"It was nice having both of you over," Jake's mom smiles. Her oldest son is rolling his eyes and mocking her behind her back like a little child, but I'm trying my best to ignore him. It's been like this all weekend. 

"Hey, Jake," his dad catches our attention. We've been on the sidewalk for over ten minutes, but we never get to actually leave because they keep asking random questions. 

"Have you figured out what way you want to go after college? What kind of lawyer do you want to be?" Interested in my boyfriend's answer, I turn to face him. 

Jake shrugs. "I'm think I want to be an attorney who deals with foster care and such things. Since Alex works in that area, it's started to catch my interest. I'd love to yell at abusive parents."

I can't stop the dumb grin spreading across my face. "Are you serious?"

He shrugs again, this time with a pink tint across his cheeks. "I figured, why not? Things with Kai had me wanting to punch something, so instead of doing that, I think it's best if I use my anger in an appropriate and legal way."

Stopping myself from attaching myself to his side (again), I settle for a proud smile. "That's fucking amazing."

Damian rolls his eyes. "Yes, yes, great. Now shoo so I can have a moment of peace before I return to my place again."

We don't leave because of his order, but because it's time. We'll already be late to our appointment with Eliot and Flynn, even if I drive slightly faster than the speed limits. 

Of course, I don't allow Jake to drive all the way back. He already drove from mine to his house, and I promised I would drive today. Sure, the comparison from a one hour ride to a three hour ride isn't fair, but he shut up quickly after mentioning he could be the passenger princess. 

My dad drove my car and Kai back the day I left with Jake. My grandparents went along, my grandma in their car and my grandpa in my dad's car. It was a bit complicated to arrange, especially with our grump of a grandma, but eventually we settled on this. Besides, so my dad said, he loves spending time with his new son. 

"But you already drove to your house with Kai," Jake tries to protest, once again. I point at the open trunk, motioning for him to put his backpack in there. "I don't mind driving. Now take a blanket and the snacks you stole from Damian's room and get the fuck in."

"Hey, what was that?" said demon shouts, walking towards our car. Jake and I glance at each other once before running to the car doors, getting in and driving away as fast as possible. Not even clicked in, Jake laughs and waves at his family, including the yelling Damian. 

With this mischievous  smile still on his face, he finally puts his seat belt on, relieving me. Now, I'm not saying I'm an overprotective boyfriend, but I rather wouldn't lose Jake in a stupid car accident. 

I watch as he lays out the blanket nicely, before pulling off his sweater and using it as a pillow. When he notices me looking, he smiles wider again, closing his eyes. "What? You should keep your eyes on the road, babe. I know I'm pretty, but I don't want to break my neck or something."

Rolling my eyes at his cockiness, I turn my gaze back to the road. However, the second he's closed his eyes again, I reach over and put my hand on his thigh. He jolts at the unexpected touch, but relaxes again when I give him an innocent look. It's not my fault that, because he decides to sleep, I feel the need for physical attention. It's the next best thing, after hearing him rant about things. 

"I'm just going to take a quick nap," he mumbles, sleep slurring his voice already. I didn't know he was this tired. "We can share the snacks. . . later. . ."

And he's gone. I know I would normally complain about not having anyone to talk to just because my passenger is sleeping, but Jake is so cute when he's asleep I don't mind. On top of that, I'm enjoying the silence, too. After a few days with my family plus the weekend at Jake's, I need to be in my own head a little. I love socializing, but at some point it's just enough. 

Which is why, before we meet up with Eliot and Flynn, and probably Dante and William too, I'm grateful for the hour of peace. By the time Jake wakes up, I'm comfortable talking and laughing again. I give him some time to stretch and become aware of his surroundings before asking him if he needs something. 

With a sleepy smile playing around his lips, he shakes his head and cuddles the blanket even more. To the point where I'm almost jealous of it. Almost. "I'm good. Just a little thirsty, but you were thoughtful enough to bring water. Have I told you just how much I love you? You're like my savior."

"Change that to knight in shining armor and I'll give you the bottle," I wink, but pass his bottle of water anyway. His hair is messy due to his nap, and the outlines of his sweater are visible in his face, but he's still as beautiful as ever. I reach to wipe the drool off his face, but he blocks my hand and glares at me, doing it by himself. 

"What are Flynn and Eliot planning to do with us once we arrive in the park?" I groan, already dreading their surprise. Jake can know what we do, but me? All hell broke loose the second I walked in on them planning. 

"We're playing volleyball. Oh, and look, the car says the temperature is 23 degrees! Perfect picnic weather," he grins, looking oddly satisfied. I decide not to comment on it and see for myself later, so I let Jake shift the topic to his grades. 

". . . and I'm really fucking happy all my finals went well, like, what the fuck. I was so stressed, as you know, but all the studying helped! Oh, do not start grumbling about all the missed sex again!" he warns when he sees my face. I scowl at him. 

I have the damn right to grumble. No one could have prepared me for the temptation of Jake studying for his finals. He would stay up late at night, looking either all adorable or really fuckable, and I wasn't even allowed to go and give a kiss! By the time he was done with his finals, I had already died from blue balls five times. Not kidding. 

"But now that we live together and finals are over," I hint, smirking at him. Sadly for me, Jake shakes his head. "No, no, mister. You'll have to make an appointment, because my school schedule is busy as hell! We can cuddle, but sex is someth—"

I cut him off by muffling his words behind my hand. This idiot thinks I'll wait until he has time for me? "You think I'll be able to control myself when we shower after practice, three times a week? Do you know me?"

He rolls his eyes, but I'm faster with retreating my hand than he is with locking it. "Alright, alright. I know I'm teasing you a lot. But promise that, when you decide I've tempted you enough, I can still have a decent amount of sleep."

I blow him a sweet kiss. "Always."

Thirty minutes later, I'm parking the car close to the entrance. The weather is pleasant, something that's rare considering Christmas has just passed by. But no, here, it's 25 degrees and warm enough to toss off your sweatshirt. 

Eliot, William, Flynn and Dante are already playing, their lunch laid out on a blanket beside the field. So it is a picnic. "Hey, guys!"

Jake runs up to them, while I follow, slower. I'm happy to see Dante again. It's been a while, considering he's the only one not living with me. Flynn obviously thinks so too, since he doesn't leave my best friend's side. "Hi! You guys are so fucking late it doesn't even count as late anymore!"

I give Flynn a friendly nudge in between the ribs. "Shut up. As if you've never been late."

A dramatic gasp leaves his mouth. "Never!"

"Alright!" Eliot draws our attention to him and with that, successfully makes us shut up. "We'll play like this. William, you team up with Alex and Dante, alright? Then I play with Jake and Flynn, just like the old times!"

Sometimes it baffles me how happy Eliot is at all times. He jumps around like a kid who's getting to know he can go to Disneyland. Then I look at Jake, and the concern in his eyes, and I know it's just an act. 

When I look at William, Eliot's so called friend, I see the same concern as he watches Eliot laugh lots of times and skip from one place to another. There's something I don't see, something they know, but I think I'm not allowed to know. Unless it's the professor thing, but that doesn't seem to be it. 

Either way, I'll respect Eliot not telling me. I'll look out for him, though, at times Jake and William aren't around. 

One by one, my friends get rid of their shirts, too. By the time the last set rolls around, I'm the only one left wearing one. Don't get me wrong, I'm dying from the heat too, but there's some part of my mind telling me it's better not to. The park is crowded, and several couples have stopped walking around and decided to watch us play. 

"Alex," Jake calls me closer to the net. I'm sure he sees the drops of sweat on my forehead and the literal pools on my shirt. "Why don't you take off your shirt? You'll faint if you keep this up."

I glance at the others, who are waiting for us to get back  in our position. Since Jake has the ball, they can't continue. "I don't know. I— my mind—"

"Oh, look, Donald! Remember when we used to play volleyball? The good old times!" a woman suddenly gushes, leaving the path and walking to our field. She drops down right beside it, looking at us with wide and excited eyes. Her husband, Donald, follows in her trail. 

With another frown in my direction, Jake takes a few steps backwards again. He serves, and with that, the game is on again. I let Dante and William play most of it, since I'm almost melting like an ice cream in the sun. 

Maybe I should get rid of this shirt. No one's looking or observing each other, so they wouldn't judge me either. Besides, my abs have started to show, and I'm more comfortable in my skin than I was a few months ago. It's not ideal yet, and I'm nowhere near Flynn's sixpack (holy fuck, that man has some good stuff) but I'm starting to think maybe I don't need that. 

Now that I'm eating more regularly, my body will finally get used to the workouts I'm putting it through. My muscles will grow eventually, but for now, I'm appreciating my body like it is. So what I have some more skin on my thighs? 

I run to the side of the field, shrug my shirt off and steal Jake's water bottle. Mine is still in the car, because I didn't expect the game to be this intense. My boyfriend notices, but instead of glaring at me, he is cheering. With a confused frown, I look at my best friend, who is punching the air as a way to celebrate something, too. The fuck?

"You did it!" Jake cries out. Still confused, I look around, but I don't see anything. "What?"

Dante grins and nudges me in a friendly way. "You got rid of your shirt. Three months ago, you would've ignored the heat and kept playing with your clothes on. This is huge progress!"

My jaw drops. "This was a set up?!"

My boyfriend shakes his head before throwing himself around my neck. I can just steady myself, or we would've been lying on the ground by now. "I'm so proud of you!"

"We didn't use to do this, though, Jeanette," Donald comments to his wife on the side of the field, trying to be discrete but horribly failing. His wife shushes him. "We're enjoying the view, darling. Six handsome boys! My day can't get any better."

A little flustered, I give Jeanette a smile. Somehow, it's almost as if she knew I was insecure. But that's impossible, right? Her little comment isn't a big gesture or anything, but it does increase my confidence. 

Dante winks at me. "You got an admirer. Jake's got some competition."

My boyfriend, sweet like always, flips him off and then continues to direct a ball against his head. How lovely.