Page 13 of The Music of Us
“Hey, buddy,” I called softly to the sleeping ball of fuzz. “You have a guest.”
A yawn sounded, followed by a softmmrp?as the cat on the plush throne of blankets awoke. Rumple flicked his tail and slit open a single green eye, looking like a fur-covered dragon who wondered what mortal dared to disturb his slumber.
Jake entered the room behind me, then slowly got down on his knees in front of Rumple. Next, he extended his hand toward the cat, making Rumple’s second eye open and his black nose twitch with interest.
For a long moment, nothing happened.
Jake had probably changed too much for Rumple to identify. The cocky guy in here might as well be a stranger. Four years was a long time. Sure, Jake had hung out at the café nearly every day and been here when Rumple was a kitten, but that didn’t mean—
A rumbling purr interrupted my thoughts.
Pursing my lips, I raised a questioning eyebrow at the cat over Jake’s shoulder.
Really? You’re welcoming Jake back just like that? As if nothing’s changed?
How did Rumple recognize him when I barely could?
I opened my mouth, something sarcastic blossoming on my tongue, but then I saw Jake’s face. Surprised, my mouth snapped shut.
For the first time since he stepped inside The Tiny Tiger, Jake lookedhappy.
With his face half turned away, and seemingly unaware that anyone besides Rumple could see him, Jake relaxed as softness overtook the sharpness of his features. Gone was the smolder from the posters. This wasn’t anything like the uninterested way he glanced at the police officers and flashing paparazzi cameras either. Rumple headbutted him and I watched in silence as a genuine, wide smile crossed Jake’s face, dimples and all.
Jake hadn’t smiled at me like that.
Rumple shot me a smug look as Jake started scratching him behind the ears.
Traitor, I mouthed.
Rumple turned his head toward Jake, then over in my direction as if to ask,Him or me?
As if suddenly remembering I was also in the room, Jake turned to look at me.
The smile was gone, an impassive look returning to his face, like anything else I’d seen had merely been a mirage.
“Does he still steal as much as he used to?” Jake asked.
“More. And on a regular basis,” I replied, coming over to stroke Rumple too, who purred louder at the doubled attention. “He thinks criminal activities are a fun little hobby to engage in.” The headline “Bad Boy Band Member Absconds with Manager’s Motorcycle” flashed through my mind. “Remind you of anyone?”
Jake shot me a look. I held his gaze, my lips twitching upward, utterly unrepentant.
He used to be so unguarded, but now Jake seemed perpetually unfazed. It was new—and there was something about itthat goaded me. Half of me wanted to see if I could say something snarky or bold enough to pull a reaction out of him and peek at what lay under that attitude.
The other half of me felt hesitant to do so. What would I see underneath? Would it be better or worse if I didn’t recognize the hidden parts of him I once knew?
And if I got the truth out of him, would he try the same with me?
Out of all my hesitations, that’s the one that kept me silent. We were both keeping too many secrets to play this game without risk.
Well, not secrets exactly. But if Jake’s life had transformed in front of the public’s eyes, mine had changed just as much behind closed doors. Four years ago, I could’ve told my best friend everything in a heartbeat. But now, I’d have to gamble on some smooth operator who changed personalities the way other people tried on clothes.
As I stroked Rumple, Jake’s hand moved over mine, accidentally lacing our fingers together.
We both froze. I stubbornly kept my hand where it was, wanting to withdraw but refusing to back down.
“Listen,” Jake started. “Luciana—”
The use of my full name in that familiar tone pulled me up short. He didn’t know me anymore, not really. I pulled my hand away. “No one calls me that anymore.”
