Page 2 (2/2)

As Ryan and I headed downstairs, I heard the sa from the apartment below us The woman seemed to have a Jamaican accent

"What is up with the lady on the second floor?" I asked

"Oh, you just wait That is just another benefit of living here, Troll If I tell you, it will ruin it," he said laughing

"Okay, I a to ask"

After a fantastic dinner of Greek salad and chicken skewers, we returned to the apartave us to welcohborhood After just one meal, I already kneould need to liet fat

I brewed a pot of coffee as Ryan got out the plates, and we reh school

"So, Troll, no boyfriend at theso it Then, knowing I was about to move away, I decided to break it off It wasn’t worth the effort"

"Well, they can’t all be like Stuart, can they?"

Stuart was h school He was sensitive and sweet and the constant butt of Ji hih"

Ryan snickered "He was a friggin’ girl Stuart and his paper birds! What was it he used to do?"

I giggled recalling theHe knew the combination to ami birds out of construction paper Then, I would unfold them, and there would be these little poems that rhymed inside each one It was romantic"

Just then, footsteps crept up behind us, and a deep raspy voice that cut throughI have ever heard"

When I turned around, the iht of him told e left: hot wo rooe my life "Hi, I’m Jake"

CHAPTER 2

Jake stuck out his tattooed-covered ar a smile that could only be described as devilish "You hed nervously, and a weird sound caht have been , Well lookey here, she isn’t dead fro beautiful

"It’s Nina, actually," I said shaking his calloused hand, noticing a silver thu The warmth of his skin in the brief contact didn’t escape er than it should have Itwith you" He flashed a wicked grin and winked My body’s reaction to that made arettes and cologne, which was oddly arousing He had a brow ring and a botto, and his incisors were very pointed and sharp His eyes were green with gold speckles, brought out even further by his contrasting short dark hair

Coeous, but very likely bad luck if it crossed your path

"Nice to ainst the kitchen counter, crossing his arave me a once-over that sent a shiver down ahed "Stuart was h school Ryan decided to bring his you to Brooklyn?"

"I start nursing school on Monday Long Island University"

Jake scratched his chin, sarcastically pensive "Isn’t that in Long Island?"

"No, there’s a Brooklyn campus It’s actually not far from the apartment"

Ryan interjected "With your fear of subways, that’s a good thing"

I shot Ryan a death glare

Great He was going to embarrasshis brow

"Thanks, a lot, Ryan," I said, seriously pissed

He gave etic look "Sorry It just cahe’d drop the subject

Jake continued to stare at me quizzically "Are you seriously afraid of the subway or so: planes, elevators, heights" Ryan let out a frustrated sigh

I widened ed et a little nervous in crowded, contained places That’s all"

Jake nodded slowly in understanding "It’s like a phobia So, places that make you feel trapped?"

"Yeah, basically," I said

Jake squinted atmy face for the truth His expression darkened like he so Our eyes locked, and I felt an inexplicable connection to him in that moment that went beyond just physical attraction

He scratched his chin "Hed the subject iineer for a coht, I dance…at a male strip club"

I couldn’t tell, but I was pretty sure the color must have drained from my face

"Seriously?"

"Yup"

"Wow," I said

He looked over at Ryan "You didn’t tell her she was living with Magic Fuckin’ Mike?"

Ryan just laughed, gauging my reaction

Jake looked aainst his lip ring Then, he let out a guttural laugh "I’ain"

"You’re not a stripper?"

He laughed and shook his head "I like you You’re an easy target It’s gonna be fun to have you around By the way, I really aets pretty pissed when I try to take offa long tio," he joked

That’s a da froullible I was soain, ouldn’t I have believed hied his clearly defined chest, his body could certainly pass for that of a stripper Plus, I didn’t know him from Adam What I did knoas that Jake was a ball-buster and did not appear to be the type of guy I should be attracted to Or at least, that was ain at the various colored tattoos on his right forearon I wondered what else was underneath his clothing<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>