His Reckless Heart

Chapter 3

Rebecca's POV

"I do believe anything is possible," Jake said after listening to me talk about my encounter with the old man, who claims the birthmark on my body was a royal thing.

I can't even believe that Jake is buying the story. What is wrong with everyone?

"Like really, how can you believe that bullshit? Well, I am so sorry to burst your bubble, but I know my dad and mom too well to know that they are both from California, USA. "Unless, of course, you are trying to say my mom cheated on my dad, which would be catastrophic," I said while eating the ice cream that Jake had gotten for me as my birthday cake.

My mind slowly drifted back to the story of how my parents were separated. I was told that my parents got separated a year after I was born, and how they were always fighting.

My siblings used to blame me for being the reason for their separation.

Could it be that my mom cheated? I wondered, but I was quick to push the thought out of my mind.

My mom is too decent to cheat on my dad.

But what if it is true? Could it be that they separated because my mother cheated? Is it possible that it might be the reason my father hates me so much? But why did no one tell me about this? Again, this is just a mere assumption. I'm sure my father would have told me or even my older siblings.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I don't know," I said, trying so hard to not tell Jake that I was thinking of the chances of my mom cheating on my dad.

"So what are you going to do about it?"

"Do about what?" I asked.

"You been a princess," Jake said.

"Nothing," I said, with a shudder.

"What do you mean by nothing?"

"Can't you see why? I can barely feed myself for a day. Where the hell am I supposed to get ticket money to London? And what if everything is a mistake? " I said, my voice a bit louder than my moderate.

"I'm, sorry," I said to Jake, feeling bad for daring to raise my voice on him.

He meant no harm and was only trying to be my friend, as none of what was happening to me was his fault.

"It's okay, I hate to see you like this, and perhaps it's your birthday. You should be making wishes and not wearing long faces, so let me ask, what do you wish for?" he asked, looking into my eyes.

"I know my parents are from America and there is no way I could be related to a London royal bullshit," I said suddenly, scared for the life of me that my past seventeen years should please not be a lie.

"You are scared," Jake said quietly as he took a deep sigh. It's amazing how he reads my deepest thoughts and understands me.

"Don't I have a right to be?"

"I understand, but don't let your fear stop you from becoming who you are meant to be," he said.

I unconsciously started laughing, even though I was miserable on the inside. It's crazy. Even if this whole story about me being a princess is real, how the hell am I supposed to get to London?

"What are you thinking about?"

I bit my lip down unconsciously, and I matched his gaze with mine.

"How the f**k am I supposed to get to London? What am I supposed to do next if everything is nothing but a mistake?" Because you know what, in the deepest of my heart, I wish that it was the truth. "Not that I necessarily wish to be a princess, but that I have a family out there that cares for me, that wants me," I said as a tear dropped down from my eyes.

I wiped it off and sniffed my nose as Jake came closer and took the strand of hair that littered my face to the back of my ear.

"You seem to forget that you are not alone anymore. We will figure it out together," he said in a reassuring tone.

His words were so comforting.

I lifted my face to look into his and at that moment I realized how important he was to me. He didn't have much, but his heart was larger than anything I had ever seen.

I liked how he said that I was not alone, and honestly, I never feel alone when I am with him.

"Will you be coming with me?" I asked as we both locked our eyes and held on to each other.

He smiled, his dimple making his cute face a pretty sight to beyond.

"You will always have me with you wherever you go, and perhaps this is more about you," he said.

My heart skipped a little, and even though I was not sure of how soon I would be leaving for London, the mere thought of not seeing him or talking with him made my heartache.

With his eyes intensely fixed upon mine, the air between us grew thinner by the minute as he bent his face over till our lips were only a few inches apart.

His breath was heavy and I found my eyes instinctively closing while my lips parted in anticipation. Then I felt it. His lips were soft and warm as they pressed against mine.

I could feel a billion butterflies fluttering all over my tummy. I pressed further toward him but he stopped.

Why did he stop? I wondered as I opened my eyes to see him wearing a beautiful smile.

"Happy birthday," he whispered, and I felt heat rush up to my cheek.

"Thanks," I mumbled.

****

Two months later.

I was about to turn in for the night when I heard a quick movement behind me. I turned to see that it was Jake.

He was carrying a shopping paper bag and was looking a bit disoriented.

"Are you alright?" I asked him as soon as he got close to where I was.

He was looking out of place, like someone running away from something.

"Yeah, here take this. I've got you some cash that would be enough to take you to London and possibly bring you back," he said, stretching out his hand and handing the paper bag over to me.

I opened the bag to see that it was filled with dollar bills, and I looked at him suspiciously.

"Where did you get this money?" I asked while trying to look him in the eyes, but I noticed he was deliberately avoiding looking at my eyes.

"Don't worry about it. Now I want you to take the first train tomorrow to London," he said as his eyes kept looking around him as if he was being followed or something.

"Please, what is going on? You are scaring me," I said, hating the fact that for the first time since I knew him, he was looking reckless and I couldn't do anything to help him.

"Hey, look at me. I love you and I want you to be happy. I just got tired of seeing you in the street and not being able to help you, but now I'm happy that you can take a chance for yourself and hopefully it turns out even better than we anticipated," he said, touching my face.

"But I have to go now, hoping I will get to see you again," he said, placing a kiss on my cheeks and hurrying off before I had the opportunity to stop him.

I watched him hurry his steps into the night till he faded out of my sight, and that was the last time I saw him.