Chapter 1
“Violet! We have to go! We’re already super late!” Annie shouted as she rushed me out the door.
Annie was the friend everyone needed. She would push me to be more, do more and want more. If it wasn’t for Annie, I would just stay inside, order takeout and binge Netflix all the time, but with Annie, fun was always right around the corner.
We tend to go out most weekends, but this night was particularly special to Annie. She just got a promotion and wanted to celebrate. She had a new guy in her life, so she was even more excited than usual. My plan, have a few drinks and get home as fast as I can so I can get back to my solitude.
“Annie, I have been ready for the past hour. It’s you that takes so long,” I said laughing.
“Okay, you’re right, but let’s go, Owen will be there soon, and I want to get there before him so I can be sitting looking all cool and sexy.”
As we left the house, I was in awe of Annie’s ‘look’. She has long, silky blonde hair, blue eyes and red lips that are naturally plump. She always knows how to dress to best accent her features.
Tonight, she was wearing a tight blue dress with a zipper that went all the way down the back. No cleavage tonight, not too much leg as the dress stopped right above her knees, but the tightness of the dress left little to the imagination – she looked amazing.
Me, not so much, but in my defence, my ass did look great tonight. I was wearing my best dark blue jeans that really helped lift my ass, so it had the appearance of perfection.
I have never been fully comfortable to wear a tight-fitting dress, but I was happy in my jeans and my button-up tank top that showed a good amount of cleavage and, of course, my favourite black leather jacket.
I decided to wear my strawberry-blonde hair down with my bangs touching just below my eyebrows. Most times, my hair is pulled back in a sloppy bun, but Annie insisted that I make an effort. It was her special night after all – she continuously reminded me.
Both of us in heels, we clacked down the road and finally reached the pub. We live in London, Old Street to be exact, but we are both from the states. Annie from Indiana and I’m from Colorado. Neither of us really need a roommate, but we have been living together since our days at university and we just never felt the need to make a change.
When we entered, the pub was packed, but fortunately for us, we are regulars, so we always have a table in the back.
“Hey girls! The usual?” Pete shouted from behind the bar.
“That would be great, Pete, but let’s add a bottle of cava, I am celebrating after all,” Annie gloated.
“Ah, a celebration, huh? What this time? I know it’s not your birthday.”
“Oh, nothing much, just you are now looking at the new Marketing Director at The Agency.”
“Annie that’s fantastic! I know how much you wanted that promotion. This round is on me!”
As Pete started getting the drinks, Owen walked in. Owen is a London native and a really nice guy. Down to earth, friendly and of course gorgeous, but not in the obvious way. I think his humble personality is what balanced his look out, because he seriously could be a model. Slim, but muscular, tan, but more sun-kissed and dark blonde hair that was always cut to perfection.
“Annie, my babe,” he said as he reached in for a kiss.
After what felt like five minutes, their kisses were always long, Owen turned and said, “Hey Violet, good to see you. This is my friend Jakob.”
I turned to say hello and was faced with his torso. I blushed and then quickly looked up searching for his face. Jakob was tall, like 6′5, but in that moment, I would have guessed 6′11. His arms were huge, his chest was wide and as I stood up to shake his hand, I still felt as if I was sitting.
He was this god-like giant with chestnut brown hair that feathered the sides of his face. He used his fingers to comb his hair back, but as soon as his hands left, the hair feathered his face again.
As we shook hands, I smiled slightly and said, “Hello, nice to meet you.”
He nodded and without showing any emotion, he said, “Same.”
With that one word, I could at least tell that he was from the UK, but not sure which city. I sat back down and immediately looked at Annie, widening my eyes and mouthing, “Wow.”
She started laughing, but luckily before anyone could ask, Pete showed up with the drinks. Owen then prompted everyone to toast Annie and by this time Jakob was sitting next to me. I noticed that he didn’t have a drink.
“Would you like a glass of cava?” I asked.
“No,” he responded.
I began to think that he lacked social skills or maybe he was having a bad day. Either way, I decided no more contact with him, my ego wouldn’t be able to take it.
Hours passed, drinks flowed, laughs were made, dancing happened, but the whole night, Jakob just sat there calm, cool, collective. He didn’t necessarily seem like he was miserable, he just seemed indifferent.
At midnight, I decided I could easily make my exit without any objection from Annie. Annie would definitely stay out until 2:00 a.m. and probably longer because Pete always kept the bar open later for regulars, but I had served my time and was ready to leave.
“Annie, again, congratulations! I’m so happy for you, I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening, and Owen, get her home safe.”
“Thanks Violet! We’ll try to be quiet when we get home,” Annie responded with a sly grin as she immediately started making out with Owen.
I thought about saying bye to Jakob, but then I figured, what’s the point, so I started making my way towards the exit. As I went to reach for the door, I felt it push open. I continued walking out, not really thinking much of it and then I heard Jakob.
“Wow, not even a thank you.”
I kept walking and turned just long enough to look at him as I said, “You have got to be joking. You are going to critique me on politeness?”
Surprisingly, he smiled slightly and said, “Fair enough, but do you mind if I walk with you?”
I was shocked, but said, “No, not at all. Is your place in this direction?”
“No, I’m staying with you.”
He could see the confusion on my face, so he quickly responded, “Owen said that it was fine to stay with him and his girlfriend. Owen’s girlfriend is Annie, you are Annie’s roommate; hence I am staying with you.”
I started nodding as I was absorbing this information. The only thing I managed to say was, “Great use of the word ‘hence’, you don’t hear ‘hence’ enough these days.”
I looked up at him and he was staring straight ahead, but he smiled and said, “No, no you do not.”
It’s only about a seven-minute walk to our flat from the bar, but walking in silence with Jakob feels longer. I have always had the need to fill the space of awkward silence, but with Jakob, his indifference was calming.
Every time I went to say something, I just stopped. Perhaps I was just intimidated by him, but the more I thought about it, the less awkward it felt. It felt more peaceful.
“Well, this is it,” I said as I began to pull my keys out and unlock the door.
We walked in and I saw Jakob scanning the room. I knew he had to be thinking the same thing I was thinking; the couch is way too small for him. I started becoming annoyed with Owen and Annie for putting me in this position.
“You can have a seat on the sofa if you want and I can get you a drink, but if you are ready to turn in then I can find some sheets and an extra pillow for you.”
“Do you have any whiskey?”
Shocked at his response, I said, “Yeah, I have some whiskey, just give me a second.”
I poured him a glass and then a glass of cava for myself. He was already sitting on the couch when I returned, so I sat next to him.
“Cheers,” I said.
Our glasses clinked, he made eye contact and took a sip of his whiskey. “If you don’t mind me asking, why didn’t you drink at the pub?”
“How do you know I didn’t drink?”
“Oh, yeah, I guess you’re right. It’s just, I offered you a drink in the beginning and you said no, and you seemed to really just sit the whole night.”
“So, you were watching me?”
His response took me off guard. As I stumbled to answer him, he jumped in. “I don’t like cava and I wasn’t going to tell you to get me a different drink, so I eventually had a whiskey. I actually had a few.”
“Oh, that makes sense. I guess I just got the impression that you really didn’t care to be there. You just seemed – “
He cut me off, “Indifferent?”
“Yes! That’s exactly what I was going to say. What’s that all about?”
“I’m not someone who evokes or really feels much emotion. It was also a new place with new people. I tend to observe. For example, I know that you like cava, but you prefer a margarita.
“You don’t like shots, but if they are offered, you won’t say no. I assume it’s because you want to be polite. You loosen up once you have had a few drinks and stop worrying about what people think. You laugh more, talk more and dance without caring if someone is dancing with you.”
I could feel my jaw hit the floor. I took a minute, looking for the words. “Um, wow. I really didn’t think you were paying attention to any of us.”
“I wasn’t paying attention to just any of you. I was paying attention to you.”
“Me? Why?”
“Not sure yet. You intrigue me.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever intrigued anyone. I have definitely never been described as intriguing.”
“I think you don’t realise how much attention you get and that intrigues me. You don’t know that you are beautiful, you don’t think you are sexy and you not knowing that or not being aware of that, intrigues me.”
By this time, I knew that my face was a permanent red. There was no hiding my expression of shock and I felt like I just looked like a deer in headlights.
I downed my cava, hoping that the fact that my mouth was full, he would believe is the reason I was unable to speak. He smiled, let out a slight laugh and reached over taking my glass out of my hand.
I just sat there; still staggered by his words. He sat my glass on the table, moved my hair to the opposite side, and grabbed my neck ever so gently. His thumb rubbed my neck from the bottom of my ear all the way down, and then across my clavicle.
I turned and was staring directly into his beautiful hazel eyes. I just lost myself; I completely melted. He leaned forward, moving his hand behind my head and pushing me closer until our lips touched. His lips were soft, but strong. His kiss was gentle, but intense.
He pulled away and I opened my eyes. Just staring in his again.
“Let’s go to your room.”
