Page 45 of Journey to Love

Amidst the crackling of fireworks and the delighted exclamations of the crowd, I steal glances at Jacob, his face illuminated by the colorful display above. He glances back at me and then walks behind me wrapping me in his arms. Feeling the warmth of Jacob's chest against mine, I bask in the comfort of his presence amidst the cool night air.

As the final bursts of fireworks fade into the darkness, the crowd begins to disperse, each person drifting off to enjoy the rest of the evening in their own way. Some head off to grab more food, while others make their way back to the inviting waters of the pool.

Engaged in a casual conversation with someone from the party, I'm momentarily distracted until Caleb approaches Jacob, drawing his attention away. I catch snippets of their conversation, and it dawns on me that Lana must have mentioned Jacob's impending departure for boot camp in the fall. The reminder sends a pang of unease through me, but I push aside the apprehension that threatens to resurface.

I recall the moment Jacob shared his orders with me over a video call, the earnestness in his eyes reassuring me of the validity of his plans. He even went as far as emailing me the official documents, a gesture that spoke volumes of his commitment and honesty.

"That's so crazy that you're heading into the Army, I have a buddy here who's cousin is in the Marines," Caleb's voice drifts over to us, interrupting our conversation. The mention of the Marines always sends a shiver down my spine, triggering memories of Paul's incessant boasting about his supposed ties to the military. I'm relieved that Jacob is joining the Army instead, sparing me from the discomfort of hearing more stories about the Marines.

"Ah, yeah, that's cool," Jacob replies politely, though I can sense a hint of tension in his voice. He wraps his arm around me, a silent gesture of reassurance. "You doing okay?" he asks, his concern evident in his eyes.

I offer him a small smile, grateful for his consideration. "Yeah, I'm good," I assure him, though the unease still lingers. "It's just hard hearing people talk about the military sometimes, but I'll get over it."

"We can leave if you want," Jacob suggests, his tone earnest. "I really don't care if I talk to this guy or not. I just didn't want to be rude."

I shake my head, reaching up to gently touch his cheek. "No, it's okay, really," I reassure him. "I'll be alright. If it gets to be too much, I can always find Lana or grab some more food."

Jacob rubs my back soothingly, his touch sending a comforting warmth through me. "Anya, I don't mind," he insists, sincerity shining in his eyes. "The last thing I want is for you to feel uncomfortable."

His words touch my heart, and I'm overwhelmed by his kindness and thoughtfulness.

“MARCUS!” Caleb shouts one more time and both Jacob and I roll our eyes and Caleb’s incessantness to get his friend. “Hey, man don’t worry about it” Jacob says to Caleb, “we’re gonna be heading out soon anyway” he tells him.

“Oh nah man, just hang on, he’s on his way” Caleb insists. We both roll our eyes again and shake our heads. “I’m gonna go grab a drink” I tell Jacob. He nods his head and kisses my temple. “Okay, I’ll join you in a bit, just let me try to get out of this conversation” he replies. I let out a small laugh, “good luck”. He playfully scoff “yeah tell me about it”.

I take a sip of my drink and engage in some casual conversation with the people around me. But when I glance back to where Jacob was, my heart plummets. A surge of panic grips me, my breath quickening as my chest tightens. The sound of breaking glass echoes in the background, but I can't tear my eyes away from Jacob and the guy he's talking to.

My name is called out, but it's drowned out by the thunderous beat of my heart.No, no, no, please let him not be here,I silently beg, my mind racing with fear. I instinctively scan the rest of the crowd, my panic escalating with each passing second.

Lana steps in front of me, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Hey! Anya!" she shouts, urgency evident in her tone. I finally tear my gaze away from the crowd, my breaths coming in quick gasps. Lana guides me to the front of the house and gently seats me down.

As the panic tightens its grip around my chest, Lana instructs someone to fetch a paper bag. Seconds later, she hands it to me, her voice calm but firm. "Breathe into this, Anya," she says, her eyes reflecting concern. I obey, inhaling and exhaling into the paper bag, trying to steady my racing heart and regain control of my breathing, but it doesn’t work.

All eyes are on me, and I feel exposed, vulnerable. The guy Jacob was talking to notices me, and a flicker of recognition crosses his face. Panic surges through me as he starts walking toward us. "No! NO! Don’t let him come over here!" I cry out, my voice trembling with fear.

Jacob reacts swiftly, intervening before the guy can reach us. He rushes over to me, his eyes filled with concern and panic mirroring my own. "Anya! What's wrong? What happened?" he asks urgently.

"He can't be here! He can't be here!" I repeat frantically, the words tumbling out in a desperate mantra. My body begins to rock back and forth involuntarily, the panic threatening to overwhelm me.

Sensing my distress, Jacob pulls me onto his lap, holding me tightly as he tries to calm me down. "Shh, you're safe, shh, I got you, baby," he whispers soothingly, his voice a comforting anchor in the midst of my turmoil.

With a gesture to Lana, Jacob silently signals that it's time to leave. Tenderly, he carries me to the SUV, settling me back on his lap as he continues rubbing small circles on my back.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Jacob

As we pull up to Anya’s grandparents’ home, I gently carry her out of the car. She clings to me, her arms wrapped tightly around my neck and her face buried in my chest. Setting her down on the porch, I sit beside her along with Lana, exchanging a worried glance with her before turning our attention back to Anya.

Despite the steadier rhythm of her breathing during the ride, Anya still wears a fearful expression. Her complexion has turned pale, and I silently signal to Lana to fetch a bottle of water.

Lana returns with the water, and I hold it out to Anya, encouraging her to take a sip. She complies, albeit hesitantly, and I can see a slight improvement in her demeanor as she begins to drink. Turning to Lana, I mouth a silent 'thank you' before refocusing my attention on comforting Anya.

We sit in silence, the weight of the moment stretching time far beyond its usual measure. Lana's departure leaves just Anya and me, the quiet amplifying the tension in the air. Eventually, Anya breaks the stillness with a sigh, signaling her readiness to speak.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you and Lana,” she says softly.

“It's okay, I’m not going anywhere,” I assure her gently, wanting to provide comfort amidst her distress. “What happened? Why didn’t you want Marcus to come near you?” I inquire, curious to understand the source of her unease.

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