Page 27 of Jacob

He storms across the room, rubbing his buzz cut back and forth frantically.

“Well, now you know how it feels,” he spits out bitterly. “I’ve been doing it for years. I’ve always been invisible to you. I watched on while you kissed him. Held his hand. Paraded around like you two were fucking couple goals when really it was a complete sham.” He holds his stomach as if that very thought makes him want to vomit. “I watched him take advantage of your innocence and sweet nature. I sat on the sidelines listening to him talk about how he had you wrapped around his little finger. Watched him leave you at parties like you didn’t matter and ogle other women when he had the most perfect fucking woman to go home with. It made me sick to my stomach. I fucking hate how he treated you.”

He pulls his black overcoat off with force and flings it across the chair. “So, yes, Skye, I will continue to act like none of it matters to me because that’s my default setting I’ve become oh so familiar with. You can’t expect me to change a habit I’ve been perfecting for fourteen years because you’ve decided to openyour eyes and see what’s been happening in front of you for all that time.”

He storms across to the bar, pours himself a large scotch, and downs the two inches of the amber liquid.

I jump when he slams the thick-bottomed glass against the black marble counter. Laying his hands on top of the bar, he dips his head.

I’ve never seen him so angry and all I want to do is soothe him.

“I feel like I’ve caused you so much pain. I didn’t know, Jay. I promise you, I didn’t. I would never want to hurt you. Ever.” My voice is laced with so much remorse and I move closer to the bar, needing to be closer to him.

He lifts his head. With his jaw tense, I hear him grinding his teeth together as he glares at me.

“I’m so sorry,” I apologize, wanting to help stop the hurt I can see etched onto his face.

He closes his eyes, hunching his shoulders as he breathes deeply.

Oh God, I feel like I’m going to cry.Seeing him look so dejected physically hurts.

Standing on the other side of the bar, I lay my hand over his. “Would it make you feel better if I told you that I see you now, Jacob? I see all of you. I can’t stop thinking about you and my heart hurts from how consumed I feel with the idea of you.” I pause to let my words sink in, but he doesn’t respond. Respecting his need for space, I turn and walk away, twisting to look back at him as I reach the doorway. “I know what the tattoo on your back symbolizes. I can’t believe you did that for me but I like that I’m etched into your skin. It’s like I can’t touch you because of your pact with Owen, but a part of me is carved into you for a lifetime.”

12

JACOB

Me

I messed up.

Lincoln

Shit. Please tell me you didn’t sleep with her without speaking to Owen first.

Me

Of course not!

Lincoln

So what happened then?

Me

I told her.

Lincoln

About?

Me

How I feel about her.

Lincoln

And?

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