AMANDA
"So, do you have a last name? I've just realised you've known mine all this time but you've never told me yours."
"Technically, you never told me yours either, Ms. Reeves. I dug that information up on my own." He flashed me this cocky smirk, as though he'd won something out of his remark.
"Oh, haha, very funny. What are you, a child?" I rolled my eyes playfully, a smile resting on my face despite my 'stern' attitude.
"Preston."
"Jake Preston? It sounds like the name of some rich actor or someone famous."
"Well, it's actually Jacob, but yeah, I guess it does. Who knows? I could have a third secret identity no one knows about." He winked, the light jab at himself making me smile sadly but quickly replaced it with a happier tone.
As Jake and I sat in the quiet of the medical bay, his confession hung heavy in the air like a weight too burdensome to bear. His words had laid bare the scars of his past, revealing a depth of pain and darkness that I had never imagined.
"Jacob Preston," I repeated softly, testing the name on my tongue. "I think I'll stick with Jake... unless I get mad at you. Then it'll be full-on government name."
His lips twitched in a half-hearted attempt at a smile, but the pain in his eyes betrayed the facade of bravado he had carefully constructed. "You're talking as though you plan on sticking with me. But there's no way, right? After everything I just said- "
"Jake," I interjected, my voice firm with conviction. "After everything you just said, all I can say is that you've got an utterly fucked-up past and nobody you can lean on, hiding behind your bad-boy act. Well, is it so wrong to offer to be that person you can go to and lean on?"
His gaze flickered with a mixture of surprise and disbelief, as if my words had shattered the walls he had built around his heart. "One day you'll see that your kindness is your weakness," he murmured, his voice tinged with resignation.
But I shook my head, refusing to accept his pessimism as truth. "Maybe," I conceded, "but maybe it's also my greatest strength."
"But what if you get hurt? What if I'm-
"At this point... nothing could be worse than 5 years of lies, don't you think?" I remarked, holding up my now empty ring finger as a silent testament to the betrayal I had endured. Jake chuckled softly, a disbelieving shake of his head accompanying his amusement.
"Seems you're right. Now, enough of this. I should get you home. It's late at night, and I'm sure you'd love to get to your cosy bed," he said, his voice laced with concern.
"Ugh, yes, please. No offence, your couch is great and all, but I'd like to go back to my King-sized cloud please," I replied, reaching out to him like a child eager for comfort. He laughed, his warmth enveloping me as he lifted me effortlessly, his strength a stark reminder of the powerful presence he held.
"You're a strong one, aren't you?" I teased, unable to resist the urge to playfully pinch his muscles. To my surprise, my fingers met with a firmness that left me momentarily stunned. I glanced at his arm in disbelief, marvelling at the undeniable strength that lay beneath his skin.
Jake's laughter filled the air, a melodic sound that echoed with the warmth of his soul. "You're not so bad yourself," he quipped, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"But, you also weigh nothing to me. You should eat more carbs," Jake remarked teasingly, his arms steady as he spun us in a circle, effortlessly displaying his strength.
"Oh my goodness, stop that!" I squealed, holding onto him tighter, a mixture of exhilaration and fear coursing through me. Despite my apprehension, I couldn't help but marvel at his effortless power, grateful for his unwavering stability.
"You doubt my strength, doll. I'd never drop you... on accident," he reassured me with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"So you'd do it on purpose?" I retorted, unable to resist the opportunity to banter with him. His response was a cheeky smirk, a silent acknowledgement of the playful exchange between us.
As we made our way to the parking garage, Jake's demeanour remained steadfastly attentive, his every action a testament to his chivalrous nature. He guided me to his Volvo with gentle precision, ensuring my safety as he helped me into the passenger seat and secured the seatbelt around me.
"My, my. Such a gentleman you are, good sir," I teased, unable to suppress a smile at his gallant gestures.
"Only the best for you, my lady," he replied with a wink, his playful tone echoing through the confines of the car as he settled into the driver's seat. As we embarked on the journey home, his laughter filled the air, a comforting reminder of the newfound bond that had blossomed between us in the wake of adversity.
I must have drifted off at some point during the drive, for when I stirred awake, we were already parked in Jake's driveway. He sat beside me, engrossed in his phone, until he noticed my awakening and promptly set the device aside, directing his full attention to me.
"Had a good nap, sleeping beauty? We got here almost 3 hours ago," he remarked with a smirk, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Three hours??" I exclaimed in disbelief, my heart racing at the realization of how long I had slept. "Jake, you could've woken me up! Did you just sit there on your phone and wait this entire time?"
He chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes. "Oh, of course not, don't be ridiculous," he replied with a smirk, his tone teasing.
I breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that he hadn't simply left me to slumber alone. "Well, what did you do then?" I asked, curious about how he had spent the time.
A mischievous grin spread across his face. "I spent some of the time looking at you. Even got a few pics for blackmail purposes," he confessed, his thumb hovering over the camera icon on his phone. Before I could react, the flash went off, capturing the moment with a bright burst of light.
My jaw dropped in disbelief, a mixture of amusement and indignation coursing through me. "I take back the gentleman thing. You're an asshole!" I exclaimed, though the corners of my lips twitched with suppressed laughter. After such a heavy day, Jake's laughter that filled the air, a rich sound that echoed with warmth and affection, was a perfect remedy for anything.