Leo(A Sign of Love Novel)(44)

She drops me in front of his building and I try calling him one more time but he doesn't answer so I call to someone entering to hold the door and go in behind them. I get on the penthouse elevator alone and since I remember the simple code Jake used to get to his floor, I punch that in. I hope he doesn't mind me coming over early, but why would he? What if he's not home? Darn, I guess I'll come downstairs and wait in the lobby and just keep calling him. There's probably a coffee shop somewhere close by.

The elevator opens and I notice that the door to his condo is open a little bit and I hear voices coming from inside. I frown a little and stop to the side of the door, unsure now if I should knock. I decide to anyway, but as I lift my hand, I hear a woman say, "You don't have to act like this. Let me make it better, honey." I freeze. What the hell?

Jake responds and his voice sounds clipped, angry, "Don't start this shit. I explained to you in San Diego the nature of our relationship and that is that there isn't one, okay?"

"You lie to yourself, Jake. You can't just make this go away. You can't just make me go away."

"The f*ck I can't. Get out."

There's silence for a couple seconds and then I hear a rustling and Jake yells, "Get the f*ck OUT!" and it sounds like the woman is sniffling.

Footsteps come towards the door and I panic. Shit! What should I do? Before I can even come up with any sort of plan, the door is flung open and I'm staring into Jake's seriously livid eyes. He sees me and a look of shock runs over his features before he says under his breath, "Shit. Evie. What the f*ck are you doing here?"

It feels like a rock drops into my stomach. I stand there gaping at him like a stupid fish, when a woman walks out his door. She's seriously gorgeous, with thick, light brown hair to her shoulders and big, green eyes. She's older than me and Jake, probably in her late 30's. She looks at me and then looks at Jake and then looks back at me with a look of scorn on her face.

"Really, Jake? Already?" she clips out.

Jake closes his eyes for a second and then repeats in a barely controlled voice, "Get out."

She ignores him and walks over to me and extends her hand, "I'm Lauren," she says, but the way she says it, I can tell she's anything but happy to meet me.

I have no idea what to do and so I take her hand, whispering, "Nice to meet you, I'm… "

"Mom!" Jake yells. "If you don't get out, swear to God, I will call security to haul you downstairs." Jake is clenching his jaw and his hands are fisted at his sides.

Mom?

I'm flabbergasted, and my mouth opens and closes stupidly again. I guess I really underestimated her age because she looks seriously not a day over 35. I guess that's what money can do for you.

A look of hurt passes over Lauren's face but she pulls herself taller and says, "Fine, Jake, have it your way." Then as she's stepping on to the elevator, she turns and looks at me and says, "You're just one of many. You should know that."

I gasp as the elevator door closes and I lean to my right so that the wall will hold me up.

What the… ?

Jake is standing just outside his doorway, staring straight ahead, unmoving except the continued clenching of his jaw.

I walk over to the elevator and push the down button and that seems to snap him out of it because he takes three big steps over to me and puts his hand on my arm and says, "Evie! Where are you going?" He looks desperate now.

"I'm leaving, Jake. Obviously you don't want me here. I'm sorry, I got off work early and I thought, I mean, I thought it would be okay. I called you… " I trail off, my eyes filling with tears because I feel stupid and confused.

"Evie, baby, please. Let me explain. I'm so sorry. So f*cking sorry. I keep messing up." He runs his hand through his hair and looks like such an uncertain little boy, I crumble, again. I let him guide me into his condo so he can tell me what the hell that was. I leave my jacket on and my bag by the door though in case I need to leave quickly.





**********





Jake closes his door and leads me to his living room area, pulls up a leather upholstered ottoman and pulls it in front of the couch and pulls me down to sit knee to knee with him. He takes both my hands in his. "First of all, I'm so sorry I made you feel badly for coming here. You can show up here anytime you want to. I never expected my mom to…" He sighs, "We're… estranged, things are not good between us, which I guess you could tell." He lets out something that sounds like a strangled laugh. "I had no idea she was coming here today. The last time I saw her I told her I didn't want anything to do with her, and I meant ever."

"It's complicated, but, my mom has issues. Serious issues and she made my home life a living hell. She's the reason that I acted out the way I did when I was a teenager and she's the reason for the stilted relationship between me and my dad.

"When I saw you standing there, I couldn't believe that you were even about to share her air. She's a ruthless bitch and she'll do or say anything that she thinks will further her own agenda. I wasn't mad that you were here, I was mad that you were even in the vicinity of that pit viper. And that was not your fault, but I lost it, and I'm so sorry." His eyes are pleading.