Page 93 of Fighting Jacob

I slant my head to the side when an accented voice says, “There’s the final piece of the puzzle I’ve been seeking the past two months.”

Flynn is standing next to our table. He has a beer in his hand and a broad grin etched on his handsome face, although I don't see it lasting with how many daggers Jacob is shooting his way. He's glaring at him. I don't mean a friendly, hey mate, how’s it going? glare. He’s staring like he’s seconds from digging his intestines out via his back entrance.

Either oblivious to Jacob's anger or blindly brave, Flynn locks his eyes with me. “It was Jacob, wasn’t it? The one you ran off for?” His tone is neither angry or upset. He’s more curious than anything.

One of Jacob’s daggers misses its mark when I timidly nod. I’m not agreeing with Flynn to save his life. I just hate lying.

“I knew it.” The neck of Flynn’s beer bottle can’t hide his mammoth grin. “Then I guess I should leave you love birds to talk.” His eye drift to Jacob. “Nice seeing you again, mate.”

When Jacob jerks up his chin, Flynn moseys to his bandmates sitting at the table Rise Up once commanded. Although Jacob’s anger isn’t as volatile as when Flynn interrupted us, his angry scowl remains. His gaze is enough to set my skin on fire, and not in a bad way. I’m heating up everywhere, which equally frustrates and excites me.

“I didn’t sleep with Flynn.” Huffing, I fold my arms under my chest. “But you have no right to question me, Jacob. Not after what you had splashed all over the internet.”

His scowl is replaced with confusion. “You didn’t sleep with Flynn?”

Typical male, only hearing what he wants to hear.

“No, I didn’t.”

My heart skips a beat when a massive grin raises his cheeks high. I haven’t seen him smile like this in months, and as much as it pains me to admit, I’ve missed it so much.

When my tongue darts out to replenish my lips, the sexual tension brewing between us turns blistering. It’s as hot and heavy as the pulse in my pussy from his smile.

“Don’t even think about it.” I give him a stern finger point. “You’ve got a lot of explaining to do before you’ll ever get into my panties again.”

Groaning, he adjusts his crotch. “Please don’t say panties again. I’m wound up so fucking tight right now, I might explode.” He sounds like he's in pain. “I found out weeks ago that blue balls do exist. I thought it was just a manufactured line guys use to get into a girl’s cookie jar, but it isn’t. It’s a real medical issue.”

When I giggle, he glares at me. "I'm deadly serious.”

I laugh even louder. It’s not a ladylike laugh. I chuckle so hard, tears stream down my face, and I’m hit with an urgent need to pee. “God save the lady who has to handle that eruption. I hope she’s confident—”

“Confident enough to know I’d never want anyone but her.”

My spine snaps straight as my eyes rocket to Jacob. He’s staring straight at me, ensuring that even if I missed the innuendo in his tone, I can’t miss the honesty in his eyes.

The hope in his eyes fades away when I slump low in my chair. There’s nothing more I'd like to do than climb onto his lap and take out my sexual frustration on him, but I’m still hurt about the pictures I saw months ago. Why can he question me about Flynn, but not expect to face his own interrogation when he gets “friendly” with a random blonde at a bachelor party? That’s not fair. We never agreed to be exclusive, but what’s good for one is good for the other.

Trying to push our conversation back onto mutual ground, I ask, “What happened in court today?”

I’m dying to discover what happened with Jacob and the blonde in the photos, but now is not the time to ask him. He’s juggling too many things at the moment. If I add another prickly subject matter, who’s to say he won’t drop everything? I want to pretend I don’t know the man sitting across from me, but I do. I know him well enough to say he’s only holding on by a thread. That’s why I refuse to cut it. I don’t mind being seen as his predator, but I never want to be seen as his destroyer.

“I got six months’ probation and community service. My community service will be served at Hopeton House. It’s a youth home for kids who have nowhere else to go.” He glances past my shoulder, staring at nothing in particular. “The only negative is they scheduled me to be at the house twenty-four hours a day, Monday through Friday, starting this week, which means I have to break my promise to Noah.”

“I’m sure he’ll understand.” He’s been there for Noah more than anyone ever expected, so I’m confident in my declaration. “If not, I’ll be sure to kick his ass when he wakes.”

Jacob laughs, taking my comment as I had intended: playfully.

After taking a swig of his beer, he returns his eyes to mine. I’m glad they’re not as pained as they were when we arrived. “How did you get the conviction overturned?”

“Who said it was me?”

He cocks his brow, calling out my deceit without words.

I shrug like it wasn’t a big deal. “I threatened to press charges against Callum if he didn’t change his statement. Although he wasn’t pleased I showed up uninvited, he did as requested.”

Jacob lets out a low growl. “Please tell me you didn’t go to his house alone?”

“I didn’t...” He releases a sharp breath that’s quickly redrawn when I add on, “I took Hank with me.”

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