Page 53 of Real Forever
What am I going to tell her about Calgary? She’s going to be mad. And she has every right to be. How can I explain it to her so she understands I don’t have a choice?
You don’t have a choice?
Ok… I guess I do have a choice, but it’s not so simple.
Only because you’re a little bitch who lets his mommy run his fucking life for him.
Argh.
Jake slammed his hands on the desk and stood up. He had at least fifteen minutes before his client was due to arrive and he needed to get his head on straight. He grabbed his coat and headed out the door, hoping the cold and the fresh air would snap him back to the present moment.
Why am I even worrying about this? It’s not like Madison is in love with me or something. She probably doesn’t even care I’m leaving. Maybe she’s relieved. She won’t have to worry about blowing me off once this whole thing with Lauren is over.
The idea of Madison being relieved to see him go tugged at Jake’s heart like an anchor. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and quickened his pace.
Jake, you need to focus. You need to keep your eyes on what is important. There’s a small window of time to get momentum built with this business and you can’t afford to squander it. You’re so close to making a big leap forward in your professional life. It’s everything you’ve worked so hard for. Stay focused.
After he’d looped around two blocks and returned to his office, he headed inside, took a deep breath, and sat back down at his desk. Ready to meet his first client of the day.
* * *
Jake had arrivedat Rita’s ten minutes early, which was now fifteen minutes ago, he noted, checking his watch. He absentmindedly slid his silverware a little closer to his plate, and then back again while watching the entrance. His heart thumped a little too quickly. Nervous? Excited? He wasn’t sure, and he tried to take a breath to calm himself. As he did, Madison came bursting through the door, a flurry of blonde hair and bright colors. She smiled at the hostess and pointed at Jake as she sailed past her, bee-lining for the table.
“Shit, Jake. I’m so sorry I’m late. I hope you weren’t waiting here too long,” she said, glancing at the half-empty water glass in front of him.
Jake stood as she approached. “No problem at all.” He stepped forward and reached for a hug but pulled back when she plopped her purse on an empty seat and pulled out another chair to sit. Jake smoothed his tie and sat back down.
“You have to get a burger here. They make the best fucking burgers ever. They make this one with a Saskatoon berry jam which, I know, sounds nasty as hell, but I swear to god it will change your life.”
Jake smiled at her enthusiastic description before an intrusive thought snatched him by the throat.How does this woman’s eyes dance with more light and passion over a burger than you’ve ever had for anything in your life?
He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. “Sounds delicious. I’ll try it.”
Madison grabbed his menu and her own, handing it to the waitress as she approached their table. “Hi. We’ll have two Prairie Burgers please.”
“Great choice. Would you like those with fries, Caesar salad, or signature salad?”
“Signature—”
Madison shot Jake a playful side-eye.
She smiled back at the waitress. “We’ll have them both with poutine, please.”
The waitress smirked. “Perfect. Those should be out right away.”
Jake leaned back in his chair. “Let me guess. The poutine is life changing too?”
“You have no idea, Jake.” She took a slurp of her water. “This poutine will like, marry you and move you out of the dingy basement your stepmother forces you to sleep in and into a castle where you become a princess and reign over your new kingdom with grace and benevolence.”
Jake burst into laughter and felt the tension in his chest subside. Madison smiled back at him.
“You’ve got such a great laugh, Jake.” Madison blushed and bit back a shy grin.
Jake’s body flooded with heat. “Look, Madison, I… I’m sorry about my parents yesterday. I didn’t know they were coming and—”
Madison raised a hand to interrupt him. “It’s fine. Really. I don’t want you to feel bad about it. You didn’t know they were coming, but even if you did, it’s not like you were under some kind of obligation to tell me about them or about Calgary.”
“Let me explain about Calgary.”
