voices as Sophia’s.

When we near where my car is parked, I see Alex and Sophia standing by another car—probably Alex’s—glaring hatefully at each other. They both go silent when they see us. Breathing heavily, Alex sports a red handprint on his right cheek, and I raise a brow at that. Yep! Sophia has hit a new low—now she hits people?

I pretend not to see the spectacle right in front of us, and so does mom. But Bella hurries to Sophia and takes her hand, looking extremely worried.

“What’s going on, guys?” she asks, looking from one party to the other, but they both keep quiet.

Suddenly, Sophia bursts into tears, and Alex angrily walks away from the scene.

I unlock the car and open the back door for mom, and she smiles at me in thanks and gently slips in. Shutting the door after her I jump in the driver’s seat and turn on the ignition, a cue for Bella to know we have to leave. I look out the window, and I see them whispering to each other, Bella wiping Sophia’s tears, and the latter giving her a watery smile in return.

“I’ll call you,” Bella says loudly, hugging her tightly.

She walks to the car, glancing back worriedly, but Sophia gives her a reassuring smile, waving slightly at her. Bella sighs as she jumps in the passenger seat, shutting the door and reaching for the seatbelt at the same time.

As I navigate the car to leave the parking lot, I can’t help but throw a last glance at Sophia, who is already staring at me. She gives me a malicious smile and a wink, blowing me a kiss.

Right then, I know I did the right thing by ignoring her when she burst into tears earlier. She probably did it to see if I would come running like I used to. But judging by the glint in her eyes as I drive away, I know she’s not going to give up until she ruins what she thinks I have with Aurora. Not now and not necessarily soon, she’s going to strike hard when she feels I least expect it.

“Jake, where is the biggest hotel around here?” Bella queries suddenly, thankfully drawing me out of the dark lane my mind was beginning to veer me into.

“It’s just like a twenty-minute drive from here to it on the other side of town. Why?” I ask her, wanting to know why she suddenly wants to know where the biggest hotel in Birchwood is located.

Not that I mind driving her there. The weather is perfect for being out with family, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be at the moment.

“An idea has been stuck in my mind for a while now. I just want to check the hotel out, see if my imagination can transition into reality,” she answers excitedly, nearly bouncing in her seat.

“Okay then,” I answer her, switching lanes to one that leads toward the hotel.

I steal a glance at the rearview mirror to see why mom has been quiet. She has her eyes closed, probably drifting off to sleep already .

Bella shuffles in her seat after some time, her thumbs twiddling one another. She steals a nervous glance at me every now and then and I sigh.

“Ask,” I tell her, going straight to the point.

“Ask what?” she tries to deflect, a plastic smile on her lips.

I take a quick glance at her, putting my focus back on the road. “I know you, Bells. There’s something you want to ask me, but you’re too nervous to do so. Ask away, sis.”

“What gave me away?” she asks with a surprised smile.

I shoot her a quick ‘ duh’ look. “The nervous glances. You’ve adjusted your position seven times now. Yep . . . I counted. And you’re twiddling your thumbs and giving me a fake smile right now,” I say, matter-of-factly.

“You know me too well. Well . . .” she drags out, hesitating to ask what’s on her mind, and I know it’s a Sophia-related question.

“I’m sorry, I’ve been a bad sister,” she begins, and I raise a brow at that in shock without turning to look at her, my focus on the road.

“Why would you say that, Bells? You’re one of the best things that has happened to me in this world. You have been ever since you were born. And you are the sweetest, kindest, purest, and the most selfless sister anyone could ask for. Don’t ever say that about yourself again, Bells. I love you. You know that, right?”

The thought of my little sister saying that about herself has my heart tightening painfully in my chest.

“Okay, Jake. I love you too, bro,” she sniffs, her voice teary. “It’s just, I never really asked you what went down between you and Sophia. I asked you only once and accepted the feeble excuse you told me about things just not working out between you two.”

“But I never actually sat you down to soothe your pains and be there for you. Instead, I turned a blind eye, even though I knew you were hurting. Honestly, I was scared of what I’d find out, and I didn’t want to lose either of you,” she continues.

Of course, I know, I knew , all these things. What I didn’t know is that Bella still beats herself up for it. I knew when she used to sneak guilty glances at me whenever she would see me at home. She lost her cheer and her childish acts, walked on eggshells around me, and tried to make it up to me by doing random stuff like making my bed, doing my laundry, and ensuring that mom cooked my favorite dishes.

She definitely did not turn a blind eye. It kills me now to see how badly my breakup with Sophia has affected her, and that’s mostly why I still refuse to explain to her what had actually happened whenever mom says to tell her.

I swallow tightly, reaching back for her hand.

Giving it a reassuring squeeze, I shoot her a quick glance. “Isabella, there’s nothing I wouldn’t give right now to flush those thoughts out of your mind. You’re my little sister, and my relationship with Sophia shouldn’t define your friendship with her. She has been your best friend, and the sister you’ve always wanted since high school. You shouldn’t have to give that up because we didn’t work out, and neither should you have to take sides. I don’t want you spewing such nonsense about you being a bad sister anymore, Bells.”

I finish just as I steer into the hotel’s wide lot, easing into an empty spot. I kill the engine, turning to face Bella fully as soon as I rid myself of the seatbelt. I kiss her knuckles then lean to wipe the tears trailing off her angelic face. It hurts me physically to see her in such anguish and guilt.

“What truly happened between you and Sophia, Jake? Why did you leave her?”

I feel a lump grow in my throat at the question. “Do you not like Aurora?” I ask.

“What? No! Why would you ask such a thing? I’ve loved Aurora from the moment I saw her glaring at you when she thought I was your fiancée. She’s awesome, and I feel you’re perfect for each other.” Then she adds quietly as if the words are an epitome of betrayal, “More perfect for you than Sophia actually.” She looks outside the window, as if Sophia would spring out suddenly, brandishing her a betrayer.

“Okay, here goes.” I blow out a breath, preparing myself to tell her what had really happened between Sophia and me.

She snatches her hand from mine and raises it to my lips, shushing me indirectly.

“Actually, I’m still not ready to hear it.” She smiles cheerily, being herself again in an instant. “Enough of the dreary mood. Now let’s go plan a wedding partaaay!” she whoops, literally jumping out of the car.

The wind carries Bella’s mumbles to my ears. As she steps out, I hear: “I don’t want to see her in a different light. Not now.”

I exhale harshly and close my eyes, wiping a hand roughly down my face. I open my eyes, looking at the rearview mirror absentmindedly. Mom’s eyes stare right back into mine with a knowing glint.

I look away.