Page 22 of Fighting Jacob

“Can you give me a minute to talk to Noah in private before joining us?”

“Sure,” Lola is quick to reply, which frustrates me even more. It’s as if she can’t wait to see the back of me.

After giving Emily a pleading look to have a word with her sister on my behalf, I make my way to Noah. "You could have killed them!"

The veins in my neck pop with every syllable I speak, but it does little to subdue the murderous gleam in Noah’s dark gaze. He’s as worked up as me.

"That's all part of the game; isn't it, Jacob?" His voice is as high as mine, his anger just as palpable. "Get them so rushed up on excitement, they'll come back here for more heart-pumping entertainment?"

I balk, stunned by his response. “Get them excited? You scared them both to death.”

When my eyes drift to my car, a spasm hits my jaw. Even from this distance, Lola's eyes are darker than usual. I just can't tell if it is because she's scared or turned on. The expressions that cross a woman's face in ecstasy can look like other emotions.

With a growl, I return my eyes to Noah. “You fucked up. That shit you pulled wasn't the plan.”

“I fucked up? It was your plan. This is what you wanted!”

I shake my head so furiously, sweat flings off my temples. "This wasn't what I wanted.”

“Then why did you bring them here, Jake? Why didn't you take them home?" The furious beat of Noah’s heart puts an edge in his voice. "Because you still want to have fun, don't you? You want to ride the rush. That's why you play these games all the time, because you need to get as much attention as you can before things get boring, and they leave you for their next big rush."

Hating that he’s using my neurosis against me, I spit out, “Fuck you, Noah. You’re only pissed because you’re worried Emily would rather hang with someone like me than slum it with you!"

The instant the words escape my lips, I want to reel them back in. I’m peeved as fuck, but that was a below-the-belt hit.

“Noah... Man... Shit. I'm sorry."

His chance to reply is lost when someone unexpectedly places their hand on my shoulder. I’m so riddled with remorse, I yank away from her, scaring Lola for the second time tonight. She steps back, her eyes widening. My size can be intimidating at first, but once you get to know me, you realize I'd never hurt a fly, so why does she keep flinching? I fuckin’ hate it.

When Noah storms into the house, I drop my eyes to Lola. “Why do you keep flinching?”

I keep my tone low, hoping I don’t frighten her again. It has the opposite effect. Her cheeks redden with anger as her arms fold in front of her chest. “I don’t flinch at you.” Her hair whips my chest when she pivots on her heels. “But I do think you should take us home.”

With my heart shut down and my suspicions at an all-time high, I do precisely that.

Our drive back to Erkinsvale is made in silence. Nothing is mentioned about the driving lesson, the prank, or Noah and I almost having a fistfight, but more concerning than anything is the fact I’ve made Lola flinch twice in one night.

When I pull into the driveway of Lola’s house, Emily squeezes my shoulder. “Thanks, Jacob.” Her eyes reveal she’s feeling the tension in the air too.

Before Lola can follow her sister, I seize her wrist. I’m barely grabbing her, so she could leave if she wants, but I really hope she’ll stay.

When a few seconds pass without contest, I say, “I’ll never hurt you, Lola.”

She sinks into her seat with a sigh as her eyes seek mine. “I know that.”

My heart constricts when I notice how much moisture her eyes are holding. They’re so crammed with tears, I’m confident she’s seconds from crying. My hands rattle when I drag my thumbs across her cheeks that are dangerously close to feeling the wetness of her tears. “Who did this to you?”

“No one, Jake, just drop it. This isn’t your fight.” Her words are so soft, if I hadn’t seen her lips move, I may have never known she spoke.

After pressing her lips to the edge of my mouth, she throws open her door and races into her home. I sit in my car for several long minutes, struggling to work out what to do. Should I demand she tell me what happened or walk away? I want to help her, but if I push her, I’ll most likely lose her.

With that in mind, I reverse my car out of her driveway and head home.

Every mile I travel fills me with even more anger, so it’s no surprise Noah and I rehash our argument when I arrive home. We stumble over the same shit we argued about earlier, only stopping when I disclose that Lola was driving the car when we veered off the road.

"Are you kidding me, Jacob?" He storms toward me, his anger unmissable. "Why the fuck would you let her drive knowing we were there waiting for you?"

When he fists my shirt, I take a step back. I’m seconds from retaliating, but Hank has my skills on a very short leash. If I use them outside the cage, he's done training me. For that alone, I keep my hands fisted at my side.

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