The late afternoon breeze carried the faint hum of traffic as Jake parked outside the lounge where Bella had told him they were meeting.
His heart thudded in an unfamiliar rhythm, a mix of anticipation and nerves. For years he had buried the desire, the yearning, but tonight he planned to change that. Tonight, he'd open up to her and tell her everything.
His phone buzzed on the passenger seat just as he was about to step out of the car. The name on the screen made him pause. Raymond.
He sighed, lifting the phone and swiping to answer. "What's up, Ray?"
"Jake." Raymond's voice came through, rough and low. "Are you free to talk?"
Jake frowned, adjusting his grip on the steering wheel. "Not really. I'm supposed to meet someone. Why? Is it urgent?"
There was a pause on the other end. Then, startlingly, a sound that made Jake sit up straighter. It was a shaky sniff, followed by something that sounded like muffled sobbing.
