Page 57 of Jake

“It stopped being private when you started trying to threaten us and extort money.” Jake was gripping her phone so hard she could see his knuckles turning white. “Now, you have two options: let it go or you will be served with a restraining order.”

“Who the hell are you to threaten me with a restraining order from my own daughter?” she demanded.

Jake let out a menacing laugh before replying. “Her boyfriend and the one you tried to extort money from. This conversation is over.”

He ended the call and handed her the phone.

“Thanks,” she muttered.

“I’m sorry. I know I took that too far but I couldn’t hear her talk to you like that,” Jake said, running his hand through his already mussed hair before dropping it to his side.

Lauren wrapped her arms around him in a hug. “I’m not upset with you. All of that needed to be said.”

Her phone rang again and she stepped away to look at it. It was, of course, from her mother, and she just stared at it, unsure of answering. Jake hit the answer button, putting it on speaker but leaving the phone in her hand.

“Hello?” her mother rudely said through the phone.

“What?” Lauren answered.

“How dare you put that man on the phone or let him listen to our very private dealings. Now you’ve got him threatening me. You always were a foolish child.”

Lauren straightened her spine and took a deep breath. “No, Mother, you are foolish and I can’t believe you think I would let you try to bribe money out of my boyfriend with your antics.”

“What has come over you?” she asked.

“What should have a long time ago. I am done dealing with your nonsense. I’m going to block you. I am done dealing with you, and if I see or hear one thing about us in any news source, I don’t care if it’s a drama channel or legit news, you will be hearing from his lawyer. Got it?”

“I hope he’s worth ruining your life for,” was all she said.

Lauren looked over at Jake with a small smile. “He is.”

She didn’t bother waiting for a reply and ended the call, going to her contacts and blocking her.

Jake pulled her back to him. “I hope you know I think you’re worth ruining my life for, too.”

She raised up on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Thank you.”

“I didn’t do much,” he said.

“You were there for me. That’s all I need.”

“Well, then you’re welcome. I always will be. You know that, right?”

Lauren nodded as she stepped back out of his hold. She was starting to think that he would be.

She opened the bedroom door and went back to the living room with their friends. It was funny how so much had changed in such a short time. She’d gone from basically just Catherine as a friend to a room full of people that supported her and Jake without hesitation.

Granted, most of that was because of Jake, but for the second time since she’d started dating him, everyone had rallied around her to make things less horrible. She didn’t want to remember either time, but she’d always remember this room full of people and the way they had dropped everything to help.

“I blocked her,” Lauren finally said after sipping her drink.

“Awesome!” Catherine smiled at her. “I know it was hard, but I’m glad you were finally able to do it.”

“How are you?” Jenna asked.

“I’m good. I said what I needed to say, and honestly, I feel better.”

Jenna reached out and squeezed Lauren’s knee reassuringly. “Let me know if you need anything.”

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