The Next Chapter (NEW VERSION)

Chapter 34

—Jake's POV—

Fuck I've missed her.

I've missed her laugh.

I've missed her smile.

I've missed the way she makes me laugh.

I've missed her hugs.

Her kisses.

I've missed her so much that it hurts. I had no idea this could hurt like this, I hate it.

I just want her. I want her for myself, way too much time has passed. Why can't she just be mine? "Enjoying your coffee?" She asks, bringing me back to reality.

"Yeah, it's good."

"Great. Why didn't you take any food?"

"One, I'm not that hungry. Two, I knew by the size of that sandwich that you weren't eating all of it, so I'll just take what's left." She falls quiet. "You don't want to admit it, do you?"

"Admit what?"

"That you're full."

She looks at me. "I am full actually, and I'm not a child so I'll share. Here-" She passes me her plate. "Enjoy." She smiles, I can't help but smile too which makes her blush. "It's cold." She brushes it off.

"Mhm. Whatever you say." This makes her smile even more. I'd pay money, a substantial amount of money, to keep her like this. I don't ever want to see her sad again, just a happy Emily. My happy Emily. "We should go out on a date." I say before I can stop myself. Idiot, what if I scare her off-

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Okay, but there's one small thing..." She says, leaning over the table to whisper in my ear, "I don't sleep with guys on the first date." This makes me choke. She burst out laughing, glad this is amusing her.

"Well, technically this won't be our first date." I correct her.

"We didn't date for over five years. The clock restarted."

"Are you for real? That's not how it works."

"Nope, no sex on the first date."

"We're out eating right now. Just the two of us. I call this a date."

"This is not a date, both persons know beforehand if it's a date or not."

I sigh and lean over the table to whisper to her, "Emily, sweetheart, I'd really like to fuck you. So please let this count as a date." This redness she can't blame on the weather, that's for damn sure.

"Gentleman much?"

"Gentlemen are boring." That makes her laugh.

"Gee, aren't you a catch?"

"Oh, I am." I smile. "So when's our next date? I'm free tonight."

"Tonight? Eager much?"

"When it comes to you, always." And that makes her blush. "But I'm not kidding, I'm free tonight. Come over, I'll cook for us."

"I don't know... Isn't it a bit too fast?" Too fast? I've spent five years of my life without her. How is this too fast? I need her by my side, to kiss her, touch her, just be with her. I'm not waiting anymore. "Tonight. Seven o'clock. I'll pick you up."

"Fine, but I can come on my own. I have a car, you know. I can drive."

"You don't know where I live."

"Did you forget the night you got totally wasted and I had to come rescue you? Plus, you know, this-" She points to her phone. "Is a phone. People use it for calling and even looking up maps! It's a wonder! I can just type in your address, and it'll show me the way to your house, shocking!" She gasps.