Sweet as Pie by Alicia Hunter Pace
Chapter Twenty
It had been twenty-four hours since Jake had kissed Evans at her front door and he still hadn’t said it was a mistake—though he still could, if he called tonight like he’d promised. And it was possible that he wouldn’t call. She didn’t know which would be worse.
She’d find out soon. The game with Winnipeg had ended an hour ago. If he was going to call, it would be soon. Probably. Maybe—depending on what he had to do after the game. Maybe Jezebel and Jolene or their counterparts had flown up and...well. No use thinking about that.
It seemed like a week since she’d called Able to tell him she wasn’t going to the breakfast. She had given an abbreviated version of what she’d originally intended, saying only that due to some past history she was emotionally unavailable and it wasn’t fair to go out with him. He’d tried to make light of it and laughed a little when he said he was a big, strong hockey player and was willing to risk it. If not for Jake and Saturday night, she might have caved, but Jake and Saturday night had happened, and she’d been firm. Able had accepted it with good grace and had pressed her no further.
She got the sense that she’d hurt his feelings, but what was she supposed to do? Marry him, have five babies, and freeze lasagna?
Ridiculous thoughts. Asking her to breakfast did not equal wanting to marry her.
The phone rang. Jake. She made herself take five deep breaths before answering.
“Hello.”
“Hi, yourself.” She could hear the smile in his voice.
“How’s Winnipeg?”
“Cold. I’d had enough of that so I didn’t go out to eat with the guys. I’m back in my room.”
“Did someone at least leave a mint on your pillow?”
“I ordered room service. It’ll be here soon.”
He’d called her before eating. That was a good sign. Wasn’t it? “Post-game pizza?”
He laughed. “You sure know me. But no. Too bad for me. I had to talk them into making me something since it’s past room service time. I have to take what I can get.”
“You should have played the I’m a famous pro hockey player card.”
“No, ma’am. We had just beaten the home team. I like my food spit-free.”
They’d won—only 2–1, but a win was a win.
“Good game,” she said.
“Not that good. Did you see it?”
“No. I didn’t have any way to, but I kept up with it on my iPad.”
“We’ll have to subscribe to some hockey channels for you so you can watch me play when I’m away.”
Did that mean he was thinking of the future?
“You’re mighty sure of yourself, aren’t you?” she said.
“You did keep up with it. Actually watching it is bound to be more exciting.”
“Fair enough.”
“Tell me about your day.”
“Let’s see.” She lay on the sofa and pulled a throw over her. “I had coffee with the parents before they headed back to the Delta. Claire called and I met her at Crust to go over my books.”
“And?”
“I’m doing fine. We talked about my fall fest plans. Ava Grace’s mother wants to order pies for the Christmas Gala.”
“Sounds like a big party and a lot of work,” Jake said.
“It is, but big orders mean good business.” And, unlike catering, it was work she loved. She had not told Claire she didn’t want to cater for the Yellowhammers like she’d planned. She’d had enough emotional upheaval for one day. “And other than that, Hyacinth and I took a walk.” She chose not to go into how Hyacinth had given her the third degree after seeing Jake’s car at her house Saturday night. Evans had been evasive and focused on telling Hyacinth that normal people didn’t look out the window every time they got up in the middle of the night to pee. “Hyacinth said Robbie’s going to play the piano at Trousseau at the fall fest, that Claire arranged it.”
“He didn’t mention it, but it sounds like him. I hope you’ll—” Then his voice trailed off. “Evie, someone’s at the door. Probably room service. Can you hang on?”
“You should go and eat—”
“No. Please... I’ll be back. I have something to tell you.”
Anxiety set in. People hardly ever said they had something to tell you unless it was bad. If it was good, they just told you.
After about half a minute and a decade, Jake came back on the phone.
“Evie?”
“Still me.”
He took a deep breath—further evidence that this was going nowhere good.
“About Saturday night.”
And here it comes, the part where he says it was a mistake and we should just forget it.
“I don’t want you to think that happened because I was drunk and stupid.”
“I didn’t think you were drunk. I know you weren’t. I’ve seen you drunk.”
He laughed a little. “Just stupid?”
“No. Not that either. I’ve never seen you stupid. Don’t start that with me again. You’re successful. End of story.”
“I guess. But I wanted to tell you that I didn’t come to your house planning to put a move on you.”
“No, no, of course not.” She was going to make it easy for him because that was the best way for her to save face. “You don’t have to—”
He cut her off. “But it didn’t surprise me.”
Really? “It didn’t?”
“No. There has been some...attraction—at least on my part. But I’ve resisted because I didn’t want to risk our friendship.”
Was it possible that it was going to be all right, after all?
“Here’s the thing, Evie. There are lots of reasons not to pursue this. I’ve thought about them all. I don’t need to spell them out. You know what they are. But I think there are more reasons—better reasons—to see where this might go.”
Relief washed over her like cool rain on a scorching hot day. “Go on,” she said because she couldn’t think what else. If she showed the true state of her heart, it would send him running.
“I was about to say that I hoped you would go to our game against the Colonials on Friday, that I can arrange to leave you a ticket. I won’t have time to see you before the game, but after, I want to take you out for a proper meal and spend time with you.” He hesitated. “I miss you, Evie.”
He missed her—just like she’d missed him all her life. Was it possible that the missing could be coming to an end?
“I’m not asking for any promises,” he said.
But you could, Jake, you really could. I would promise you anything because I’ve had a lifetime of wishing I could give you everything.
“I can’t know or promise where we’ll end up, but there are things I want,” he went on. “I want real dates. What happened between us Saturday night felt right, and I want to give us a chance. I want to teach you to skate—and I won’t let you fall. And I do promise this—I will not jerk you around.”
She wanted to cry. She wanted to run into the street and shout that life was good. She wanted to kiss babies and hug old people, feed cats and find a home for every stray dog.
If this were a romantic movie, the credits would roll.
“Evie?” Jake said. “Are you there? Can you please say something? Even if it’s not what I want to hear, because I’m dying over here.”
She laughed a little. She hadn’t realized she hadn’t said anything. “Yes. I’ll be at the game. And afterward, you’d better order your own steak because you aren’t getting any of mine.”
His laugh had a quality she recognized all too well—relief. How about that? After all these years, Jake Champagne relieved that she wanted to be with him.
Yes, the credits were definitely rolling. There would be a border of hearts, ivy, and roses and the music would be happy.
“I would never try to eat your steak.”
“Don’t lie to me. But speaking of eating—you should go eat now before your food gets cold.” She wanted to hang up before she said something stupid that would make him want to take it back.
“Yeah.” He sighed. “I should. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” she said.
“And I’ll hold you—if you’ll let me.”
Oh, yes. I will.
Fade to black on the movie screen.
And they lived happily ever after. Exploding fireworks and hearts and stars tap dancing across the screen.