Jake Melnick's Corner Tap Photos Novels & Stories

It's getting late, and the sound of Max laughing with Clara is in the background as I lie on the sofa, holding my phone with shaking hands. The screen light shines on my face as I type something into the social media search bar. Jacob Hernandes. I tapped on his profile icon, and the page opened, revealing photos featuring Jacob in various situations. There were photos of him in white suit in the hospital, at a medical conference, and some casual shots on the beach or at an expensive restaurant. But what caught my eye the most were his portraits with Pascha.

Framed photos lined the walls, decades and decades of Little League teams, prom couples, and what looked like half the town at various stages of life. There was a small jukebox in the corner playing something jazzy and warm. "There they are!" A man behind the counter who looked to be in his mid-fifties called out. He was barrel-chested, with a big lumberjack beard and moustache, and he grinned broadly. "My two favourite customers who never tip!" "That's slander, Marco," Nicole called back. "We tip generously with our presence and charm. You love us." "Your presence, maybe. Your charm is debatable." Marco's eyes twinkled as he wiped his hands on his sauce-stained apron. "Who're your friends?"

Their photo. Jake and Lily, standing in that tiny attorney’s office, the one with flickering fluorescent lights and a potted plant that had clearly died during the last fiscal quarter. The same place I’d stood just forty-eight hours ago, holding Jake’s cufflinks in one hand and pretending not to tear up when Lily said I do . Except this wasn’t one of my pictures. Someone else had taken it. And stamped right across the bottom in white letters were two words that made my stomach drop: TIC TOC.

He greeted the staff and occupied a table outside the café, open to public view. “Can’t we go inside? I’m not comfortable eating here.” Jake grinned and stood up to lead her inside. “Is this comfortable?” he asked, leading her to a corner table. “Yes, fine.” They ordered and waited for the food. “So, what do you do? Are you in college?” asked Jake with interest. “Nope. I’ve graduated last month. I’ve joined my dad’s business. How about you?” “I’m a photographer. I have my studio nearby,” he said proudly.

Is the NHL’s Bad Boy Finally Tamed? Every photo showed too much makeup and not enough clothes. Her lips looked like they hurt and her tits looked like they cost more than my truck. I closed the folder as I shoved it back so hard it slid off the counter and hit the floor. Jake didn’t flinch. “I can cancel.” “No.” I rubbed a hand over my face. “Just get it over with.”

Jake said, serving Winston a cup of coffee. Winston took a sip, exuding an air of relaxed elegance. "Really?" Jake scoffed. Winston chuckled as he pulled a photo from his pocket. "Busy with this, perhaps?"

Jake heard a knock, he raised his head to check, and a delivery man walked over. "Sir, I have a package for you. Please check and sign it for me." The driver kept his eyes around the office, mesmerized by its elegance. Jake signed for the package and ripped it apart immediately. He shuddered as he looked at the contents. Jake and Dohana's pictures lay littered all over his office desk. But these pictures were not the same as the ones taken by the paparazzi. They were the genuine pictures taken by Dohana herself during their intimate moments at the top deck of the yacht.

She was not exactly a photographer but she had a few photographers working under her, Clara being the head photographer. Jake, Jensen’s husband of five years and father to her two kids, walked in with two bottles of red wine, “I have a feeling we'd be needing more than this considering I’m surrounded by drunks.” He chuckled, placing both bottles on the round glass table that has flower stickers pasted on it. Jensen arranged three wine glasses on the table while Jake filled each glass from the first bottle of wine.

Tapping the top highest floor level and leaning back against the wall while it climbs to the apartment. “ Alpha, we are stopping at a restaurant to get the girls some food.” Jacob mindlink interrupts my wandering thoughts answering the question I had just contemplated. Making me believe I left the mindlink open for everyone to hear. “Where?” I responded. The image of a dine pops up in my mind. “ A local twenty-four hour diner; Maylee ordered a pancake sausage, eggs and water. Alex ordered waffles, bacon, and fruit.” “ Thank you”.

“Relax. We’re almost done.” They moved deeper in as they crouched near the tunnel wall. I stayed where I was—half in, half out. Close enough to see them but far enough to look like I wasn’t really part of this. Jake pulled a small bag from his backpack, his eyes gleaming. “You guys ready for this?” “Legendary,” Matt said. Lucas snorted. “Manchester won’t know what hit them.” Jake took out his phone, flipped the camera around. “This is going to be iconic.”