Don't Hate the Player...Hate the Game(13)

Mom smiled. “I sure did. I figured I better do something special for you because it’s been so long since you stayed over.”

“Aw, thanks. That’s so sweet of you.”

She set a small feast of culinary goodies down in front of us. As she poured a glass of orange juice, she eyed Jake. “So what’s been keeping you away?”

He stopped shoveling in pancakes for a moment. “I’ve just been busy that’s all.”

“Hmm, has someone special got you running in circles?” Mom asked, desperately hoping Jake would abandon his manwhore ways.

“Not really.”

Mom gave a disappointed sigh. “Well, don’t stay away so long next time. You’re always welcome here.”

A knock at the back door interrupted us. Mom practically skipped over to answer it. Greg blew in his tennis shorts and Polo shirt. Jesus, he and Mom looked like two Neapolitan ice cream cones standing together. I fought my gag reflex.

“Noah, Greg and I are going to play tennis.”

“You don’t say,” I mumbled. Mom shot me a look, and I ducked my head.

“I should be back by five or six.”

“Okay.”

“You and Jake behave yourself, okay?”

“We will,” I said.

“I’ll keep him in line, Maggie,” Jake said, with a broad grin.

Mom laughed. “All right then.”

As they started to the door, Jake leaned back in his chair to stare at my mom’s ass in her tennis skirt.

I grabbed the newspaper next to me and whacked him in the head.

“What the hell was that for?” he asked.

“For scamming my mom, you pervert!”

Jake grinned. “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”

“Well, you better try.”

He continued staring at the door. “She seems happy,” he mused.

“Yeah, whatever,” I grumbled, suddenly losing my appetite.

Jake cocked his eyebrows at me. “Don’t you think she deserves a little happiness?”

“Yessss,” I hissed.

“Oh, I get it. You just don’t like him.”

“The guy’s a tool!”

Jake laughed and shook his head. “No dude, my dad is a tool. That guy,” he jerked his head towards the door. “is a decent guy.”

“Whatever.”

“You think they’re pretty serious? Like getting married serious?”

“I don’t wanna think about it!” I shouted. I shot up from my seat and stalked over to the sink. I tossed my plate into the sudsy water, which sloshed onto my shirt and the floor. “And what the hell do you know about marriage or relationships? It’s not like you’ve ever been faithful to a girl for two seconds.”

“That’s not true,” he argued.

“It so is, man. You wouldn’t have the first idea about how to be in a relationship.”

Jake’s eyes narrowed. “Take that back.”

“I will not.”

I’d turned to get a dishcloth to mop up the water when Jake appeared at my side. “Listen man, I’m not just some player who doesn’t care about anyone but myself!”

“I didn’t say you were.”

Out of nowhere he shoved me hard against the counter. “Not in so many words, but you did.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “Dude, what the hell is the matter with you?”

Jake’s face softened. “Nothing…sorry.”

“Man, you’re acting weird today. Maybe I better call Mom back to examine you.”

He snorted. “Um, last time I checked, having a vagina wasn’t one of my problems.”

“No, having too many is yours!” I joked.

Jake laughed but shook his head. “There you go again. I told you last night I was changing.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know if you were serious or not.”

“Well, I am. No more one night stands or random hookups for me.”

“How come?”

Jake didn’t answer me. Instead, he walked out of the kitchen to the living room. I followed him and plopped down beside him on the couch. “Jake, you didn’t answer me.”

He glanced up from the remote and smiled—a truly sincere smile. “Because I think I’m in love.”

I almost fell off the couch. “You’re what?”

“You heard me, asshat!”

“I’m sorry, man. I just wasn’t expecting that from you.”

“Well, I’m sorry to shock you, but it’s the truth.”

I stared at him in astonishment. “Wow, that’s intense.”

Jake laughed and propped his feet on Mom’s antique coffee table. “It feels intense man.”

Eyeing him warily, I kicked Jake’s feet away. “Yeah, well what happened to you telling me when I was in a relationship that love’s for pussies?”

With a grimace, Jake replied, “I was wrong. And I’m sorry.”

My eyebrows practically shot off my forehead. “Excuse me? Did you just not only admit that you were wrong about something, but you also apologized?” When Jake bobbed his head, I reached for my phone. “Okay, Mom definitely needs to check you out!”