She scowled at him, crossing her arms. “Let me prove you wrong. It won't hurt me any. If I am wrong, you warned me. But if I'm right, I'll find you someone. Besides, I can't stand aside when I see someone who deserves happiness. You do so much good, give so much to charity, to not have someone that loves you at the end of the day.”
Gerri tilted her head. “You deserve someone who will understand you and see you for the magnificent guy that you are, Jake. Don't you want that?”
He stilled. Jake wasn't used to someone being in his corner. He felt like he was always the one fighting for what he wanted and being seen as the bad guy. His parents didn't have his back, so why should anyone else?
He took a sip of his drink, unsure what he should feel. Why was this woman being so nice to him? Why was a stranger kinder to him than his own parents? What did he do to deserve this?
He'd been trying his entire life to be perfect. He'd tried everything to get his parents to understand him and get that he wanted to do good just like them. He'd been trying forever.
Yet, here she was instead. Gerri was the one who understood him. Someone he hardly knew was offering him a chance of a lifetime. Was it fair for him to take it? Could he accept it that easily?
He liked the idea of someone loving him for who he was. The idea made him happy. But was that realistic? Was that even possible? Gerri was being friendly. She was doing this because it was her job.
But he couldn't say no. The idea of having someone, really having someone understand him, was too great to pass up. “Okay.” He shook his head. “I'll agree to your service. But I'm not getting my hopes up. I know how the world works, Gerri. I've lived in it long enough to know when something won't work out.”
She smiled, and her eyes seemed to gleam at his words. “I am definitely looking forward to proving you wrong and being the person who started a wonderful relationship.”
He liked the sound of that. He was excited, but he hid it from his face. He didn't want to be overexcited, only for it to be ripped away. Yet, he was really hoping Gerri proved him wrong. He wanted to have her deliver on her promise. He wanted to be happy, truly happy.
Gerri turned and started to walk away, leaving him with his drink. He straightened his back and decided to get back to the charity.