Chapter 9

Candace

The knock on my apartment door came just after twelve.

I frowned.

I wasn’t expecting anyone.

Bridgette usually texted before showing up, and my delivery order had arrived an hour ago.

Another knock.

I pulled open the door.

Jake stood there with an easy grin, a cardboard coffee tray balanced in one hand and a bouquet of sunflowers tucked under his arm.

“I come bearing peace offerings.”

I blinked.

“What did I do to deserve all that?”

He lifted the flowers with a shrug. “I figured I’d check on my favourite girl.” He smiled wider.

My chest tightened. He looked so happy to see me. So completely unaware of the storm inside my head.

I stepped aside.

“Come in.”

The apartment suddenly felt too small.

Jake looked around as he set the coffees on the makeshift kitchen counter.

“I still think you need more plants.”

“I can barely keep myself alive.”

“Exactly why you need plants. They’re good practice.”

I rolled my eyes.

“So your solution is to let innocent greenery suffer?”

He laughed.

“I’ll water them for you.”

“You say that now.”

“I’d even name them.”

“Oh, absolutely not.”

“You don’t trust my naming skills?”

“I really don’t.”

He pretended to look offended.

“I’ll have you know I’d come up with excellent names.”

“Like?”

He thought for a second.

“Leaf Erickson.”

I stared at him. “…That was terrible.”

“It was amazing.”

“It was a crime.”

“You laughed.”

“I absolutely did not.”

“The smile says otherwise.”

I turned away before he could see that he was right.

For a few minutes, everything felt… Easy. The way being with Jake always had.

He handed me my coffee.

“I know it's noon but…I remembered your order.”

“You remembered?”

“Extra shot. Less sugar.”

I accepted the cup.

“Thank you.”

“No problem.”

The warmth seeped through the cardboard sleeve into my fingers.

I wished it could melt the knot in my chest too.

We spent the afternoon wandering through the little shopping district a few blocks from my apartment.

Jake insisted we stop at a bookstore.

“You always spend forever in here,” I said.

“So do you.”

He picked up a mystery novel and held it out. “This one?”

“I’ve already read it.”

“What about this?”

“Also read it.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Do you leave any books for the rest of society?”

“I try not to.”

He laughed again.

The sound was warm.

He made everything feel uncomplicated. Which was exactly why I felt so awful.

Later, we found a bench overlooking a small park.

Children chased each other across the grass while a couple walked their dog nearby.

Jake leaned back against the bench.

“I’ve been thinking.” He bumped my shoulder gently.

I looked at him. “What about?”

“The future.”

The word made my stomach sink.

“My internship ends next semester.”

“I know.”

“And after graduation in two years…” He stared out at the park. “I don’t really want to leave LA.”

I stayed quiet.

“I’ve started looking at jobs here.”

“Already?”

“I like planning.”

That sounded exactly like him.

“I figured…” He smiled sheepishly. “If things keep going the way they are…” He looked at me. “…I’d like us to still be together.”

The air left my lungs.

“I know it’s early.” He laughed nervously. “And I’m not talking about moving in together tomorrow or anything.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

“I just… I see this going somewhere.”

I couldn’t answer.

Because he’d said exactly what any girlfriend would want to hear.

And all I could think about was another man.

Jake reached for my hand.

“You don’t have to say anything.” His thumb brushed gently across my knuckles. “I just wanted you to know.”

I stared at our hands.

He deserved someone who could squeeze his hand back without hesitation.

Someone whose heart wasn’t tangled in guilt.

Someone who didn’t flinch every time his father crossed her mind.

I opened my mouth.

“Jake…”

He looked at me expectantly.

This was it.

Tell him.

Tell him everything.

Not every detail.

Just enough.

Enough to end this before it got worse.

“I…”

The words caught in my throat.

How was I supposed to explain something I barely understood myself?

Hi, Jake. I accidentally developed feelings for your dad before either of us knew who you were to each other.

It sounded insane.

Because it was.

“I what?”

I forced a smile that felt painfully unnatural.

“I was just going to say… thank you.”

His expression softened.

“For what?”

“For being patient with me.”

He smiled.

“Always.”

Before I could respond, he brushed a strand of hair behind my ear.

Getting back to my apartment, Jake’s fingers lingered against my cheek.

“Get some sleep tonight.”

“I’ll try.”

“I’ll text you later.” He smiled Then he leaned in and kissed me.

It was soft and Gentle. Everything a goodbye kiss should have been.

I closed my eyes. And for one devastating heartbeat…It wasn’t Jake’s face I saw.

It was Elias.

His eyes.

His voice.

The way he’d looked at me before everything fell apart.

I pulled away so suddenly that Jake frowned.

“You okay?”

My heart slammed painfully against my ribs. “Yeah.” The word came too fast. “I just… got dizzy for a second.”

Concern replaced the confusion on his face.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded quickly.

“I’m fine.”

“If you’re feeling sick, call me.”

“I will.”

He searched my face for another moment before smiling.

“Okay.”

He kissed my forehead instead. “I’ll see you soon.”

I watched him walk toward his car. He turned once to wave. I waved back.

The moment he disappeared around the corner, my smile vanished. I pressed trembling fingers against my lips.

The same lips Jake had just kissed.

The same lips that had betrayed me in the cruellest way imaginable.

I had imagined Elias.

Not for a second.

Not by accident.

Long enough to know exactly whose face my heart had reached for.

A broken sound escaped my throat.

I stumbled into my apartment, locked the door behind me, and slid down against it until I was sitting on the floor.

I covered my face with both hands.

“What is wrong with me?”

No answer came.

And the crushing certainty that I’d just become the worst person I knew.