Free Miss Murder by Jenny Cosgrove Page A

“Has Jake proposed?”
     
    Anna shook her head. “No, but he's bound to, isn't he? I mean, we've been together ten years now, since we went to that Summer camp. We've pretty much followed each other around everywhere. We've lived together for four years. Why not get married?”
     
    Tina shook her head and laughed a bit.
     
    “What's that about?” Anna growled. She never liked it when Tina, home grown, immature, less educated Tina, acted so condescending.
     
    “He just doesn't seem like the type to root down.” She replied. “Remember when I first met him?”
     
    Anna nodded. “You said he looked like the polygamous type and said we wouldn't last.”
     
    “Well, I still get that vibe from him. He doesn't feel like the sort of guy who'd marry.”
     
    “Well, you were wrong about that and you're wrong now. I bet he wants to propose somewhere nice on holiday.” Anna retorted.
     
    Tina raised her eyebrows sarcastically and sipped her coffee.
     
    She didn't give it much more thought over the day, but on her way home, Anna felt doubt and anger building up inside her. Sure, Jake never seemed like the monogamous type. Not to her, not to Tina and not to anyone. At camp everyone knew he was the guy who got into tens of teen panties and for some reason most of the girls were proud of it. And he was a disgusting flirt at all times. But their relationship had been on better grounds. Anna had held back for months to make sure he could be loyal to her and Jake seemed willing to work hard for a real relationship with her. She had followed his university choice and later crossed the country to find work in the town where he was hired. Of course he would be loyal to her. He had to be...
     
    But little things were starting to nag at her. The flirting. The late nights. The lack of an engagement, or even a promise ring. She had bought them both promise rings and wore hers religiously. But his rested on his bedside table at all times.
     
    She would start light. As soon as she got home she made a beeline for the bedroom and then for the living room, where Jake sat in his boxers, watching TV.
     
    “Hi sweetie.” He said. “Busy day?”
     
    “Mad busy.” Anna grinned. “By the way, seeing as we're going abroad in a few months, I'd really, really like you to start wearing this.” She handed him the ring.
     
    He looked it over and put it down on the table. “You know I don't do jewellery, sweetie.”
     
    “But this is different.” Anna insisted. “It's like that necklace you wore for your mother. You wore that so she knew you cared about her cause, right?”
     
    “Yeah, but why wear a stupid ring to show I'm your boyfriend?”
     
    “To keep the other girls away, to show you care about me.”
     
    Jake laughed. “I do care about you Anna... But people wear these if they plan on marrying and, to be honest, I never said I wanted to marry you.”
     
    Anna was taken aback, for a few seconds she didn't know what to say and fiddled with her ring. “But, you want to be with me forever, right?”
     
    “Of course, just not married.” Jake put the ring down on the table.
     
    “And only me, right?”
     
    Jake fell silent. “I've said I'm not comfortable having this talk.” He finally said. This was what he always said when she brought up marriage, commitment or past girlfriends.
     
    “But I just need to know. All you have to say is 'only you sweetie' and I'm good.” She shrugged.
     
    Jake shrugged back and continued watching the TV. He was unbelievable. Anna turned and walked into the kitchen to make dinner. How could he be like that? How could he be so stubborn, so non committal. He said he wanted to be with her forever. They had plans for a life together into his fifties. Sure, he didn't have to marry or wear the ring, but she'd like him to at least acknowledge her as his girlfriend, as his life partner. Especially before they went on holiday together. She sighed as she chopped the onions. Did he have to be