Page 30 of Fighting Jacob

A smile curves my lips high. With how horny I am, I might take him up on his offer.

Twenty minutes later, with his tease still in the forefront of my mind, I swivel to face Jacob. “Do you want to go out tonight?” I usually work Saturday nights, but my constant nagging about a lack of social life finally paid off. Maggie reluctantly gave me the night off, stipulating it's a one-time-only deal. “We can celebrate me finally getting my license.”

The jest in my tone switches to disappointment when Jacob murmurs, “I can’t. I... ah...I have plans.”

“Oh..." I shouldn't be disappointed, but I am.

“Not that type of plans. I just have something important I have to do,” he clarifies, making me realize I’d expressed my disappointment out loud.

“It’s fine. You don’t have to explain it to me. You’re free to do whatever...” –Or whomever— “... you want.”

I’m not surprised he has plans. I’ve witnessed numerous girls approach him and the members of Rise Up every time I work at Mavs. Even if I’m practically sitting on top of him, it doesn't stop their approach. They don't care if he may be taken, they still prowl for his scraps.

My eyes stray from my family home to Jacob when he asks, “See you next week?”

He sounds apprehensive, like me having a license will end our contact. It won’t. I like hanging out with him. I just need to keep up those barriers he keeps knocking down; then we’ll both come out of this “friendship” unscathed.

“Yep. I’ll give you a call later in the week.”

When I press a kiss to his lips, his tongue doesn’t wrangle me into submission. He keeps our exchange friendly, reminding me that is precisely what we are: friends.

Once I slip out of my seat, I make my way to the front door, not once looking back. I’m about to glide down the hallway when my mom steps out, scaring the living daylights out of me. “Jesus, Mom, you scared me.”

I stop clutching my chest when she asks how my driving test went. In true Lola fashion, I slump my shoulders and pout my lip.

“Don’t worry, darling, I’m sure you’ll pass next time.”

Before she can wrap me up in a condolence hug, I yank my license out of my pocket, ensuring my thumb hides my hideous photo. “I passed.”

After collecting her heart from the ground, my mom hugs me. “Well done. I knew you’d do it.”

Her arms slacken when I murmur, "Can I borrow your car?"

I wasn’t sure I’d pass, so I didn’t consider not having any wheels.

With a giggle, my mom nods.

“Yay!”

I spend the rest of the afternoon prepping for a night out on the town. I haven’t been out in weeks, so I’m more than excited to let go of the reins. It took me a few months to feel like myself again after what happened to Callum, so I’ve got a lot of good times to make up for.

With Emily taking forever in the shower, I rap my knuckles against the bathroom door. “Can I brush my teeth?”

“Yeah, sorry, come in.”

When I enter the steam-filled space, my jaw drops. Emily’s long, dark locks are no more. They’ve been cut to sit just below her shoulders, and honeycomb highlights frame her face, giving her an alluring yet mature look.

I twirl my finger in the air, motioning for her to turn around so I can get the whole picture. When she does as instructed, my mouth gapes more. Her highlighter-yellow dress fits her like a glove, and her pumps make her legs look like they stretch for miles. She looks incredible.

“We could be twins!” I slap her arm while laughing. “I just need to get you out of the sun and kink your hair.”

Our personalities are on the opposite end of the spectrum, but as she stands before me now, we look very similar. If it weren't for her tanned skin and stick-straight locks, I'd begin to wonder if I was looking in the mirror.

When my gaze floats up from Emily’s altitude-daring shoes, I catch her angry scowl. She's unimpressed with my taunt. I can't blame her. I hated when our mother dressed us like twins when we weren't, so I don't know why I made that reference.

“I’m joking. You look wonderful.”

Rolling my eyes, I snag my toothbrush out of its holder then exit the bathroom. With Emily hogging the only bathroom we have, I’ll brush my teeth in the kitchen sink.

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