Jake Undone by Penelope Ward

grew up with me.” He turned to me. “Nina, this is Desiree, Telly’s daughter.
    “Nice to meet you, Nina,” she said to me while looking straight at Jake.
    “Likewise,” I said as my stomach became tied up in knots.
    There was an awkward pause, and then “Des” began listing the specials. I heard nothing because I was
    obsessing over the realization that Jake was a chick magnet and I was just one in a long line of women who
    wanted him. This wasn’t news. It was just the first time I had witnessed it first-hand and out in public.
    “So, the usual, Jakey?” She winked. He simply nodded yes, making little eye contact with her.
    She looked at me signaling that it was my turn to order. I really had no desire to eat anymore and had
    no idea what most of the stuff on the menu even was, so I responded with, “Um…I’ll have the same.”
    Desiree looked at Jake suggestively again and went to put in our order. Her ass wiggled as she walked
    away, and I felt more insecure by the second. For the record, the heels I was wearing were of absolutely no
    help in this situation.
    Jake was looking down at a dessert menu, bobbing his head to the song the band was playing. Probably
    sensing the tension in the air, Ryan and Tarah just looked at each other.
    I couldn’t stand it any longer and chimed in with, “What the hell did I order anyway?”
    Everyone started laughing in unison.
    “Nina, hope you like egg lemon and rice soup and spinach pie,” Ryan said.
    Actually, given my recent loss of appetite, that actually sounded horrible.
    “Yum,” I said sarcastically.
    Jake then kicked my leg playfully under the table, and I kicked him back. We kept taking turns doing
    this, and at one point, he locked my feet in with his so that I couldn’t kick him anymore. It was a strange
    way of making contact, but I delighted in it.
    My attention then turned to a family who had just been seated at the table across from ours. The little
    girl was rocking back and forth and seemed very agitated. I noticed Jake wave at them.
    “Hey, Jake,” the girl’s mother called out.
    He got up from our table to go over to them and knelt down by the girl’s seat, getting in her face to
    garner her attention. “Hey, Marina.”
    The girl, who looked about eight or nine, didn’t say anything and started to cry.
    “She’s having a bad night,” Marina’s father said.
    Jake snapped his fingers and said, “Wait. I have something for her. I almost forgot.” He then ran out of
    the restaurant to head upstairs to our apartment.

I turned to Ryan. “What’s up with Jake and the little girl?”
    “That’s Telly’s sister Georgette’s daughter, Marina. They’re in here a lot. She has autism, so she doesn’t
    really talk.”
    “I see,” I said, trying not to stare too much at the beautiful girl with short brown ringlets framing her
    face. She was starting to hum loudly, as her mother tried to console her.
    Jake walked back into the restaurant holding the collection of pinwheels I had first noticed the night I
    snuck into his bedroom. I couldn’t help but smile.
    He knelt down next to the girl again and handed the whole bunch to her. “Marina…look. I remembered
    you had one of these the last time you were in here, and you really liked it. Every time I pass by someone
    selling them now, I have to get one for you,” he said.
    Marina took the four pinwheels and lined them up on the table. One by one, she lifted each and blew on
    it, laughing hysterically each time it spun around. The joy in her eyes made me forget about my earlier
    brooding and put a smile on my face.
    “I figured that would put you in a better mood,” he said to her as he stood up.
    The girl’s mother beamed at Jake. “Honey, you are so sweet. Thank you. We’ll actually be able to have a
    peaceful dinner now.”
    “Don’t worry about it. It was my pleasure,” he said, before returning to our table.
    Jake didn’t seem to notice the look on my face of complete awe, as