Learning To Trust Again

Sitting on the balcony later that afternoon Rebecca looked over at Jake. He was eating his second ham and salad sandwich. She’d prepared the first over an hour ago when they’d arrived home. They had been silent for a while. She loved how comfortable they were, that they didn’t need to talk all the time. When she first met him she had thought it was just her he was so reserved with but, as she had got to know him she’d realised, that it’s just the way he was. He talked when necessary but for the rest he preferred to be silent. But as time had gone on, she had learnt that that didn’t mean he wasn’t communicating. She had become skilled at reading the other means of communication he used, like his eyes which were very expressive and his hands, he touched her a lot. She liked that and it often said more than he could with any amount of words. Watching him for a minute, she said ‘hey?’

Lifting his eyes for a second before lowering them back to his plate as he picked up the remains of the salad with his fork, he replied ‘yeah?’

‘Are you doing anything Saturday night?’ she asked.

He lifted his eyes again and held her gaze. Sounding a little guarded he said ‘not really, why?’

‘I was wondering if you’d come to my brothers 21^st  birthday party? I’d like my family to meet you.’ 

Jake just looked at her.

And when he didn’t immediately reply Rebecca began to panic. She wondered if it was too early for such a big step. If maybe she was pushing too hard and looking away she blurted out ‘you don’t have to though. It’s up to you.’

‘This is Todd?’ Jake asked at length, his expression unreadable.

Looking at him again Rebecca nodded. ‘Yes Todd, he’s my only brother, my only sibling actually.’

‘You sure he’s going to be happy about me being there?’ Jake asked.

Rebecca knew exactly what had prompted the question and she couldn’t blame him for wondering, given Todd obvious hostility when they met at her door. She smiled. ‘I’m sure he’ll be fine.’ She just couldn’t believe her family, including Todd, wouldn’t be able to see what she saw in Jake once they got to know him.

‘I don’t want to cause trouble between you and your family Bec’ Jake said, his tone serious.

‘You wouldn’t be’ she said.But seeing the doubt in his eyes she added ‘the best way to prevent that is for them to get to know you, Todd just got the wrong idea about you and it caused his protective streak to act up. He’ll come around. Plus my parents aren’t in town very often. So it may be sometime before there is another opportunity for them to meet you.’

Looking at her for a minute longer Jake finally shrugged ‘okay, if you’re sure’

‘I’m positive’ she said and smiling she pushed her plate away and stood. Moving over to stand next to him, as he looked up, she leaned down and kissed him. Raising her head a few seconds later she said ‘thank you.’

Moving his chair back from the table, Jake pulled her onto his lap and his eyes on her mouth he said ‘no worries’ before lowering his head and bringing his mouth down on hers.