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“Nothing’s wrong. It’s just…” Jacob lightly smiled as he spoke. “I’m only here because I wanted to make sure Parker was okay. I was worried he’d gotten into something over his head. But yet, here you are, keeping him safe while I thought that’s what I was supposed to be doing this whole time.”

Jacob then looked over at me, before he finished with his thoughts. “It’s just nice to know that you’re in good hands.”

I smiled back at Jacob, happy with his unstated seal of approval when it came to Nicholas. I motioned toward the front door, before starting to head toward it. Jacob followed my lead, both of us standing near the doorway, while Nicholas was still seated at the dining room table.

“See? Nothing to worry about,” I said, keeping my voice low. “You can head back to HQ now.”

“Do you love him?”

“What?” My eyes went wide with shock. “What are you talking about?”

“Just curious. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look that comfortable with someone before.” Jacob shrugged. “Thought there might be something deeper going on.”

“Yeah, there might be,” I admitted, with a quiet nod. “I don’t know. I don’t want to blow his whole life up just because of a feeling, you know?”

“People blow up their whole lives over feelings, Parker. There’s nothing wrong with chasing something down if you think it might make you happy in the long run.”

“Oh, I do not need this right now?—”

“You can’t just run away from it, Parker,” Jacob replied. “He seems like a nice guy, too. If you’re thinking about cutting out on him, I think he deserves to know.”

“I’m not thinking about cutting out on him. I’m not thinking about anything—” I started and stopped, my words feeling like they were all running into each other. “Look, I’ve got this, okay? I can sort this one out on my own.”

“I’m sure you can.” Jacob flashed a small smile. “Just let me know when and if you’re coming back to Wild Woods HQ. Damon’s just as worried about you as I am.”

“I’ll keep you updated.” I offered Jacob a wave, my other hand reaching toward the doorknob as I spoke. “Bye! Bye! Get out!”

“Asshole.” Jacob playfully chuckled before he turned away from the doorway, his boots crunching against the ground as he walked back to his truck outside.

“He seems nice,” Nicholas said, as I made my way back to the dining room table. “A little protective of you, but who wouldn’t be?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It just means that I get why people care about you.” Nicholas grinned. “Now that I’m someone who cares about you, too.”

I grinned right back at him. “Yeah, Jacob’s always been that way. He’s basically my manager, even though we’re all co-owners. Just a natural leader type. Always in charge and always in control?—”

Just then, I snapped my fingers, like something was suddenly coming to me. “Holy shit. No wonder he liked you so much. You two are basically the same person. Except for the whole I-like-kissing-your-face thing. That’s not something I ever want to explore with Jacob.”

I literally shuddered at the thought as it crossed my mind. “Ugh. I feel like I need to bleach my brain just for bringing it up.”

Nicholas laughed before he reached for my waist, gently pulling me down into his lap. He placed a hand under my jaw, making sure our eyes were locked on one another’s.

“Have you thought any more about what I said?” he murmured. “About us being together?”

“It’s all I’ve been thinking about, Nicholas.”

“And?”

“And I just need a little more time to think about it, okay? I completely understand where you’re coming from, I do, but I just?—”

“Hey, take all the time you need,” Nicholas murmured again. “I’m willing to wait when it comes to you. However long it takes.”

“See, when you say things like that it makes it so much harder.” I let out a broken laugh. “What am I supposed to do with that, Nicholas?”

Nicholas reached for my hand, pressing a soft kiss against it. “You’re supposed to stay. Or let me come with you. Whichever you’d prefer.”

“Nicholas—” I said his name with a whimper, but before I had a chance to finish my sentence, his phone started to ring out from his pocket. He hastily answered it, holding it up to his ear, his attention seemingly still on me as he brushed his fingers along the side of my cheek.

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