Heat novel Chapter 13

That night, Ashely sat in her room debating whether or not she should go check on Jake. It wasn't that she petty him and she surely didn't want to make a fool of herself, but she knew how he felt. The longing for that fatherly love and care, Ashely knew exactly how Jake felt.

"Come on, Ash, you can do it," she said trying to boost her confidence before heading over to Jake's room that was right opposite hers.

Ashely stood in front of Jake's bedroom door before taking a deep breath, but as she did so, she smelt smoke and to be precise, cigarette smoke. She furrowed before sniffing the air to confirm that the scent was right before knocking on the door, "Jake, are you in there?" she called out but there was no reply, "well, here goes nothing," she mumbled before opening the door, which was surprisingly open. 

As she entered, Ashely quickly fanned away the smoke that filled the room, "Jake, open a goddamn window for Christ's sake," she said walking over to open his window causing the smoke to fade away. 

The moment she turned around, her breath got caught in her throat as her sinful eyes scanned his half-naked body that laid on his bed. His right arm rested comfortably behind his head causing his bicep to pop, while his bare, tattooed chest hovered gently as he breathed. Ashely's eyes traveled down to his defined chocolate abs that made her mouth watered.

"Are you done staring?" Jake suddenly asked startling Ashely, who quickly looked away, "Uh, I just came to check on you," she said but Jake maintains his gaze that was focused on the ceiling.

"I don't need your petty, Ashely," he said finally turning his attention to her, "And that's not why I'm here, Jake, can you seriously not be an asshole for once," she said feeling slightly annoyed, "Then, why are you here, Ashely?" Jake asked before sitting up facing her as Ashely stood there uncomfortable. 

I-uh!" she stumbled, "Don't do that, you came here to say something, then just say it," he said growing irritated which pissed Ashely's off, "Yeah, I would if you didn't hate me so much," she said as Jake stared back at her and believe or not his eyes softened, "We hardly know a thing about each other yet we can't stand each other and I'm sick of it," she said as Jake tilted his head staring at her in amusement.

"Look, I don't know why all of sudden I want to be close to you, but I do know that this situation has affected both of us, I mean I lost my dad and out of the blue, this man appeared trying to be a father to me, who happened to be your father and I- all I'm trying to say is that you're not alone and that I know how you feel," she said before walking towards the door. 

"Ashely... I don't hate you," Jake suddenly said stopping Ashely in her tracks, "It's just when I-

Ashely turned around as she heard Jake sighed. The way he leaned forward on his knees while frustratedly running his hands through his hair made Ashely slightly smile. He was opening up and she was willing to listen.

"It's just when I look at you and your mom," he said as Ashely sat beside him, "It reminds me of when my dad walked out on me and when I see him trying his best to be a father to you, it made me think that I wasn't good enough to earn his love and his care," he said as I looked at him with sadness in my eyes.