Page 106 of Yours, Finally

I made it to the stairs at the edge of the platform. Jake waited for me at the bottom; he grinned and offered me a hand to help me down.

"Thank you, Jake." I gave him a quick kiss. "How was it?"

"It was great. You had them laughing a couple of times."

"That's how I keep them awake," I said, before the organizers approached and we talked more about the event.

I chatted with them and some of the attendees, with Jake by my side keeping guard. Giving me a proud smile once in a while. When possible, I held his hand. Sometimes, he put his hand on my lower back. For a little while, it didn't feel like a serious conversation waited for us afterwards.

Jake and I socialized for about half an hour, before we said our goodbyes, and left through the side door.

I sighed. "That was good. I'm glad I did it."

"It was nice. I hope some of the folk there got inspired."

We walked into a park, hand in hand. If we found a place to sit down and talk, it would give us easy access to the street on the other side, where we could be picked up by a driver.

"Inspired?" I chuckled. "I'm content with them getting a couple of nuggets they can use as motivation, but inspiration? That's a tall order."

"I don't know. I was inspired."

I laughed. "Please."

"I'll prove it." He stopped in the middle of the path, and unbuttoned his shirt fast.

I raised both eyebrows. "Jake? Don't tell me you—"

His undershirt was a deep navy color, with a bold white font across his wide chest.

She's too inspirational and too cute to handle, not to say anything of HOT.

- Jake, Violeta Fan Club President & CEO

I laughed. "These shirts— we need to use them as pajama shirts."

"I'll use it publicly as soon as we're out." He buttoned up his shirt.

I laughed again.

He took my hand and we continued our search for a good spot to talk.

"What time do you have to meet your parents' friends?" Jake asked.

"I gave them an estimate so we have some time…"

A figure approached from the corner of my eye. Turning my gaze to them was instinctual, like my welcoming smile. It became a rictus on my face, when I recognized Andrew's face.

I startled.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Jake squeezed my hand until my knuckles rubbed together.

He tried to pull me behind him, but I didn't move.

"So this is why you've been ignoring me." Andrew wore classic cotton pants and a shirt, both tight and stylish. He crossed his arms, and the fabric pulled around him.

Jake straightened at the gesture. "Get lost, Andrew."

The menace in his voice unlocked me into action.