Page 47 of XO

None of this makes an ounce of sense.

Mom loves Jacob and always has, so the words pouring from her mouth are nothing but lies. She doesn’t think Jacob is a bad person, and she knows he won’t hurt me.

“Well, since you’re never here to be my mother, I’m choosing not to listen. And why are you acting so weird? Both youanddad are acting really strange.”

“That’s called marriage, Rosie,” she says, sighing irritably.

“Well, perhaps you should focus on your own relationship. Jacob says he loves me. And I believe him. And I just so happen to love him, too. And there’s nothing you can do to ruin that.”

12

THEN

Me:Dad, where are you?

Me:Please come home.

Me:Mom said she doesn’t know where you are

Me:Send me a message at least. Please!!

I swipe a tear itching down my cheek and throw my phone onto the bed. Five missed calls and a string of messages later, and I still haven’t heard a word from Dad. Being unreachable has never been his style, at least not with me. When I asked Mom, she was curt and almost at the bottom of her wine bottle—on a weeknight.

A flash of light in my peripheral catches my attention. I turn to see a series of flashes coming from Jacob’s room across the street. For the first time since this afternoon, I smile. With the sheer curtains blowing in the cool night’s breeze, I further slide up the window and place my hands on the sill. It’s hard to make out his face, so I text him instead.

Me:Come over.

Jacob:Your mom will cut my balls off and try to feed them to me.

Me:She’s passed out on the couch. Please come, I need you.

Jacob:Who am I to deny you.

Biting my lip, I watch as he disappears back into his darkened room to appear moments later softly closing his front door behind him. He jogs across his yard, and when the street light illuminates his face, he smiles and gives a quick wave before crossing the street.

My heart races at seeing him, and my skin tingles in anticipation. I watch as he skilfully climbs the tree and treads carefully over the veranda roof before reaching the window.

“Hi,” he murmurs in a husky voice that weakens my knees.

“Hi, yourself.”

Under the silver glow of the moon, we stand on either side of the window, our lips drawing together until they meet halfway. Jacob kisses me deeply, a hand snaking through my hair.

“I can’t believe I could have been doing this for as long as I’ve lived across the street,” he says with a cheeky smile against my lips.

“Wasted opportunities,” I agree, but deliver a gentle poke to his ribs. “But you thought slinging an egg through my window was a better option.”

“I’m a world-class idiot.” Jacob laughs, kissing me once more before I step aside. He climbs through the window and pulls me into his strong arms. I breathe him in, the scent of a fresh shower deliciously bathing his skin.

“Will you stay with me tonight?” I whisper, and he pulls me closer against his chest.

With a thumb under my chin, Jacob lifts my face to meet his, gently kissing me before murmuring his promise. “I won’t leave you.”

~

“I’m sorry Mom was so hostile today,” I say, apologizing for having to miss our dinner date.

Jacob pulls the bed cover over our heads and turns on his flashlight. We lay facing each other, legs intertwined, the blue light gentle enough not to blind us.

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