Page 40 of Forecasting the Forward

“You fall asleep that easily?” I ask.

“Yeah. It’s a gift.”

“I’m jealous,” I say as he rummages in his bag, pulling out a toothbrush and toothpaste. “It takes me hours sometimes.”

“Oh yeah? At home I have a sound machine that gives out the most perfect amount of rain noises. Maybe that will help you.”

“You’ll have to give me the name. I’ll try anything.”

Jacob stops abruptly on his way to the bathroom, before turning to look at me. “Why would I give you the name?”

“So I can buy one?” I say sarcastically. I mean, duh.

“Darlin’, I don’t think we discussed what happens after today,” Jacob says slowly. “I naturally assumed you’d have thought about it.”

I shake my head. “I figured it was dumb to think too far ahead. I’ve only wrapped my head around today and tomorrow.”

“Okay,” he drawls, walking leisurely toward me. “You know how I said I wanted you with me in Cleveland, because I wasn’t sure what your brother might do?”

I nod.

“I’m gonna feel that way in Denver, too.”

“Okay?” I ask, confused.

Jacob’s lips tug with a smile. “I want you to move in with me.”

My eyes open comically wide. “What? Why? You don’t have to do this. It’s too much. You didn’t sign up for this. God, no. People will know you married me to help me out. What am I supposed to do with my apartment? Or my dog? My things?”

Jacob’s lips overtake mine in a searing kiss, his lips pulling against mine with perfect suction. One hand snakes around my waist and onto my ass, cupping it and pulling me into his body. I gasp, giving Jacob the perfect opportunity to slide his tongue against mine. The gasp quickly turns to a moan as I drag my hands up his chest and into his hair. I feel a groan emanate from his body when I scratch my nails against his scalp, and his arms tighten around me. He breaks off the kiss to rest his forehead against mine.

“I love dogs,” he says, his breaths quick.

“What?”

“You said you have a dog. I love dogs. Boy or girl?”

“Boy.”

“What’s his name?”

“His name is Thunder.”

A puff of air hits my lips as he chuckles. “Perfect name for a meteorologist’s dog. He can come too, darlin’. He’s okay now, right? He’s not just stuck in your place alone?”

“No, he’s not alone. I’ve got someone watching him.” I take a deep breath, uttering one single confession. “This is a lot, and I don’t know how to process everything.”

Jacob lifts his head to look in my eyes. “One day at a time, Becca. We’ll get it all figured out. Let’s worry about getting married today.”

After Jacob is done in the bathroom, I spend a lot of time trying to calm my nerves. How am I supposed to wrap my head around all of this? I started the day just trying to get throughdinner with my family and the funeral tomorrow. Now I’m not even going to the damn funeral, my brother is trying to marry me off, and a man I hardly know is willing to marry me as a what, a favor? Insanity.

When I creep out of the bathroom, tiptoeing over to the bed, I hear Jacob’s deep breathing. I don’t know how long I stand there, watching him sleep. It’s so steady, and I feel myself relaxing as I climb into bed. Before I even get myself comfortable, Jacob rolls over, throws an arm around me, and drags me into the middle of the bed. I’m about to say something when I feel him bury his head in my hair.

I fall asleep before I say a word.

I wasn’t asleep.

I tried to fall asleep, but I couldn’t. I knew Becca was stalling in the bathroom, and I honestly thought she might try to sleep in the bathtub. So when she finally emerged, I kept myself completely still as I waited to see what she would do.

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