Page 61 of Jacob

Me

Calm down, big guy. He’s okay.

Jacob

And he’s Crazy4Blue?

Me

How do you know that?

The reply dots bounce on my screen.

Jacob

I knew you had a channel. I’ve been watching you since you started.

Me

See, I told you… Stalker!

Jacob

Pervert… remember?! *winking face*

Announcing the arrival of another customer, the doorbell of the coffee shop dings. A beautiful white-blonde-haired woman steps through the door, bringing with her an unwelcomed bracing gust of wind as she snicks the door closed again.

I follow her path, and my tummy swirls with a sudden pang of jealousy when Jacob rises to greet her.

Bleurgh. That must be Verity.Seeing them together again, I’m reminded just how similar her hair color is to mine. I try not to think back to that Saturday in the office because the thought of Jacob inside her makes me want to vomit.

Unable to watch the two of them, I go back to pretending to check my schedule.

“What date works for you then?” Jules, who I’d completely forgotten about, pipes up.

I shake my head. “Sorry. Yeah, so. What about next Wednesday? Would that work?”

“Perfect.” He firmly taps the tabletop as if sealing the deal.

I make a quick note on my phone and excuse myself. “I’ll be right back.”

Strutting across the coffee shop, quicker than normal, I try hard not to look Jacob’s way, but I fail, discovering the two of them laughing like old friends… or familiar lovers.

My hand finds my stomach.I feel sick.

Sick with envy.

I quickly enter the bathroom, pee, then leave the bathroom stall.

Not wanting to exit the restrooms and have to see them again, I take my time to wash my hands.

The door swings open, and Jacob’s broad frame fills the doorway.

Oh great.

“Hey,” I mumble. Not looking at him, I walk over to the hand towels and grab a couple to dry my hands.

“Hi.” He eats up the space between us and is by my side in a heartbeat. “I’m here to break up with her. Well, not break up ’cause we aren’t together,” he explains. “You know what I mean. Call it a day. Even though we haven’t been together for weeks, but to stop our Saturday night…”

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