Page 19 of The Second Kiss
“Can I come in?”
I nod and then turn quickly and head to the living room. There’s a blanket across the back of the couch. I pick it up and use it to cover my mouth.
“What are you doing here?” It comes out harsher than I mean it to..
“Your mom invited me to dinner.” Jacob sits on the opposite end of the couch. “I guess I’m a little early.”
I’m going to kill my mom.
“She said she wanted to thank me for working on your car.”
“What’s the status of the old girl?” I’m trying appear normal with the blanket covering half my face.
Jacob drapes his arm over the back of the couch, almost close enough to touch my shoulder. “Oh, I think she’ll pull through. She needs some new parts, but your dad said he’d pay for those and I can put them in for you.”
I’m touched by my dad’s generosity. He usually makes me pay for everything, especially when it comes to the car he told me not to buy. “I need to pay you something for all the time you put in.”
He holds up his hand and grins. “Don’t worry about it, I’ll think of some way you can pay me back.” He moves closer to me. “What’s with this?” He tugs on the blanket.
I grip it tight. “I got my wisdom teeth out on Friday. My cheeks are swollen.”
“Yeah, I was here when your mom brought you home.”
The way he says it makes me paranoid about what I might have said or did when I was out of it. I seriously consider making a run for my bedroom. Jacob gives the blanket another tug. “Let me see.”
I slide towards the other end of the couch. “No way.”
“How bad can it be? You should have seen my face when I got nailed in the nose with a baseball. Talk about raccoon eyes. It can’t be worse than that. Please.” He slides closer. “C’mon, Jess, I promise not to laugh.” He reaches up and pulls my ponytail.
He’s treating me like a little kid again. I guess I’m acting like one. I close my eyes and lower the blanket.
Jacob lets out a low whistle. “Wow. They really did a number on you, didn’t they?” He traces the bruise on my jaw with his finger. My skin burns where he touches me. “I didn’t know skin could turn that color. Are you sure this was from the dentist?”
I jerk the blanket back over my mouth. “I bruise easily.”
He leans back. His voice goes soft. “I didn’t mean to make you mad.”
“I’m not mad, just...” But I don’t know how to finish that sentence.
“Does it hurt?” He reaches, but doesn't quite touch my cheek this time. The gesture still sends electricity through my whole body.
I shiver and pull the blanket around me. “A bit, but I’m tough.”
His face shadows with those words. A memory pushes its way through the fog of the last 24 hours. I suddenly feel like Jacob knows more than he should know, but about what, I’m not sure. He looks me in the eye, his face serious. “Remember when we were kids, and I said you could tell me anything?”
My heart is thudding like crazy, my mind racing. What did I say to him yesterday? “I guess so.”
“That offer still stands.”
“That was a long time ago.” I shake my head, backing away, because I’m afraid of what he thinks he knows. “Actually, my mouth hurts a lot. I think I’ll take one of my pain pills and go back to bed.” I stand clutching the blanket around my shoulders. “You can watch T.V. or something while you wait. My parents will be home in about half an hour.”
I know I’m being rude, but I can’t let this conversation go any further. Not even with Jacob. Especially not with Jacob.
“I hope you feel better,” Jacob calls as I start up the stairs.
I stop at the top of the stairs. I don’t want him to think I’m mad at him and never come back. He has to see me look good at least once. “Thanks for the work you’re doing on my car. I’lll find a way to pay you back.”
“Maybe you can help your mom make me cookies,” he grins, “Like when I fixed the chain on your bike.”
