“You know, you really shouldn’t be sleeping on the job,” Ari’s voice startled her, making her jump from her chair and almost trip over her own feet.
“Damn you.”
She laughs, her eyes squinting when she did, “Sorry, didn’t think I’d scare the hell out of you.”
“Sure, you didn’t,” Sam replied, regathering herself.
Ari picks up a loaf of bread, tossing it around in her hand, “You doing okay? Haven’t heard from you much.”
“Fine.”
She points her eyes at Sam, “Don’t lie to me, you little twit.”
“I’m fine, seriously,” Sam replies, snappy. “What are you doing here anyway?”
Ari tossing the bread back into the small box and grabs a chair sitting in it backwards, she glares at Sam intensely.
“Spill,” is all she said.
“There is nothing to spill.”
She shakes her head. “I know you Sam, you are not this zoned out, so spill!”
“Ugh, you are ridiculous,” she exclaims. “I just don't know what is going on with me okay?”
“Go on.”
Why is it any of her business in the first place, she thinks? Sam swallows the knot in her throat and continues. “Yesterday, I just wasn't feeling like myself, so I went to the beach – before anything bad could happen Zane showed up and we got to talking.”
Her eyes go wide in understanding. “So, you like...Zane?”
“No!” Sam looks around as though someone might hear them. “Jake was there with some blond and they were pretty clost, probably just another girl that he's trying to play, not that I really care in the matter all together.”
“So, then what's the issue?”
“The issue is, even though I don't care or want to even care, something inside me does. When I saw him with her, I felt like I was invisible, like I couldn't be her ifI tried and when he came over to talk, I couldn't I completely froze,” she whispers, leaning forward to not draw attention to them, “I can't think around him, it's like he clouds my thoughts and replaces them with this fuzzy feeling inside.”
“Aww!” Ari squeals, almost jumping in her chair, “am, has it crossed your mind for even a moment if you just let youtself slow down, pace yourself and see what those feeling mean, maybe you'll see that you do care aboyt seeing him with someone else, maybe you'll even enjoy it.”
Sam answers, “It's not that easy, I've been broken too many times.”
“Sometimes you have to let yourself know what heartbreak is in order for you to actually start to heal.”
Rubbing her eyes and forcing her head back down onto her folded arms, she lets Ari hand out the bread while she speaks, “I don't know what to do, if I try to see where this could lead us, I risk getting hurt, but if I don't try at all, I risk losing him.”
Clearing his throat, he speaks, “Hi girls.”
They both jump in their seats, having not noticed nor heared his appoarch Jake stood before them in skinny dark jeans and a black tank top that read “Swag”, he had his usual smart-ass grin across his face and his eyes sparkled with their little amused specks.
Shit, how much had he heard?
“I just wanted to stop by and see how the Food Community was going, dropped a few things off to help and I saw you guys over here, do you do this often?”
Ari replies, “Me? Never, but our Sammy girl here does every three or so months with her mother.”
Stop speaking for me Ari, Sam thinks but she is unable to move her lips – her eyes never swaying off of Jake, still she wonders, would it be so bad to give in to him? It's been over a month since they were paired for Biology and while she hardly see's him anywhere outside of that, she still finds herself getting frozen in his presence. The sun casting an orange glow into his dark shaggy hair, brightening his creme complexion.
“She's always been one to volunteer, ever since we were youngestors.”
“She's something else, isn't she?” Ari says, smiling sweetly.
I am going to kill her, Sam thinks – not literal but what does she think she’s doing?
His soft eye's turn back to me as his large hand flows through his hair, “She sure is, spaking of witch the main reason I came over here was to give you this.”
He pulls a note book out and places it before her, laying a single red rose over it and steps back. She scims through it falling onto an already used page a small note that read, Come find me when you're readt ;) 1527 Austin Lane. Don’t miss me too much. She quarks a smile.
“Smooth,” She says, watching his crooked smile appear as he gives her a small wink.
“I heard you write poetry, I figured you could you this to track them down.”
“It's sweet, thank you.”
He seems to weigh out his next words, slowly drawing them out, “So how about that date, maybe we can retry it but this time just the two of us?”
Sam shakes her head, grabbing a loaf of bread and places with it with her hands, trying to find something to do so he doesn't see her shaking with nerviousness, “I don't know.”
“Oh Sam, she says yes!” Ari says, standing she starts to push him away fromour table trying to avoid my rejections of this date, “You can go now. Text her.”
We watch as Jake drifts away, heading towards the parking lot, stopping to say hi to a little boy before he continues, his back to Sam and she can now let herself feel the nervious butterflies dancing around in her stomach like a whole damn zoo trying to fight their way out of their cages.
She forces herself to calm down, it has been over a month of endless classes together and small pointless interactions – somwhere, she can feel it start to tug at her heart, and she knows that if she does not stop, if she continues the innocent flirting and dantie interactions with him whenever she or he can get the opputunity – somewhere along the way her heart wont know the difference from hate or love. She hopes that somewhere in that gorgeous frame of his, that bad boy will not break her heart.
Chapter Eight
The next day came faster than Sam could prepare herself for. Waking up to the sun drifting through her bedroom blinds, she lies there, curled in her blanket and stares at the ceiling until she wills herself to get out of bed. It is a nice day out, the sun high in the sky making it a smoldering day.
It’s the perfect weather to be outside, not too hot but definitely not a cold blizzard either. She has always loved the Summer time, she wasn’t a big fan of the cold, and in fact she is a baby when it comes to freezing.
She finds her mother in the living room, curled on the sofa watching an episode of her favorite TV show Family Feud. Sam makes her way around the sofa to sit in the empty space beside her mother, leaning her head on her shoulder.
“Good morning, honey,” her mother says, rubbing her head.
“Morning, mama.”
She could sit here all day, her mother’s hand caressing her head as she slowly drifts back into a beautiful slumber. A lost memory surfaces slowly. It was a chilly afternoon and her father had just gotten off a long day at the J & C Inc, he picked her and her mother up and took them on a small cruise around town with the windows rolled down. She could still see his cheesy grin when he looked over at her mother in the passenger seat.
There was so much love in his eyes. They stopped at the local ice cream shop so that Sam could get her bubble gum ice cream and they would share the peanut butter sundae. She can see her mother flick a spoonful in his direction, hitting him smack dab in the face. Surprised, he gave her a warning playful look and jumped up, swinging her mother over his shoulder and running around the glass that sat next to the shop while she laughed and hit his back playfully. It was a wonderful day, one of the days that she would always remember–one of many.
Sighing, Sam opens her eyes and pulls herself up, stretching, “I have plans today. Is it okay if I go out?”
Her mother glances at her briefly, “Of course, honey. Are you going out with that boy?”
Sam rolls her eyes, s
hrugging.
“Where you guys going?” she asks.
“I think we are just going to head over to the beach for a little bit,” Sam replies, slipping on her shoes.
“Just be careful.”
She throws on her jacket and opens the front door, turning back to give her mother a smile and a small wave before closing it before her. The day goes by quicker than she would have wanted; she didn’t want the night to end and would spend every hour with Jake if she could. They spent the day walking barefoot along the Ocean line, letting the sun crease their skin while they ate ice cream cones. Jake looked different in his kakis shorts and black button up, he looked gorgeous but in a more natural kind of way, compared to his usual bad boy attar.
They walk side-by-side, bumping shoulders with their bare feet on the hot beach sand. The water is nice today and the waves splash lightly just before their feet. It’s gorgeous, but not as gorgeous as he is, and she can’t seem to take her eyes off him. It’s as though his appearance, his voice, and everything about him captivates her.
“I never asked if you’ve been boating,” he says, sliding his fingers to entwine with her own as he spins her around, so she is in front of him.
She shakes her head, looking down at their hands, smoothing her feet in the sand.
“You should come sometime,” he half grins.
Peering through her dark hair, “Like on a boat?”
He pulls her closer, embracing her as he encircles her waist, “Well, that is kind of the point of boating.”
“Don't be a smart ass or I'd need to rethink giving this date thing another chance.”
She could hear the laughter in his voice, his lips lightly brushing her ear; he whispers, “You'd look beautiful beneath the morning sun, while we sail across the ocean.”
Blushing, she bows her head hiding her face. She can feel his light touch as he places his fingers beneath her chin and tilts it up, so he can see her face. Jake stares into her eyes, searching. Maybe he is searching for answers, what made her stay clear from everyone or maybe he just needed to find that part in her that is so scared to let herself fall for him.
He could have been here, right where they are now months ago, he could have been with her but, all that time he never glanced her way or paid her much attention. She was just another face in the halls of South Beach High and he wishes that he would have looked more.
Without hesitation, without thinking at all Sam lifts the last of her ice cream cone and shoves it into Jakes face, pulling it away to find his nose, mouth and ever a smedge on his eye has been plasted with cookie doe icream. She bursts out laughing.
“I am so getting you for that!” He says, chuckling, he chases her around the beach lifting her into his arms and dragging her out into the middle of the water where he leaped, both of them hitting the water and getting soaked head from toe. Sam stands, breath caught in her throat from the sudden cold and she laughs, watching him wip his hair from hanging over his eyes as he watches her with the most sincere and amazing smile she has ever seen.
“You ass.”
“I know, I got a nice one, feel free to look.” He says playfully.
“What am I going to do with you?”
“Whatever you'd like,” He flirts, as he moves through the water towards her. Water dripping from his hair and face.
She doesn't know what she going to do with this boy, he drives her completely insane and even when she wants to deny what they have between them and continue hating him, something inside her just won’t let her do it. He's different, he challenges her in so many ways and makes her forget about her life at hime – she feels safe with him.
He takes her hand and leads her away from the water and up the ridge away from everyone, there lays a small cave. It sits just before the beautiful shore, if you weren’t looking for it you would have never known it was there. It was almost hidden.
“All this time, this has been up here,” she states, drawing further into the cave, her hands grazing over the rocks ridged edges and her eyes trailing over every detail in amazement. Sam has never seen something so incredible.
“I come here whenever I want to get away; I've never shown it to anyone,” he smiled. “I swore that when I did it would be someone special.”
His words made her heart flip, glancing at him standing at the entrance, his form nearly shadowed by the sun behind him. His gaze meets hers; a spark lights and she knows he feels it too. She lowers her head shielding her emotions like she has always done before.
Laying her towel down she sits. “So, how did you figure out it was up here?”
He sits down next to her, brushing his hands off on his khakis laying back he rests his head on the palm of his hand; he gazes at her for so long that Sam could not help but squirm.
“I used to come here a lot when I was younger. My father took care of one of his co-worker’s boats while he was away on vacation and during that time, we were down here the majority of the week. Eventually I got tired of the surfing and splashing about the water, I started to explore. I found this up here and have been coming here since.”
“So, like your own little get away.”
Jake chuckles, “Yeah, I guess you could put it that way.”
She picks at her fingers. “I don’t picture you as that type of guy.”
Who knew that a bad boy like Jake Steele would have such a heart – that he would be so sensual able, so loving.
He replies, “There is a lot you don’t know about me Sam.”
God, did she love his blue eyes.
“Sam,” he whispers, his fingers stroking the side of her face; pushing that one strand of dark hair behind her ear beneath her jacket hood, “You are so breathtaking.”
Her eyes flutter closed, and Jake lets out a breath. He was almost scared to continue, afraid to scare her and push her away. He knew he needed to be careful to avoid her bringing those walls back up. He knows how much just those words hit home, so he waited. When her eyes opened again; they drank each other in.
Consumed by the invisible thread between them, the one Sam feels and surely hopes that he does as well and to be utterly honest; he did, and it scared the living shit out of him.
Jake Steele is terrified of Sam Echo in more ways than one, he is scared of the damage she has been dealt, he is scared of how vulnerable she is, and he is scared of her pain; surely, he is more scared of hurting her himself.
She bites her bottom lip nervously, making him close his eyes in return. His hand softly cups her face as he leans in. He holds his breath; please don't push me away, His lips so close, she could feel his breath upon her own.
“You’re not so bad looking yourself,” she whispers.
“Is that so?” He clears the distance between them, taking her mouth with his own.
Smooth, sweet; a hint of cinnamon coffee unmistakably Jake Steele.
Her hands are strong as they come up to hold his face, the soft stubble of his 5 O’clock shadow. He is holding back, scared to shatter this beautiful girl; she however was not. Her hands made their way to his short shaggy black hair.
Finally, her lips part gaining him entrance, their tongues danced together like the perfect melody. He could no longer take it; he gently presses her back against the caves sandy bottom, covering her with his body. He knew at that moment he needed to stop or risk losing her forever; but he couldn't, he needed this woman in more ways than one and truth be told she needed him. The gentle yet passionate kiss turned frenzied, Sam couldn't get enough; Oh God she thought to herself, is this really happening?
He held his hands planted on either side of her, fighting to control himself; to let her take control. Her fingers run trails over his back.
“Sam...” he said against her lips.
“No,” she started, shaking her head, “Don't ruin it.”
Kissing her once more Jake nibbles her bottom lip, drawing a light gasp from her gorgeous lips. His hands catch her hips, fingers slightly beneath the shirt. He wanted nothi
ng more at that moment to feel his skin upon hers.
He lays against her once again taking her lips between his own; the two revelling in the feel of the other against them. Jake takes hold of her hands, holding them firmly above her head as he trails kisses from her lips across her jaw and to her neck; nibbling lightly the whole way; making Sam arch her back.
She’s too precious to him, he can't and wont rush her- this is something that needs to be special not laying on a bank of sand in an old cave, he wanted to worship her and show her that she is so much more than she believes, he wanted her to feel the way he feels about her.
“Sammy, I don't want to rush this. I could kiss you all day and believe me I want so much more, but this is not the time nor the place, please forgive me?” he begs as he pulls back.
She is at a loss for words.
“Baby girl.” The words fall from his tongue, his eyes lite with worry, “I need you to know that I do want to continue, I want to show you how you make me feel, but I can't make you do something you're not ready for.”
When his words sink in and Sam registers the true meaning behind them, she lets out a small whimper and she nods, but still she drags his lips to hers. Her scent of Rose intoxicates him.
He says the one thing he could, “Fuck, you're killing me over here.”
He wants to make her his; show her the beauty she holds and how much he cherishes that. This is one thing that he is able to give her, love.
Jake takes her hand from it's placeon his chest as they both pull back, swollen lips and breathles. He kisses every finger, lastly the scars that line her wrists, “You don't need to hide these you know, they're your own battle scars and you survived them,” he said. “You should be proud of that.”
Sam isn’t sure if it was something he said or fear, but something just shattered and suddenly she felt the walls caving in on her, and she was suffocating. She wants this; him. She wants to continue where they left off because damn did she enjoy it, but the dark place in her just wouldn’t allow it and once again she shuts the one person out that has not turned his back on her.
Shattered Echo (The Shattered Echo Series Book 1) Page 6