Perfecting Patience

Fourteen

Zeke

I wasn’t sure when I became a jealous freak, but it felt like all could think about was my snowflake leaving me for someone else.

It more than likely had something to do with the fact that no matter what she said, I constantly felt like she was hiding something from me. It was that gut instinct that everyone always said you should never ignore. I kept reassuring myself that she’d never do anything like that. She wasn’t mentally capable. She still had issues with anyone other than Sydney and me touching her, but stranger shit had happened.

The only time she was okay with physical contact was on the soccer field and even then she barely let herself get touched. I kept that inner argument strong in my mind, but the evil bastard in the back of my head kept reminding me that Patience had allowed me entrance into her world; why wouldn’t she allow someone else that luxury? Why wouldn’t she allow someone more worthy?

I kept myself occupied while she was in class. I’d become her little house bitch and until I could get my ass back to work, I was totally okay with that. I made sure the house was stocked with groceries and cooked something new every night. I couldn’t believe how much I actually enjoyed cooking. The laundry was always done and the apartment was always clean. The less she had to worry about at home, the better.

She didn’t know it, but I’d even started covering her bills. She was too busy with school and soccer to realize she wasn’t getting late notices, and I didn’t say anything. It was the least I could do, and I kind of liked taking care of her. For the first time in my life, I could see a real future with Patience. One filled with rings and babies, things that had never crossed my mind before.

The thought of making Patience mine in every way gave me a sense of satisfaction that I never thought the word marriage would give me. But those thoughts were for a later time—a time when I was back with the band and she was done with school.

I pulled up in the parking lot outside Patience’s last class and waited until it was time for her to come out. I lay back in my seat and listened to the radio. It was starting to cloud up, and I expected it to start storming soon. I didn’t want her to have to walk across the parking lot in the rain, so I moved her car closer to the building. She’d have a hard time seeing me here, but I could pull up and get her once I saw her come out.

The rain came quick and soon there was so much water running down her windows that everything on the outside was blurry. Trees swayed in the wind as people ran to their cars and moved to shelter.

It wasn’t much longer until I saw her platinum locks bouncing out the door of the building. I cranked up the car to pull up to get her, when the tall guy from the party raced up to her with his umbrella. She huddled under the umbrella with him and he took her hand. They started talking and I saw her head go back as she laughed at something he said.

I almost put the car in drive and ran him over. Would it not hurt Patience as well, I swear I would have. He stood there beside her for a few more seconds and then turned and walked away as I pulled up next to the sidewalk.

She didn’t waste any time jumping into the passenger’s seat.

“Oh my God, I’m soaked!” She giggled and pulled at her clothes.

“I bet you are. Is that what he does to you?” I peeled out of the parking lot and raced down the street to the apartment.

What was it about the fucker that I didn’t like? I’d never talked to him a day in my life, yet there was something I couldn’t put my finger on that let me know he wasn’t a good guy. I didn’t want Patience being around something that was bad. Well, no one except me.

“Please don’t start with this, Zeke. I told you before, I’m trying to hook him and Hope up.” She sighed in aggravation.

“Then why is he touching you. I saw him grab your hand and you didn’t pull away. I don’t like seeing other guys touch you.”

I hated it. It made me feel like all my bones were breaking at once, and I wanted to rip his hand off and feed it to him.

“He shook my hand. It wasn’t a big deal. You’ve got to stop worrying about this, Zeke. I’m not going anywhere. I’m with you. You’re the only person allowed to touch me. I promise. You have to start trusting me. Until I give you a reason not to, I deserve that trust.”

She looked like she was about to cry, and I was so mixed up mentally I didn’t know what to do. I heard what she was telling me, but I also knew what my gut was saying. The two were in total disagreement with each other. I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was hiding something and all that did was pique my jealousy.