What he didn’t understand was why he’d wanted to see her so badly that he’d come over even after she’d made it clear that it wasn’t going to be like their usual get togethers.

Maybe it was because both Michael and his mom had given him a lot of food for thought last night. Maybe it was because he was curious what it would be like to just hang out with her, without doing the sex buddy thing. Or maybe it was because he was starting to have feelings for her that he didn’t want to examine too closely just yet.

Feelings that weren’t quashed by seeing her adorably mussed with her hair in a messy bun, and wearing pink pajama pants with purple hearts all over them along with the Bourbon and Beer Festival shirt that she’d stolen from him. It was a little disconcerting to realize he found her just as attractive as when she was wearing a corset and short skirt or lingerie...

“Toxic Shark is almost over but I can restart it if you want,” she offered, putting the bag of snacks he’d brought on the coffee table next to the cheese, crackers, and beer that she already had out.

“I think I’m good,” he said dryly. Clearly she was in the mood to watch the worst of the worst today, the ones that were so bad they were funny. Well, hopefully they were funny, the ones that weren’t tended to just be boring. “I’m looking forward to Avalanche Sharks.”

The amused look she shot him indicated that she had heard the hint of sarcasm in his voice. He wasn’t exactly lying though. Watching terrible shark movies might not be his number one desire on a Sunday afternoon, but watching them with Sharon... That was a different story. Mainly because she enjoyed them so much and he enjoyed her enjoyment.

Sitting on the couch with her tucked under his arm, Jake settled in for some totally non-sexual time with Sharon.

The fact that he carried her off to bed three movies and one large pizza later notwithstanding. It had felt more like a date-day than anything else.

Friday and the time to leave for the shore came way too soon. It had been a good week. She and Jake had traded off staying at each other’s places every night. They hadn’t planned it that way, it had just happened.

Meanwhile, the gossip train around them was going strong. Lexie was pretty grumpy that Jake had managed to sneak Sharon up to his room during her engagement party – not because she was upset they’d left the party, but apparently Jake wasn’t the only Standish with a childhood bedroom fantasy. She was just pissed her “prude big brother” had not only beaten her to it, but had done so during a party.