Page 40 of Journey to Love

He flashed me a grin and struck a pose, attempting to look cute. "Get used to the royal treatment from now on," he quipped, his tone playful.

I roll my eyes and shake my head playfully. "If you say so," I reply, trying to brush off his sweet words.

He chuckles at my response. "I do say so," he insists, taking my hand. "In all seriousness, Anya, you deserve nothing less."

I let out a nervous laugh, feeling the weight of his words. Never in my life have I experienced this level of consideration and care from a boyfriend. Not even during the times when Paul was actually kind toward me did he ever reach this level.

I roll my eyes again, "Okay, Jacob," I say sarcastically, but beneath the sarcasm lies a deeper insecurity. I feel like damaged goods, unworthy of someone like Jacob. He deserves someone without baggage, someone who will accept his appreciation and consideration without question. Me? No, because despite everything, I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop. It feels like this is too good to be true, and in my experience, when something feels that way, there's usually a reason.

As Jacob intertwines his fingers with mine, bringing me out of my thoughts, he flashes me a mischievous grin. "You know, Anya, if you keep rolling your eyes like that, they might just get stuck that way."

I chuckle, giving his hand a playful squeeze. "Oh, believe me, Jacob, if my eyes could speak, they'd be rolling all the way to the moon and back with your cheesy lines."

Jacob feigns offense, placing a hand over his heart in mock hurt. "Cheesy? Me? I'll have you know, I'm the king of charm."

I raise an eyebrow skeptically. "More like the court jester of charm, if you ask me."

Jacob chuckles, leaning in closer. "Well, lucky for you, I happen to appreciate a woman with a sharp wit."

Playing along, I raise an eyebrow and smirk. "Oh, how fortunate for me. I'll try not to let it inflate my ego too much."

His grin widens, and he squeezes my hand affectionately. "Don't worry, Anya. With me around, you'll always have someone to match your banter."

I smirk, enjoying the playful exchange. "Well, someone has to keep your head from floating away with all that charm, after all."

His eyes sparkle with mischief. "Ah, but I think you secretly enjoy a challenge. Keeps things interesting."

I laugh, giving him a playful shove. "Oh, please! I'm only tolerating it because you're cute when you're being stubborn."

Jacob's laughter fills the car, and he leans in closer, his voice dropping to a playful whisper. "Well, in that case, I'll just have to work harder to keep you entertained."

Feeling a blush creeping up my cheeks, I shoot back with a smirk. "Good luck with that, Mr. Smooth Talker. You'll need it."

He winks, his gaze lingering on mine. "Challenge accepted."

“Yeah we’ll see about that” I chide.

Jacob grins, the challenge evident in his eyes. "Oh, I'm counting on it. Prepare to be impressed, Anya."

I raise an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at my lips. "I'll believe it when I see it."

He chuckles, a hint of determination in his tone. "Just you wait. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."

I lean back in my seat, feeling the anticipation building. "Well, I'll be waiting."

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Jacob playfully smiles. "Game on." He says as he turns into the church parking lot.

As we walk towards the church entrance, I try to shake off the uneasy feeling gnawing at my insides. Jacob's concern is evident, his touch comforting yet probing. "Hey, you okay?" he asks, his voice laced with genuine worry.

I force a smile, hoping to convince him and myself that everything is fine. "Yeah, just feeling a bit tired, I guess," I reply, inwardly cringing at the lie.

Jacob's expression tells me he's not fully convinced, but he doesn't press further. Instead, he holds the door open for me, a small act of kindness that doesn't go unnoticed. I offer him a grateful smile as we step inside.

The familiar faces of the church congregation greet us, their curious glances not escaping my notice. With a practiced facade, I plaster on a smile and exchange pleasantries, all the while acutely aware of Jacob's presence by my side.

His hand at the small of my back offers reassurance, but I flinch at the contact, instinctively pulling away. It's not his fault; it's mine. I've grown accustomed to keeping people at arm's length, especially in environments like this where judgment feels palpable.

As we make our way to our seats, I steel myself for the inevitable small talk and scrutiny. It's a routine I've become all too familiar with, one that I've mastered in order to shield myself from prying eyes and intrusive questions. Today will be no different.

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