Page 83 of Jacob

“Lord of the Rings?” He looks confused.

“It’s the same fucking answer.The Princess Bride.” I’m on a roll now. “Tell me, the night you were supposed to pick her up, to take her to the garage to get her car. The night you left her standing waiting for you in the rain, in the dark, where were you exactly?” I hold my pointer finger up. “In fact, don’t answer that. I’m not fucking interested.”

I whip around and stomp across the parking lot. If I don’t move away from him, I’m going to say something I regret.

“Jay,” he calls out; on fast feet he runs after me.

I don’t stop walking. “Jay,” he calls again, grabbing my shoulder to stop me moving.

He runs into my path, preventing me from getting to my car that Lincoln dropped off for me.

“What’s up, man?” he asks.

“What’s up? Christ, Owen. You have never cared about that girl. She’s always been your afterthought. She was abducted by a severely mentally disturbed man. She’s been drugged, had to have a rape test kit… do you know what’s involved in one of them? And all you said wasnice tattoo, and she should have known better because she works in digital media. You should have just told her it’s all her fault instead, because that’s what you implied.” I run my hands down my face. “Fuck.” I’m mad now. “You’re an inconsiderate prick sometimes. Do you know that?”

“I do care for her.”

“How? Explain to mehowexactly? Is it the fact that you have had me buy her every Christmas, birthday, and Valentine’s Daypresent or is it the way you took her to a Revolution concert when she doesn’t even like that band?”

“Yes, she does.”

“No, she doesn’t. She thinks they’re too shouty.” I should stop now before I say something I regret and I want to speak to him properly. Face to face, man to man.

Not like this.

“Jay,” he scoffs as he holds his hands up to stop me saying anything else. “You are clearly having a meltdown due to lack of sleep. I know you. When you haven’t had enough sleep or food you are one grumpy asshole. So, go home and sleep it off. Whatever the fuck this is.” He wiggles his finger down my body. He’s so fucking casual and blasé about everything.

“Whatever.” I stomp to my car. Over my shoulder, I shout, “I need to talk to you about something but now is not that time. Call me to arrange it.”

I pull my car door open with such force, I’m surprised I don’t pull it off its hinges.

Zooming out of the parking lot, I head back to my empty home, too far away from Skye, but not far enough away from Owen.

29

JACOB

Having not had a decent night’s sleep for days, I shower then fall into my big comfortable bed like dead weight.

I stuck my phone on the charger as soon as I stepped in the door and dozens of notifications appeared on my screen at once. I’ll read them all properly tomorrow; for now, though, I need to sleep. Owen was correct. I am a grumpy bastard without sleep or food, and I made the right decision to walk away from him when I did, or I would never have found the correct words to describe how I feel about Skye.

Almost asleep, a soft ding makes me open my eyes. I grab my phone off the nightstand to see who it is, and I’m instantly awake.

Skye

I’m getting out of the hospital tomorrow *smiling face*

Me

How did you get your phone?

Skye

The police returned my backpack with my phone, tablet and laptop in it. They pulled all the information off my devices needed for their investigation. Walter provided everything though, so I don’t know why they needed to do it again.

Me

Walter is super tech smart and his team is insanely talented.

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