What? I screech. Are you sick?
Come on Annie, think about it he says in a condescending tone.
Think about what I repeat in a high-pitched tone. There is nothing to think about.
Look he begins but we are interrupted by Maria coming in with the food.
She drops the meal on the table and probably sensing the tension, quickly leaves the room.
You know what. Let's just eat. I believe you will think more rationally on a full stomach he says.
I am about to argue when my stomach grumbles.
Just eat he says in exasperation.
Nodding I pick up the fork and take a bite of the pasta.
Oh my God I moan this is so good.
Jake just stares at me but I ignore him. We eat in relative silence and when I am done I look up to see that Jake is already done.
Wow you eat fast I comment and immediately start blushing.
I know. Let's go to the study to talk. Maria will clear this up he says while standing up and motioning for me to follow him.
Alright I say although I feel a little bad about leaving the dishes for Maria.
Following him we pass through a long hallway before he leads me into a room. Looking around the room I know this must be the study. The whole shelves are lined with books and there is a huge table which has papers strewn on it and a comfortable chair. There is also a fire place and I can already imagine myself curling up on the sofa in front of the fireplace. Shaking myself out of my day dreaming I walk over to the sofa and stiffly sit down.
I watch Jake walk to a cabinet and pour himself something that I am guessing is brandy in a glass. Since his back is to me I have the opportunity to admire him and I have to admit that the guy is hot.
He suddenly turns around and I quickly look away. Composing myself I look back at him after a moment while praying that he didn't catch me staring but from the smirk on his face I know he did.
Look I am not going to marry you. It makes no sense I begin.
He says nothing but instead goes to sit behind the desk.
Annie he begins just hear me out ok? I want to be very much present in my child's life. I never want my child to feel left out when other kids have their dads with them during school plays and PTAs. I am not going to make you inconvenient or anything but rather I will try my best to be a good person to you during our marriage.
I don't know I say unconvincingly.
We could try out the marriage and if it doesn't work out then we get divorced without any fuss and I promise not to make the divorce difficult for you. There will be a handsome settlement for you and my child after the divorce. So what do you say? he asks.
I don't know what to say Jake. I don't want to make a wrong decision because I am not only thinking of myself now but also my baby I tell him truthfully.
Alright why don't you take your time and think about it he says.
Thank you I reply him sincerely.
We sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes then he says Have you seen a doctor?
No I reply shocked because to be honest I hadn't even thought about doctors.
I will take care of it he says.
I just nod and we lapse into silence.
A voice calling my name wakes me up. What? I say groggily while sitting up slowly.
Come on. Let's get you home a voice says from behind me. I turn to see Jake standing behind me.
What happened I say to him while trying to stand and walk but instead succeed in wobbling. Suddenly Jake puts a hand around my waist to support me. I smile at him gratefully.
Well I was working on something and when I looked up you had already fallen asleep. I let you sleep for a few hours but then woke you up because I figured you will want to be home now. And also because your friend had been calling you nonstop he says.
Bella must be so worried I exclaim and as if on cue, my phone suddenly starts ringing. Picking up the call I say Hello.
Annie are you ok. What is going on. Why aren't you home? Bella says in a frantic tone.
Bells I am fine ok? I will explain when I get home I tell her and then end the call.
Looking up at Jake I say Sorry about that.
No need to be sorry. It's actually nice to have a friend that worries he says in a wistful tone.
Yes it is I answer him. I am about to ask him about his wistful tone when he suddenly says Well let's get you home.
We are here Jake says and I look out the window to see that we are in front of my apartment.
Well good night I say. He doesn't answer, just stares straight ahead.
I let myself into my apartment and go straight to my room. On getting to my room I immediately change into my pajamas. I am brushing my teeth in the bathroom when I hear Bella come into my room. I quickly finish brushing and step out of the bathroom to see Bella on my bed.
Hey Bells I say but she just glares at me and says Spill in a murderous tone.
Sighing I plop down on my bed and tell her the whole story. I leave out some embarrassing details like when my stomach growled.
When I am done Bella is looking at me with a shocked expression.
So he asked you to marry him she says.
Well yes but I told him I would think about it I reply her.
Wow she says. Don't worry it's gonna be fine.
So how is Joseph I ask and immediately see her expression fall.
I don't really know. He is still on a trip and I don't want to nag him. So I will just wait for him to be back. But I just miss him so much she says with a sad smile.
Putting my hands over her hand I say Don't worry Bells. It's gonna be fine.
We end up talking all through the night and finally fall asleep holding ourselves.
What? I screech. Are you sick?
Come on Annie, think about it he says in a condescending tone.
Think about what I repeat in a high-pitched tone. There is nothing to think about.
Look he begins but we are interrupted by Maria coming in with the food.
She drops the meal on the table and probably sensing the tension, quickly leaves the room.
You know what. Let's just eat. I believe you will think more rationally on a full stomach he says.
I am about to argue when my stomach grumbles.
Just eat he says in exasperation.
Nodding I pick up the fork and take a bite of the pasta.
Oh my God I moan this is so good.
Jake just stares at me but I ignore him. We eat in relative silence and when I am done I look up to see that Jake is already done.
Wow you eat fast I comment and immediately start blushing.
I know. Let's go to the study to talk. Maria will clear this up he says while standing up and motioning for me to follow him.
Alright I say although I feel a little bad about leaving the dishes for Maria.
Following him we pass through a long hallway before he leads me into a room. Looking around the room I know this must be the study. The whole shelves are lined with books and there is a huge table which has papers strewn on it and a comfortable chair. There is also a fire place and I can already imagine myself curling up on the sofa in front of the fireplace. Shaking myself out of my day dreaming I walk over to the sofa and stiffly sit down.
I watch Jake walk to a cabinet and pour himself something that I am guessing is brandy in a glass. Since his back is to me I have the opportunity to admire him and I have to admit that the guy is hot.
He suddenly turns around and I quickly look away. Composing myself I look back at him after a moment while praying that he didn't catch me staring but from the smirk on his face I know he did.
Look I am not going to marry you. It makes no sense I begin.
He says nothing but instead goes to sit behind the desk.
Annie he begins just hear me out ok? I want to be very much present in my child's life. I never want my child to feel left out when other kids have their dads with them during school plays and PTAs. I am not going to make you inconvenient or anything but rather I will try my best to be a good person to you during our marriage.
I don't know I say unconvincingly.
We could try out the marriage and if it doesn't work out then we get divorced without any fuss and I promise not to make the divorce difficult for you. There will be a handsome settlement for you and my child after the divorce. So what do you say? he asks.
I don't know what to say Jake. I don't want to make a wrong decision because I am not only thinking of myself now but also my baby I tell him truthfully.
Alright why don't you take your time and think about it he says.
Thank you I reply him sincerely.
We sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes then he says Have you seen a doctor?
No I reply shocked because to be honest I hadn't even thought about doctors.
I will take care of it he says.
I just nod and we lapse into silence.
A voice calling my name wakes me up. What? I say groggily while sitting up slowly.
Come on. Let's get you home a voice says from behind me. I turn to see Jake standing behind me.
What happened I say to him while trying to stand and walk but instead succeed in wobbling. Suddenly Jake puts a hand around my waist to support me. I smile at him gratefully.
Well I was working on something and when I looked up you had already fallen asleep. I let you sleep for a few hours but then woke you up because I figured you will want to be home now. And also because your friend had been calling you nonstop he says.
Bella must be so worried I exclaim and as if on cue, my phone suddenly starts ringing. Picking up the call I say Hello.
Annie are you ok. What is going on. Why aren't you home? Bella says in a frantic tone.
Bells I am fine ok? I will explain when I get home I tell her and then end the call.
Looking up at Jake I say Sorry about that.
No need to be sorry. It's actually nice to have a friend that worries he says in a wistful tone.
Yes it is I answer him. I am about to ask him about his wistful tone when he suddenly says Well let's get you home.
We are here Jake says and I look out the window to see that we are in front of my apartment.
Well good night I say. He doesn't answer, just stares straight ahead.
I let myself into my apartment and go straight to my room. On getting to my room I immediately change into my pajamas. I am brushing my teeth in the bathroom when I hear Bella come into my room. I quickly finish brushing and step out of the bathroom to see Bella on my bed.
Hey Bells I say but she just glares at me and says Spill in a murderous tone.
Sighing I plop down on my bed and tell her the whole story. I leave out some embarrassing details like when my stomach growled.
When I am done Bella is looking at me with a shocked expression.
So he asked you to marry him she says.
Well yes but I told him I would think about it I reply her.
Wow she says. Don't worry it's gonna be fine.
So how is Joseph I ask and immediately see her expression fall.
I don't really know. He is still on a trip and I don't want to nag him. So I will just wait for him to be back. But I just miss him so much she says with a sad smile.
Putting my hands over her hand I say Don't worry Bells. It's gonna be fine.
We end up talking all through the night and finally fall asleep