Learning To Trust Again

But Jake leaving now was the last thing Rebecca wanted now and a delicate blush suffusing her face she smiled as she pulled herself together. ‘No, that’s fine. Give me five minutes to change and I’ll be ready to go.’

‘Take your time’ he said lowering his head and giving her a quick kiss before releasing her.

Rebecca smiled. She was fast becoming addicted to kissing him and before she gave into the temptation to do it again, she walked out of the kitchen.

Closing the bedroom door, she leant her back against it and sighed. She was in awe at the difference a few minutes could make. Here she was thinking he was just going to pretend she’d never said anything when really he’d come to apologise. God what if she’d just shut the door in his face? She felt sick at the thought. Pushing off the door, not wanting to keep him waiting, she started moving. Dragging off her uniform and underwear she shoved them into the clothes basket before pulling on fresh clothes and refreshing her makeup. Lastly she sprayed on some perfume and stepping into her shoes walked into the living room, well within the allotted time. But Jake was nowhere to be seen. He wasn’t in the living room or the kitchen and just when she was starting to panic, thinking he’d left she spotted the curtain across the balcony moving, meaning the door was open. Pulling the curtain back, she breathed a sigh of relief as she saw him leaning on the railing. ‘Ready’ she said stepping out behind him.

Jake turned his head and smiled. Straightening and stepping towards her, he said, ‘that was quick.’

Rebecca smiled ‘I told you it would only take me five minutes’ she pointed out.

‘Yeah but I thought that was code for at least fifteen with women’ he teased.

‘Not with me, I believe in being honest’ Rebecca said with quiet vehemence.

‘Good to know’ Jake said and clasping her hand he added ‘let’s go.’

Jake took Rebecca back to the restaurant they had had coffee in when he was escorting her home. ‘I hope it’s okay to eat here?’ he asked.

‘Of course’ Rebecca replied.

‘I’ve been stopping here quite a bit recently for coffee on my way home’ he said.

Smiling Rebecca said ‘I’m surprised we haven’t bumped into each other then, I stop here all the time.’

Looking away Jake said ‘different shifts I guess.’

Rebecca sensed there was something he wasn’t saying and wondered if he’d been hoping that’s what would happen so he could apologise and when it hadn’t he’d used his hand as an excuse. She smiled to herself and nodded.