Fool Me Once by Sandra Lee Page B

didn’t think he would be able to pull away a second time. He also knew that despite everything, it would never be just pure raw sex. There was too much between them, she had been right about that. When he was around her, he came to wish that maybe he had been wrong about her, and that what had happened to his father, was not everyone’s lot in life. But he couldn’t give her the chance to prove him right, and couldn’t afford for her to prove him wrong either. There was too much at stake. He closed his eyes; he saw his father’s eyes as plainly as if he was standing right in front of him, saw the pain in them, saw the light gone from them. He remembered the smiling face that had suddenly disappeared to never reappear. He should never have proposed a truce. What a weak idiot he was, a masochist. He knew what would come out of it if he saw her more, if he didn’t force him to hate her, yet he didn’t have the strength to fight it anymore.

She was sitting on a terrace overlooking the ocean, the salty breeze messing her hair, she smiled at Jake who was sitting right next to her.
    “Eva, I love you. I’ve always loved you. I can no longer imagine life without you in it. Will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
    Unable to contain her happiness, she jumped in his arms, and answered with tears in her voice.
    “Oh Jake, Yes! Yes!”
    He kissed her on the forehead and gently pulled her away from him, just so he could kiss her properly. She could have sworn her heart was going to beat out of her chest she was so happy.
    BAM! BAM!
    Suddenly she felt Jake shift an arm and BAM! He hit her over the head with a rolling pin that had magically materialized in his hands. She tried to move away, but he held her tight and again hit her BAM!
    She was afraid he was going to kill her.
    “Jake, stop!” she screamed.
    Horrified she looked at him and saw him laugh manically as he raised his hand to inflict one last blow…
     
    Startled, she opened her eyes, her head was pounding and her mouth felt as dry as the desert. She swore at the amount of wine she had consumed the night before. She sighed as she remembered pieces of her dreams; her subconscious was playing tricks on her. BAM! BAM!
    For a moment, she thought she was still sleeping and that at any moment she would see Jake with his rolling pin. She rubbed her eyes, then realized with a start someone was at her door.
    “Hold on, I’ll be right there.”
    In a hurry, she put her robe on, and almost ran to the door. She unlocked the door, and stepped back as her brother walked in.
    “Hey sis! What’s up? You haven’t called in a while.”
    “Hi Josh.” She answered, half asleep.” What are you doing here? Where are the girls?”
    “They are at mom’s. They are baking cookies if I’m not mistaken, with lots and lots of chocolate chips. I thought we could go and grab some breakfast together, you know catch up and stuff.” He constantly raked his fingers through his short hair, a sure sign that he was ill at ease, nervous, or had something important to say.
    “Mmm sure I guess, you paying!” She winked at him.” Is something wrong?” She eyed him carefully, her brow rose questioningly.” You never come and willingly invite me for breakfast, in fact, I didn’t think you ever had breakfast.”
    “No, no there is nothing wrong, and sure I’ll get the bill.” He sighed dramatically.“ We can just go at the diner at the end of the street, this way we can concentrate on talking and not on cooking.”
    “Oh, now I know there is something wrong. You never just want to talk. It’s not something men do. Better get with it then, let’s go.”
    “Err… Eva. Maybe you should put some clothes on first.” His tone was serious, but she could tell he was laughing at her. She stuck her tongue out and ran to her bedroom. She quickly put on beige fitted pants and a blue t-shirt. She brushed her teeth, and passed a comb through her wild hair. She was ready in under