Page 26 of Jacob

Tony couldn’t stop smiling.“You’re going to have to answer them eventually.Unless you’ve decided that you don’t want to be his friend anymore?”

“That wouldn’t work, either.Taylor’s like a barnacle.When he latches onto something, he doesn’t let go.Unfortunately for me and our friends, it means we’re stuck with him for life.”

Jacob was saying it with a smile, so Tony knew he was joking.Itwastrue that Taylor could be a lot, but it was clearly also true that Jacob cared about him.Taylor wanted his friends to be happy.Jacob had to know that.

“We can go now, then,” Tony said.

He didn’t want to put down his flowers, but he had to in order to gather his things.Luckily, he’d already been on his way out the door, so there wasn’t much left for him to do.

He turned off his computer, picked up his water bottle, phone, and keys, and glanced around the room one last time.If he needed anything, he could always come back, but he suspected that he’d be focused on Jacob for most of the night.Even after dinner, Tony couldn’t imagine not thinking about Jacob.The man had been in his every thought since they’d met, and spending time together wasn’t going to change that.If anything, it would make it worse.

Jacob tensed when they left the office after Tony picked up his flowers.Tony thought he knew why, and he hoped Taylor would understand that Jacob needed a little space.Unfortunately, he wouldn’t be able to do much if Taylor didn’t get the memo.

Taylor was at his desk, and he looked up, but after opening his mouth, he snapped it shut.He was smiling so wildly that it was creepy, but he limited himself to waving at Tony and Jacob as they walked past him.

“I’ll lock up,” he promised.

“Thank you,” Tony told him.

He waited, expecting something more, but Taylor didn’t say anything.It made sense.He knew his best friend better than Tony, so he’d be aware that Jacob wasn’t comfortable with talking about why he was there.

Tony and Jacob left the office without anyone saying anything.Jacob relaxed as soon as they were on the street, then turned toward Tony.“I’ll follow you to your place?”

Tony had to resist the urge to lean forward and kiss Jacob as if it were something they routinely did.“It’s not far.”

“Nothing’s far in Green Hill.”

He wasn’t wrong, but Tony was still careful not to drive too quickly so he wouldn’t lose his mate.It would be too easy with so many people around.The weather was warm, and everyone seemed to be taking advantage of it.

Tony had bought a small house when he’d moved to town.He didn’t need anything big because he didn’t have a family and hadn’t been planning on having one.He didn’t know what Jacob would want, but they could move.Tony wasn’t particularly attached to his house.He liked it, but he hadn’t lived there long enough to have memories attached to it.It was small but not too small and not far from the station, but he wouldn’t hesitate to move if that was what Jacob wanted.

He parked in his driveway and waited for Jacob to park behind him.He made sure to get his flowers from the passenger seat of his car, then waited for his mate.Jacob had mentioned waiting outside, but Tony wasn’t going to leave him in the driveway as he showered and changed.Even if he went as fast as he could, it would still take him about twenty minutes, if not more.He wanted to look good for Jacob, even though they hadn’t planned this dinner.

“This is nice,” Jacob said as he joined Tony on the driveway and looked at the house.

“It’s good enough for me.I needed a place to sleep, and it was available.”

“You’re not particularly attached to it.”

“Not yet.It’s home, but I don’t have many memories here.”

“I can’t imagine moving into a new home.I’ve lived at the pride house my entire life.”

Tony wondered if Jacob would be willing to move out or if he would have to move in with the pride eventually.It was way too soon for them to talk about that, so instead of asking the many questions on his lips, he leaned forward and quickly kissed Jacob on the cheek.“Why don’t you come inside?”

Jacob blinked and nodded.He looked a bit dazed, and even though Tony was forty and way too old for it, he felt smug about being able to make his mate feel that way.It had been a long time since he’d wanted to be in a relationship.He hoped things with Jacob would work.

He led Jacob to the living room and left him there after putting the flowers in water.He was always quick when he showered, but today was especially so.He made sure to wash all the nooks and crannies, just in case, but he was out of the bathroom in fifteen minutes and had his clothes on a few minutes later.

His stomach churned with nerves.He told himself not to feel anxious because he was Jacob’s mate, but it didn’t work.He wasn’t surprised.He was about to have dinner with the man he would be with for the rest of his life.Anyone in his place would be nervous.

Jacob was still in the living room where Tony had left him.He was looking at pictures on the shelves, but he quickly stepped away when he heard Tony.

“Your family?”he asked.

“Friends, mostly.”

“These have to be your parents, though,” Jacob said as he pointed at a specific picture.

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