Page 28 of Soft Rebound (Mad City Moments #2)

Liz

B obby: Jake came over to the shop today and spoke to Dad

Dad said he was looking for you, asking how to get in contact with you

Dad told him to come back and find me

****

B obby: Jake has been blowing up my phone with text messages

How did he even get my phone number?

It’s not like we were ever friends

****

B obby: Jake came by the shop today again

I saw him and told him I was busy and couldn’t talk

Not sure how long I can avoid him

****

B obby: Jake found me today while I was on lunch break

I had nowhere to run

He said he wanted to talk to you but that you wouldn’t talk to him

I said if you don’t want to talk to him he needs to leave you alone

He said it was important and that I needed to tell him where you were

I said I didn’t need to do shit, he’s the one who broke off the engagement

He said he’d be back

That he has the right to talk to his fiancée

WTF??

****

B obby: Mickey says Jake broke up with Bethany last week

I guess that explains the urgent need to see you

Douchebag can’t be alone for 2 min

I’m assuming you don’t want him to find you?

If you want to talk to him, let me know, otherwise mum’s the word

****

B obby: Mom says Jake came by the house earlier today

Brought her flowers, apparently lilies are her favorite?!

WTF?! I had no idea Mom liked lilies. Did you?

Anyway Mom’s all like Jake is such a nice boy, maybe you and he will make up now and you will come back

I asked if she gave him any of your info, she got all pissy and said no because I wouldn’t share any with her anyway

She also said I must have a girl out of town otherwise why would I be gone all weekend every weekend

One of these days I will tell them I swear

I’m pretty sure Mickey knows

He said he’s happy I’m happy and he’s on board with whoever’s the reason

Back to that douchenozzle Jake

I swear I haven’t given your address to anyone

So you should be good, but just FYI

****

I t was my last week at work and it was a busy one.

My manager told me they should have a permanent opening in a few weeks and to not commit to anything else, but I’ll believe it when I see it.

We had a small goodbye gathering with the women from Accounting at a bar where the manager’s son works as a bartender.

I hope to see them all again soon, but I understand that I might not happen.

It’s Friday, so Bobby will be coming late again. Usually he only stops by to drop off the receipts and I don’t even see him before he goes to Trey’s.

But when I finally get back home from the farewell party, I see a familiar red pickup truck with Minnesota license plates parked outside my building.

Jake’s truck.

Shit. My heart goes into overdrive so fast I feel winded. How did he find me? Did Bobby actually give him my address? How the hell is he here?

My first instinct is to text Bobby, but he’s probably at Trey’s already and I don’t want to disturb them. Plus they’d probably both come over to help, and I don’t want to out them before they’re ready. Before Bobby’s ready.

I need to do something that will completely put Jake off. Something that will make him go away forever.

I take a deep breath and cross my fingers that the person I’m about to text is available tonight, otherwise I will be in deep shit.

Liz: Joe, I know you might have plans but I need you to do me a huge favor, pretty much right now

He responds right away. I’ve never been so relieved in my life.

Joe: Of course. Anything you need

Liz: My ex’s truck is in my parking lot

I don’t think he’s seen my car yet but it’s just a matter of time

Can you please come to my place?

Joe: I will be there in 10 min

Do not invite him in at any cost

If he insists on talking, you can drive separately to a nearby restaurant

Liz: Okay

Yeah, that’s a good idea

I will wait for you here

Thanks for coming

Joe: Of course baby

Anything you need

I sit in my car, trying to calm my breath. Time passes slowly. Five minutes feel like an eternity. Where the hell is Joe?

There is a knock on my window. A cold chill runs down my spine. Fuck . Joe isn’t here yet.

Jake has recognized my little blue car.

I don’t dare turn my head toward the knock.

He knocks again, harder.

My throat feels tight, my hands are actually shaking, as I reach toward the button that opens the window.

There is no one but us in the parking lot. If Jake hurt me, killed me, there would be no witnesses. He could be gone before Joe arrives.

Why am I thinking about him hurting me? He’s never hurt me before—why am I so terrified now?

“Lizzie, I need to talk to you,” I hear him through the window.

It’s only then that I turn to face him. It’s dark outside, and it’s cold and windy, March in Wisconsin.

Jake is bundled up in a jacket of his that I remember well, the one made of thick leather with a faux shearling lining.

His nose is red and his hair is windswept.

He doesn’t look scary. He looks like he’s freezing.

He looks familiar and a bit vulnerable, and the terror that rose through me subsides a little.

“Lizzie.”

He’s always called me Lizzie, like everyone at home did.

It’s such a little-girl nickname. It’s been bothering me for a long while from everyone except family.

I told him that. I told him how much I preferred Liz.

He stuck with Lizzie because he said it was too hard to change, that it’s what he’s used to calling me now.

I crack open my window. “What do you want, Jake?”

“I want to talk.”

“There’s nothing to say.”

“You just disappeared. I haven’t seen you in months.”

“You broke up with me. What else is there to say?”

“There’s plenty to say! How could you just up and leave?”

“I don’t want to talk to you!” My voice is raised and trembling. “How the hell did you even find me?”

He smiles. “I had help.”

“How. Did you. Find. Me.”

He grins. “I will tell you when you open the window the whole way.”

I close the window instead and look ahead, my hands on the steering wheel. I wish Joe were here already.

Jake knocks again. “Lizzie, I’m freezing my ass off here. Let’s go inside to talk.”

I open my window partly again. “I have no idea how you found me, but you are never getting into my apartment.”

He seems taken aback. “Are you afraid to be alone with me?”

I say nothing, but pin him in place with my stare.

“Lizzie, you know I would never hurt you.”

“I don’t know anything, and stop calling me Lizzie! I told you a hundred times only my family calls me that and I don’t like anyone outside my family calling me that.”

He presses a hand on his chest. “I was supposed to be your family! I still am.”

I wave him off.

He places both of his gloved hands against the window, his eyes pleading. It’s so cold his breath comes out foggy. “Lizzie, I haven’t seen you in almost eight months. Can we have one conversation like adults? After all the time we spent together?”

I sigh. He does have a point.

“We can talk at Hop Scotch. You can follow me there.”

“You’re really not going to invite me up?”

“Nope.”

He looks at me for a moment, then nods. I roll up my window and lean back in my seat. I am winded as if I’d just finished running. Then I text Joe.

Liz: He and I are going to Hop Scotch

Please meet me there

Joe: I’m almost at your place

Do you want to go together in one car?

Liz: No just meet me at Hop Scotch

Joe : Whatever you need

Liz: I can’t stop shaking

Joe: It’s gonna be okay baby I promise

The endearment alone makes me feel better.

Liz: red heart emoji Thank you

Joe: winking kissy face emojiI will be there before you know it

I take a few deep breaths and leave the parking lot. Jake’s red truck follows close behind.

****

L uckily, Hop Scotch is not too busy even though it’s Friday. I guess it’s too cold outside and the forecast said there might be snow.

I arrive first and wait for Jake at the door. There is a surreal moment when we stand side by side, like we did many times in the past, and it almost feels natural to be close. When our eyes meet, there’s a tug of deep hurt in my gut. For the first time, I feel like I might well up.

I might, but I won’t let myself.

“Let’s go inside,” I say, turning away from him and reaching for the door.

“Wait, Lizzie,” he says and grabs me by the forearm, then quickly turns me around and wraps me in a tight embrace.

I stand frozen, taken by surprise. He’s holding me really close, but I’m not returning the affection. Part of me wants to comfort him, but a bigger part of me recoils at the intrusion and wants out. So I remain stiff as a board, arms straight at my sides. He doesn’t seem to want to let me go.

Eventually, I raise one hand and pat him on the back. “Okay. I think we should go inside now.”

He pulls away, still holding me by the shoulders. “Why are you so standoffish?”

I shake my head and say nothing, just turn away again and open the door.

****

T he hostess seats us in a booth, as per my request. It takes us a couple of minutes to get settled and order drinks. I ask for a soda, Jake for a beer. I recommend Capital Amber on tap.

“You’ll like it. It resembles Coors,” I say.

He looks at me for a long moment. “You seem different,” he says.

I shrug. “Well, it’s been eight months since you last saw me. A lot has happened.”

He reaches out to grab my hands, but I pull them away. He ends up placing his palms flat on the table before him. “Lizzie, I’m so sorry,” he says. “For everything.”

I shrug. “Okay. I believe that. I’m just not sure what you want from me, honestly.”

“I want you to forgive me and I want you to go back home with me.”

My eyes bug out, and I burst out laughing. “You’re kidding.”

“I’m not.” He reaches out to grab one of my hands again with both of his. “I’m serious.”

I let him hold the hand for a few moments before I pull it away again. “I don’t understand you, Jake. I didn’t understand why you broke up with me and I don’t understand why you want to get back together now.”