“Knew you couldn’t hate me for long, Bambino.” He’s still smiling and trying to look convincingly assured while failing. Yeah, of course, you were so confident when I walked in. I remember his stressed posture and lost look, only moments before. “Hmm, the jury is still out on that,” I answer impassively. I could never hate Jake. He throws me a mock injured look and I push him harder this time, so he falls back onto the couch with flailing arms and a shocked expression. Easy there, teen Emma, he’s still your boss. “Hey, woman! Any more of that and I’ll have to retaliate. I can promise you; my kind of physical exertion will put some color in your cheeks.” He gets up as though he’s going to grab me and I squeal, throwing out my arms toward him and shoving him straight back down with mor