Free Forgiving Patience by Jennifer Simpkins

talk.
    “About your coffee shop and
bookstore. Have you told Jake that you need to sell the house so you can use
the money for a down payment on a building?”
    “No. The building I had had my eye on
sold about a month ago. They’re putting in another auto parts store.”
    “I’m sorry, Anna.”
    “I’ll find another spot, but it’s
none of Jake’s business what I do with my house. One way or another, I will get
him out. He has no right to be there. It was a lowball move of him to make this
deal with Garrett.”
    “I’m on your side, you know that…”
    “But?”
    “Don’t be mad at me. I’m just saying
that house has in some way saved Jake from his destructive self. When he first
got home, it was no happy reunion. He was cold, hard, and furious with the world—and
that included everyone around him. There were plenty of nights when Tommy was
called to pick him up from Ollie’s because he was too drunk to put one foot in
front of the other. When he moved into your house, that all changed. Maybe it
was because of the butt whippings from Bradley, but mostly it was because he
threw himself into something again. I know he’s worked hard to straighten up in
his life. To be the Jake we all remember—the fun, arrogant, confident, and
slightly cocky guy.”
    “Well, he sure is getting back to his
old ways. Every time I’ve seen him, he’s been a complete jackass.”
    Her friend’s eyes grew twice their
size. “So you have seen him more than once? You did find him in your driveway?”
    Anna had to laugh. It felt like old
times to sit, talk guys, and let her guard down with someone she’d missed
terribly. Even though she felt exhausted from lack of sleep, which had more to
do with her sweet dreams of the old Jake she’d known as a stupid kid. She
didn’t remember him like Em. To Anna, he was uncaring and making promises that
in the end he couldn’t keep.
    “Okay, what I’m about to tell you
doesn’t leave this room. No shop talk or pillow talk. Got it?”
    “Deal.” They shook hands, hit their
knuckles together, and made their hands into the shape of guns. It was a
handshake they’d made up as kids, and for the most part it was the only thing
that got Em to keep her big mouth shut. Whenever Em was about to open her
mouth, revealing the sacred information she had been told not to mention, she
thought back to the handshake and changed her mind.
    “I know you saw us dancing last
night. Well, before I ran out and embarrassed myself, he tried making some
ridiculous deal with me. A deal I will not be taking.”
    “What was the deal? You sure are
making me beg today.”
    “It’s fun watching you when you’re
starved for information. You really are a junky when it comes to gossip.”
    “Shut up and just tell me what Jake
asked you, please.”
    Anna couldn’t help but smile. “Okay,
he said he would give me my house back if I went on three dates with him, and
he won’t ask for any of the money he’s sunk into it.”
    “I know this isn’t something you want
to hear, but it sounds like a good deal. I mean, three dates with the famous
Jake Lawrence —most women
would fight you for that chance. Plus, you need to sell the place. If he’s done
a lot of work on it, you can get more money out of it. That will be good for
your future business.”
    “I don’t want his money, Em. I can
take care of myself. I shouldn’t have to subject myself to anyone to get my own
damn house back.”
    Anna could feel her temper showing
its ugly head. While it was good to let things off her chest, she didn’t want
to take her frustrations out on her best friend. She knew deep down that Em was
only trying to help and look out for her.
    “Quit being stubborn, Anna Kelly. If
the guy wants to put all his money into a house that isn’t even his, then
that’s his stupidly. You should just chalk it up as good luck.”
    “Luck? Being around Jake is not
something I would consider as luck. I came here for you…” and other