Page 39 of XO

Jacob scoffs and takes my hand giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You and I certainly don’t belong together, Chelsea. And truth is, I actually can’t stand you. We’re done.”

Without another word from anyone, Jacob leads me down the stairs, people parting like the red sea to let us through. It’s only when we get downstairs, Chelsea leans over the balustrade railing to holler her last insult. “You can have him, slut. He’s a lousy lay anyway.”

A collective gasp sounds from the spectators. I hear Jacob chuckle before turning to face his ex. “Do you wanna know why I never wanted to fuck you?”

The question has her snapping her mouth closed, a glimmer of fear crossing her eyes.What can he possibly say to make her so nervous?

“I never wanted to fuck you because your breath smells like rotten tuna. So, I can only imagine what else does.”

The collective gasp turns to a mix of jeering laughter as a bitter and stony-faced Chelsea takes a step back, unwillingly accepting defeat.

Allowing Jacob to lead me to his car, we remain silent until both our doors close behind us. In the darkness, our eyes meet, a small smile playing on my lips.

“That was quite the showdown in there.”

Jacob sighs. “I’m sorry you had to witness that.” He clasps his hand in mine, and I’m surprised at how natural it feels. “I’m not a nasty person, but she’s called you enough names. I just had to slog something back. And… well… I wasn’t lying. Her breath really does stink.”

We both laugh at how the night turned itself on its head before finally righting itself.

“Did you ever think this is how we’d get together?” I ask as we travel down the long driveway back to the road.

“Not quite so dramatically, I have to be honest.” He smiles and even in the darkness, I see how at ease he is.

My heart swells, and I feel the need to pinch myself to see if this genuinely is my new reality.

“So…” he states with a newfound enthusiasm, “… where to now?”

I settle back into the seat. “Anywhere. As long as I’m with you.”

9

THEN

“Mr. Reign, I know you mustn’t have too great an opinion of me considering—”

“You don’t know what opinion I have of you,” my dad says. Little do they both know I’m hiding behind the living room wall listening to Jacob ask my father if I can go on a date with him. After the party last night, I told Jacob to pull into the curb half way up the street, so we could make-out for a moment longer than Andy’s house granted us. When we finally came up for air, and I smoothed my hair back into place, Jacob said he wanted to see me again the next day. Overcome with giddiness, I accepted the invite only to then turn him down because my father is old-fashioned and a romantic at heart and would strictly forbid me dating without the boy seeking consent.

So, that brings us to today where Jacob hasn’t shied away from the challenge, and my heart swells as I listen to him withstanding my dad’s tough exterior.

“You’re right, I don’t know. But you can rest assure—”

“There won’t be any resting while my daughter is out with any boy.”

“No, you’re quite right. Rosie is a tough girl and can take care of herself, but I understand your concern. You know me, Mr. Reign, I would never hurt her.”

“You two barely liked each other a month ago, so what’s changed? You’ve just noticed she’s got breasts?”

Dad!

“With all due respect, sir, your daughter had breasts since eighth grade. If that’s all I was interested in, I wouldn’t have waited until now.”

There’s a moment of silence. With a brutally honest response like that, this whole thing could go either way.

“I like your honesty,” Dad confirms, and I sigh in relief. “But don’t ever talk about my daughter’s breasts again.”

I clasp a hand over my mouth to stop the giggle.

“No, sir, breasts are off-limits.”

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