Page 83 of Rock Bottom Girl

I wokeup to birds chirping, a crick in my neck, and someone else’s body pressed up against mine. When I opened my eyes, I still wasn’t sure where I was and who was breathing softly into my hair. I was outside. Sort of.

Oh my God. The screened-in porch. Poker. Jake.

I tried to sit up, but strong arms banded tighter around me. “Nope. Five more minutes,” he mumbled, rubbing his chin over the top of my head. I used my hands to pat myself down. I was still fully clothed. I’d had two beers last night, but I wanted to make sure I hadn’t stripped down in my sleep and mounted the man.

“Relax, Mars. We just fell asleep.”

“Shit. I didn’t tell my parents I wasn’t coming home.”

“I texted your mom from your phone. She instructed you to have a good time with about six winky emojis. Now be quiet and let me enjoy waking up with a girl.”

I was warm, comfortable, and extremely well-rested. And apparently accommodating.

“Okay. Five more minutes,” I conceded. “And then tonight you’re taking me out on a practice date.”

“Cool,” he said, his mouth moving against my hair.

We both heard the grumble from the back door.

“Damn dog,” Jake groaned. “Why can’t he learn to let himself out?”

I yawned and pried my way out of his embrace. Fake or not, this was not a bad way to start the day.

37

Jake

Istared at the front door before me and rolled my shoulders. “No big deal. Just picking your girl up for a date,” I muttered under my breath. I’d followed Marley’s instructions to a tee and even gone a step farther. I had not one, buttwobouquets of flowers since my girlfriend lived at home with her parents.

I stabbed the doorbell and let out a long, slow breath. It was embarrassing that I was nervous. I’d gone on dates before. Real ones. I could totally do this. Marley wasn’t here to judge me. She was here to teach me. And I was a willing student.

The door opened, and I found myself staring up at a very tall, very broad black man. He was wearing a suit with a bow tie and tortoise shell glasses.

“Uhh…” Instinctively, my gaze slid to the house number and then to the next-door neighbor’s house. Yep, monstrosity of a mansion with a swan. I was at the right place. “Hi, is Marley in?” I asked.

“You must be Jake.” His voice boomed, and I could feel the sound waves in my bone marrow.

“I am.”

“Are those for me?” Bow Tie demanded, checking out my flowers.

“Uhh—”

“Hey, Jake.” A breathless Marley in jeans and a cute button-down appeared next to the giant paragon of fashion. “This is Dietrich,” she said.

“Dietrich. Nice to meet you.”

“We’ll see. What are your intentions toward Marley?” he asked.

“Well, um. Mostly honorable.”

Dietrich’s pearly white smile blinded me. “I’m just messing with you, man. Come on in.”

Relief coursed through me, and I crossed the threshold into Marley’s childhood home.

“Thanks for getting the door, D,” Marley said.

“Anything for you, cupcake.” He shot her the pistol fingers and bounded up the stairs three at a time with the grace of an NFL receiver.