Fever Pitch by Ann Marie Frohoff

only his black sweat pants, and looked deep in thought. He was writing a new song—humming and jotting words down in his leather journal. I rolled back and stared at the industrial-looking ceiling with its exposed pipes and beams, bringing the bed covers over my chilled arms. I began to obsess about what the remaining months would hold, until I graduated and was with Jake again. My thoughts went to Sophia . I was glad Jake turned off his phone. I hadn’t seen it once, since.
    “I can hear you moving around over there.”
    I stretched out, humming, and tossed my book to the side. “Mhmm.”
    Jake plucked at his chords. “I think we may be able to venture out today. It finally stopped snowing.”
    I turned onto my stomach and our eyes met. “Aren’t you cold?”
    “Nope.” He smiled at me softly and brushed his hair to the side. “How you feelin’?”
    “I’m feelin’ tortured,” I said, propping my chin up by one hand as I pouted and poked at the pillow with the other. “I only have three more days left with you.” As soon as the words fell out of my mouth, my stomach tightened even more. Wow .
    His eyes dulled, almost going gray, and he nodded. “I wish I could go back with you,” he said sadly.
    “In a perfect world.” I laughed ironically. “But nothing in our world has ever been perfect.”
    “It’s perfect for us now.”
    I smiled, feeling uplifted by his words. “True enough. I’ll stop being a Debbie-Downer…as my mom would say.” I hopped out of bed, fixing my panties.
    “Mmm,” Jake moaned as he watched me continue straightening myself in the mirror. I ignored his alluring sounds, smiling despite myself. “Come over here and sit on my lap.”
    I looked at him with sly-seductive eyes, mockingly.  “Oh, are you sure that this is what you want? Do you really want all of my fresh-out-of-bed loveliness?” I prowled towards him, giggling.
    “Oh alright.” He threw his hands in the air. “What I really meant was come over here and sit on my face.”
    I guffawed and picked up his t-shirt from the back of the sofa and threw it at him (He knew I didn’t want to go there yet, and kept asking me at every turn). He gently laid down his guitar. His blue eyes shimmered as he stared me up and down. Then he suddenly jumped up, scaring me, and I gasped. He charged me and I screamed louder turning to run away, but I was in his grip in a flash.
    He twirled me into his chest and breathed me in. “Ew, stop!” I cried through staggered laughs. “I can’t stand myself right now.”
    “I can.” He dragged me toward the bed.
    “Let’s get ready. You said it stopped snowing. I wanna go see stuff.”
    “No, I changed my mind.” He muscled me down onto the bed, tickling me.
    I was breathless from laughing and fighting him, so I went limp. He released his tight hold on me but remained lying next to me. He lifted my shirt as he kissed my neck and caressed my stomach. The chills ran up and down my body, making me curl into him. “Jake,” I sighed. “Come on. I only have a few more days.”
    “Even more reason to stay here. We can come back whenever you want once we’re living together. I wanna be warm and cozy next to you, not freezing my ass off.”
    “But you said we’d explore.” I poked his chest firmly, pouting.
    A knock came at the door and we both froze, holding our breath. My heart was in my throat. I felt like I’d been caught red-handed, but there was no reason for me to be worried. I was no longer hiding from anyone. Old habits die hard . Jake pushed himself up and stared off into nothing. His eyes darted around the brick wall as his mind searched for who it could possibly be. “No one knows I live here except for Emily,” he whispered and stood.
    Knock, knock. Buzz – the doorbell vibrated .
    I gulped. I had a bad feeling and my mind stopped at Sophia. What if she came here anyway? The flight to London was only five hours. Holy shit. Jake said he had lived in the same building