by Unknown
“I just want to have some control in my life. I wanted to make something of myself, and I have to keep things perfect in order to stay where I’m at.”
“Doesn’t that get stifling, though?”
Erin shrugged. “Sometimes. But that’s when I go shopping or explore the city. I learned the ins and outs of the city and I’ve been to every part of town. Of course, that all has to fit into my schedule, but I make it work.”
“Now that sounds a little more exciting. So, what’s your favorite part?” Jake hit the button and they waited.
“Right here. Although, I love Times Square and Chinatown. But this area is perfect. Close to work, close to being able to see a play, close to my favorite diner.”
“Close to me,” Jake’s face turned red. “So where is this store?”
“It’s just one more block ahead.” Erin couldn’t help the smile as she kept walking. She was pretty lucky that he was nearby. She opened the door and gestured for Jake to walk in.
Jake shook his head. “You took the one job I had.”
“Sorry. I’ll let you do it from now on.” Erin headed straight for the country-style decor in the back and picked through to find a few things that would work with the painting. “What do you think?”
“I think you think I’m more of a cowboy than I really am.” Jake kept a straight face while he picked up a horseshoe. When he looked over, he started laughing. “I’m kidding. This is great. I just want something more … neutral. More, I don’t know, something that you’d find in an actor’s house. Something New Yorkish.”
“New Yorkish? Pretty sure that’s not a word. But I have some ideas.” Erin walked over to another section and pulled out some dark red and blue pillows and a few blankets. “Something like this?”
Jake scratched his chin. “I do like those.”
“Perfect. Go look at something over there and let me work.” Erin shooed him away and waited for him to leave before filling her basket with some brown and darker blue decor. She found an old set of silverware and a dish set that would help fill his empty cupboards.
“How’s it coming?” Jake asked near Erin’s ear.
Erin jumped. “Man, you scared me. I think I’m done. Did you find anything?”
Jake held up a Yankees foam finger. “Yep.”
“Well, at least you have good taste in teams. My dad might not disown me when he asks your favorite sport.” Erin laughed and took her basket to the front.
Jake set the finger next to the rest of the stuff on the counter. “So your dad is a Yankees fan?”
“You have no idea. He lets my mom think they’re coming for the theater or to visit me, but it’s really so he can catch a Yankees game.” Erin pulled out her credit card and handed it to the cashier, ignoring the protests from Jake. She handed him some of the bags and headed for the door. “I told you earlier that you could just pay me later.”
“That was for the rug. Not everything else.” Jake shook his head and walked to the intersection.
Erin rolled her eyes and crossed the road. “You’re impossible.”
“At least let me buy us some lunch.” Jake stopped at a small deli.
“Perfect. I’m starving. But let’s take it back to the apartment so we can get this done. Your parents will be in here in a few hours, right?”
Jake opened the door for Erin and she walked in. Since he’d been there before, he ordered them his favorite sandwich and drink, and they sat down to wait for their food.
“This is cute. I’ve been down these streets hundreds of times and I’ve never noticed it before.”
“I like finding the little hole in the wall places. They’re my favorite.” He picked up their order and came back to grab the other bags. “You’re going to love this.”
They walked back to the apartment and weaved their way up the stairs and around toys. Erin’s arms and legs were burning by the time they got inside. She set the bags on the couch and pulled the items out. “Okay, ready for this?”
“Let’s eat first. Then we can work.” He handed her a sandwich and a soda, then sat down on his couch. “Sorry there’s no table.”
“This works.” Erin unwrapped the sandwich and took a bite. The avocado, tomatoes, and turkey were seasoned perfectly. “Oh man, you weren’t kidding. I may have to go back more often.”
“Did you notice I even requested mushrooms for yours?” He asked smugly.
Erin laughed. “Yes, and they’re fantastic. Thank you.”
Once their sandwiches were gone, Jake threw away their wrappers and stood in the center of the living room. “Okay, where do we start?”
Erin handed Jake one of the small shelves. “This needs to be hung under your picture, right about here.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jake picked up the hammer and moved closer to Erin. He tapped two longer nails into the wall and carefully the shelf on them. “Like that?”
Erin stood back, then grabbed a couple of items. “Yep. Okay. These candles and this horseshoe can sit on top of the shelf.”
Jake took the items and set them on the shelf. He rearranged them a few times before turning to Erin. “Okay, this is why I don’t decorate.”
“Like this.” Erin took the candles from him, brushing her hand up against his. She was very aware of him standing right next to her as she set up the knickknacks just right. When she straightened back up, he was right there, looking down at her with his blue eyes. Her breath caught for a second before she turned away and picked up the next item. “Okay, these pillows will go on your couch.”
Jake took them from her, his hand covering hers as he pulled away. He set them on the couch and rubbed his chin. “This looks girly. Are you sure this is how it’s supposed to look?”
Erin stood next to him, biting her lip. “If you don’t like them, I can take them back to my house. This is your place.”
“Maybe that’s a good idea. Then I can come and see them when we try out your new gaming system?” His eyes danced, making Erin’s heart beat rapidly.
“I like that plan. Although I have to warn you. I’ll probably beat you.” Erin flexed, but it was ruined by her laugh.
“Oh, so that’s how it is.” Jake grabbed her around the waist to tackle her, making Erin laugh even harder.
“Okay, okay. I’ll give you a chance. Now let’s finish this apartment up.” Erin meant to pull out of his arms, but when she glanced up at him, she couldn’t move. It just felt … right. She wanted him to bend down and kiss her, and for a moment it seemed like he would.
Jake stood back up and cleared his throat. “Sorry. Um, let’s get this done.”
Erin nodded and handed him a few different items to go around his television, barely registering what she was doing. She wanted him to hold her again, to finish that kiss, but now wasn’t the time. She helped him lay out the blanket on the couch, and then they moved on to the kitchen. They brushed up against each other as they filled the cupboards and drawers, but she was careful not to linger when he touched her hand. By the time they were done, the apartment looked completely different.
“What do you think?”
Jake smoothed out a piece of the rug and stepped back. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
“No problem. Now, I better get going so I’ll be ready when our parents get here.” Erin’s stomach lurched at the thought. She wasn’t ready for this. She grabbed the pillows and reached for the doorknob.
“Oh, hey. Before you leave.” Jake pulled out a small ring with a round diamond set in the middle. “It’s not the same as what you were wearing before, and it’s not a real diamond, but I found this at the store.”
Erin put it on her finger and held it out to inspect it. Her heart beat rapidly, even though she knew it meant nothing. “Thank you. It’s beautiful, and it should hopefully keep my parents from asking questions.”
Jake brushed a hair from Erin’s face, sending shivers through her. “You’re welcome. Thanks again for helping today.”
“No problem. I’ll
see you in an hour.” Erin gave Jake a quick hug and left the apartment. She pulled her phone out of her purse and dialed Carissa’s number. There was so much she needed to tell her.
Chapter 8
Jake straightened his tie and stepped back. Not bad, but was it good enough? He hadn’t seen his parents for a few months, but that wasn’t what concerned him the most. Erin had become one of his closest friends—his only friend in New York besides Mr. Dayley. And as irritating as she could be when she insisted on doing things her way, he couldn’t stop thinking about her.
He slipped his wallet and phone into his pocket, and checked the mirror one more time. His parents would be there soon, and then they’d head over to meet with Erin and her parents. Jake still couldn’t believe he’d set them up to eat together. Maybe the city was getting to him and he was going insane. Or maybe he was just falling head over heels for Erin, and wanted this to be more than just a fake engagement.
No, he couldn’t think that way. It was way too fast. They’d only met a few days before.
There was a loud knock at the door and Jake chuckled to himself as he went to answer it. His dad always pounded on the door, even though he insisted he didn’t.
“Hey, Mom and Dad. Come on in.” Jake moved out of the way so they could go past.
“Oh, wow. This place looks nice. I’m impressed.” Jake’s mom moved through the small apartment, looking at what Erin had done.
Jake’s dad went to the kitchen to get himself a drink. “So what’s this girl like? Is she a city girl?”
“No, she moved here a few years ago. She’s nice.” And beautiful . But his parents would see that soon enough. “You’ll love her. She’s from Georgia as well.”
“She sounds wonderful.” Jake’s mom came into the kitchen. “I don’t know what I was so worried about. You’re doing just fine.”
“Thanks. I’m an adult after all.” Jake sighed. “Should we go?”
“Yes, I’m starved.” Jake’s dad straightened his jacket and moved to the door.
They walked down to the rental car and climbed in. It was more compact than the car Erin’s parents had rented, so Jake had to sit sideways in the backseat. He gave the directions to her apartment and watched as they drove past the store Jake and Erin had been to earlier that day.
“Okay, this is her building.” Jake straightened his tie again, and took a deep breath. He was crazy. This was never going to work. His parents would see through it.
His dad pulled up in front and parked. “Here you go.”
“Wait, aren’t you coming in?” Jake asked, surprised.
“We don’t want to intrude. Besides, you two won’t fit in our car and it doesn’t make sense to keep you apart. We’ll go on ahead to get our place at the restaurant.”
Jake put his hand on the door handle. “Are you sure?”
“Of course. Now don’t leave her waiting.” His mom smiled at him.
“We’ll be there soon. Thanks.” Jake climbed out and waved as they pulled back onto the road. He checked his tie one more time and climbed the stairs up to her apartment. He could hear Erin’s mom laughing as he knocked on the door.
Erin answered, and Jake forgot to breathe. She was wearing a black dress with her hair pulled up, and small curls that framed her face.
“Come on in.” Erin moved and let them past her. “Where are your parents?”
“They insisted on going ahead of us. Something about not wanting to separate the two of us.” Jake’s face burned. “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Tyler. It’s good to see you again.”
Erin’s mom pulled him into a hug. “Oh, you don’t need to be so formal. We’ll be family soon enough.”
Bill laughed. “Please excuse my wife. She’s a hugger.”
“I noticed.” Jake laughed.
“We should get going if Jake’s parents are already there.” Erin pulled on a thin wrap to cover her shoulders.
“Oh, right. I have the directions in my phone.” He took Erin’s arm and led her out the door.
The ride to the restaurant was filled with small talk as Erin’s parents told them all about their trip to the Statue of Liberty and Staten Island. Jake put his arm around Erin and smiled to himself when Erin snuggled in just a little. Whether it was to sell their story, or if she really meant to, he didn’t care. He enjoyed having her next to him.
The restaurant they pulled up to had valet parking, so everyone piled out and met Jake’s parents, who were waiting for them.
His dad reached out his hand. “Hello, I’m Sam, and this my wife, Kate.”
Erin’s parents introduced themselves as well, and they headed into the restaurant.
Jake’s dad stepped up to the maître d'. “Table for six. It’s under Wilson.”
It was nicer than any of the restaurants Jake had been to back home, but he wasn’t going to complain. As long as he didn’t have to foot the bill. This would cut into his rent check for sure.
Jake put his arm around Erin as they walked toward their table. They ended up sitting between both sets of parents, and he felt like he was in the hot seat. Of course, he probably was. He took a drink of his water to calm his nerves. Erin rubbed her arms, looking as nervous as Jake felt.
After the waiter left, Suzanne leaned forward. “So have you two decided on a date yet?”
Jake looked over at Erin. That was one thing they hadn’t talked about. “Christmas—”
“Springtime. We’re doing a spring wedding,” Erin said at the same time.
Both sets of parents looked between them.
“Er, I meant spring. Like she said.” Jake could feel his face burning. Next time he was just going to let her talk. They really should have gone over the details, but it was too late now. He’d just have to agree with whatever she said so he didn’t mess anything up.
“Oh, I was hoping you’d choose Christmas. I found the loveliest reception hall for you to get married in, and it would just work perfectly for Christmas. I suppose it would work for spring as well.” Her mom sifted through her purse and pulled out a pamphlet. She handed it to Jake’s mom. “Isn’t it nice?”
Jake’s mom looked through it. “Yes, with the colors and shrubbery throughout, this is definitely better for Christmas.”
“Well, show Jake and Erin, sweetie. It doesn’t matter what we think.” Jake’s dad handed the pamphlet to Jake.
Erin leaned toward Jake so they could see what it was their parents were dying over. Jake had to admit the reception center was breathtaking. Vines around the edges with flower baskets throughout the hall. A winding staircase opened into the room.
Erin handed it back to her mom and took a drink of her water. “Mom, this is in Georgia. I told you we wanted to do it here. How did you get this pamphlet, anyway?”
“Oh, I’ve had that for months. When I found out where Jake was from, I dug through my files to find something that worked. You can never be too prepared. Of course, I was hoping it would be for—never mind.”
Jake knew exactly what she was going to say. She’d wanted him to marry Melody. He glared, but didn’t say anything.
“It’s really beautiful, but I think we should look here.” Erin’s shoulders were tense, and Jake recognized her stubborn look.
He took her hand and rubbed it with his thumb to soothe her. “We’ll think about the date, but I really think we should hold it here. It’s hard to get away right now with our jobs.”
It didn’t matter that he didn’t have any friends here. There wouldn’t actually be a wedding anyway.
Her mom stared at him for a moment before grabbing the pamphlet and shoving it back in her purse. “Great, well, here are some brochures for a few places we visited today.”
Erin shook her head. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
Jake had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing. It’s exactly what he’d said about Erin just a few hours before.
Suzanne nodded. “Fair enough. Just look at them, please. We took time out of our tours to see these p
laces. We also found a cute little wedding planner who is thrilled to work with us.”
Jake’s mom pulled out her phone. “I hope you don’t mind, but I called one of my friends from college who owns a shop here. It takes months to get in, and she managed to squeeze us into a cancellation for this Saturday. Can you believe it?” She smiled proudly and patted his hand. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell us about your engagement.”
“Um, right. We wanted to tell you when you got here.” Jake had to laugh. This was getting messy. “And now I know why you sent me with Erin and her parents on the way over here.”
His mom smiled and handed him another card. “Well, I couldn’t ruin the surprise for Erin, now could I?”
Erin clapped her hand to her forehead. “Oh, shoot. I can’t do that. I’m supposed to meet Carissa for her dress fitting. I promised.”
“Well, does she already have an appointment?” Kate asked.
“We were just going to try a few places since she can’t get into the shop she wanted until next month. That way she will know exactly what she wants when she has her appointment.”
“Well, just have her come with you. It will be perfect.” Kate smiled.
“That would be wonderful, actually. Thank you.” Erin smiled as she pulled her phone out and typed a message into it.
“So once we’re done with the dress, we can look at the different reception halls, and look through ideas for decor.”
“Mom, this wedding isn’t happening for a while. We don’t have to do all the planning right now. Give Jake and I some room to breathe, please.” Erin’s voice wasn’t as steady as usual, so he put his arm around her for comfort.
“She’s right. With our schedules, it could be next Christmas by the time we actually have the date set.” Or no date at all. Which, strangely enough, made Jake feel a little depressed.
Their moms exchanged glances before Suzanne leaned forward. “We understand that, sweetie, but who knows when all of us will be in New York at the same time again. We want to make sure the small details are set you can deal with the rest later.”
By the time dinner showed up, their parents had planned out the whole next day, and Erin looked like she was ready to cry. Jake couldn’t blame her. He was ready to end it right then and there, but the weekend wasn’t over yet.