JAKE (Leaves of a Maple Book 2) by Haley Jenner

Author:Haley Jenner [Jenner, Haley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-08-19T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Aubrey

“Aubrey,” David calls quietly, his voice soft, coaxing and so out of character, I turn instinctively toward him.

His focus is on the road, and I watch his teeth grind within his jaw. He’s nervous, but I understand that. This could make his career, make the work he’s committed his whole self to, all worth it. This is it. His moment, a test if you will. A bid at his biggest client, one that will undoubtedly change his standing in the company he’s given his life to. He’ll be revered, respected.

He glances toward me, only a fleeting look before his eyes return to the road as he drives.

“David, I know this is an important night for you, I’ll be on my best behavior.”

I hate that I have to recite those words, but he nods. The tick in his jaw flexes again with the tension the anticipation for this evening brings. It clouds him with an air of vulnerability you never see from him. Enough to almost tempt me to reach out. To touch him reassuringly in some way. Almost.

I think an act of intimacy would throw him off as much as it would me right now. It’s sad that this is now our reality. That we’ve come to a point in our life where we feel the need to warn one another to behave in a way we see fit. Or that a simple loving act of encouragement would make each other anxious.

I watch his profile as he drives, he’s focused, but clearly somewhere else. His entire career depends on tonight. Watching him as closely as I am isn’t something I do often, not anymore and I try to recall if either of us ever gave this relationship a proper shot.

Did I support him in his endeavors the way I should have?

Has he ever really embraced the person I am, or been proud of the strength and confidence I have in myself to speak my mind? Did he ever think he could truly love me?

Have we always really resented these traits that seem to have formed such a crater of mistrust and misery around us? Or have we grown into it?

“Did it annoy you from the beginning?” His neck twists immediately as my voice breaks the quiet in the car, his face showing his confusion at my question. “My openness, forwardness, who I am…. I guess?”

I shouldn’t be doing this to him now, not on the bridge of such an important moment in his life, but the question falls from my mouth before I can give it a second thought.

“No,” he answers, shocking me with how genuine the simple word sounded.

I’m used to him sighing, the sound always laced with such irritation, such annoyance at anything and everything I do. But now, he sighs and there’s an acceptance, a sadness in the sound.

“I admired it when we first met. I found it refreshing. It was different from the falseness and pretense I’m surrounded with on a daily basis.”

I turn away

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