Page 318 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 11
But he almost bumped into me, because I stopped dead in my tracks. My dad was walking into the entranceway to answer the door.
I immediately pulled my hand out of Jacob’s.
My dad had been looking over his shoulder into the family room, so I didn’t think he’d seen Jacob and me touching. Everything was fine. But it didn’t feel fine. It felt like my heart was beating out of my chest. And I felt a little light headed. I had no idea why I was panicking. I knew that Jacob and I weren’t actually dating. It wasn’t real. But my whole family was about to think it was.
“Hey guys,” my dad said as he glanced down at his watch. “Jacob, it’s a little late to hang out for a school night.”
“I know,” Jacob said. “I was just dropping Scarlett off.”
My dad smiled. “Thanks for walking her to the door. I appreciate it.”
I wondered how much he’d appreciate it once he knew Jacob and I had been kissing in his truck. Although you could hardly classify what we did as kissing...
“Pumpkin, are you okay?” my dad asked. “You look a little pale.” He lifted his hand and put the back of it against my forehead to check my temperature.
“I’m good,” I said. But my voice came out all squeaky and weird.
My dad’s eyebrows lowered. “Is everything okay? Did something happen at Matt’s?”
Yes! I flubbed my do-over first kiss. And now I have a fake boyfriend instead of a real one.What the hell was my life?
“Actually, yes,” Jacob said. He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. He was probably worried I was about to pass out. “Is Aunt Penny here too? And Liam? I have some good news I want to share with all of you.”
No! Not all at once! Ah!
My dad smiled. “Did you get early acceptance to a university? Wait, don’t tell me. Penny will want to hear it too. She’s in the family room. I’ll go get Liam. But are you sure you’re okay, pumpkin?”
“I’m fine, Dad.”
“You’ll get your acceptance letter in the spring, I’m sure of it.” He kissed my forehead and then walked through the kitchen. I heard him yelling up the stairs for Liam.
I groaned. “He thinks you’re about to tell him you got into Harvard and are going to be hundreds of miles away from me next year.” The only school I wanted to go to was the University of New Castle. It was where my parents had met. And even though my mom had transferred after the scandal, I still viewed the school as this romantic enchanting place full of possibilities. I really wanted to get in.
“Then it’ll be quite the surprise when I tell him we’re dating. And that I’m planning on going to the University of New Castle.”
“Wait. What?”
Jacob shrugged. “I know Coach wants me to go to Harvard. But it just doesn’t feel like...me. My dad never went to college. And my mom went to an online university. But the University of New Castle was where she’d wanted to go if she’d been allowed to attend in person. And I may know a few other people that are going there.” He smiled down at me.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were still considering it?” We’d all talked about going to the same college when we were little. But that felt like forever ago. Back when I had confidence.Stop it.
“I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Well I’m very surprised.” I never in a million years thought we’d wind up at the same college. But I also hadn’t known that Aunt Brooklyn had wanted to go there. This news actually calmed me down a bit. Jacob, Axel, Sophie, and I had all promised to stay friends forever. And it would certainly be a lot easier if we somehow all wound up at the same college.
“Come on,” Jacob said. “Let’s go break the big news to your family.” He started walking down the hall.
And just like that I was panicking again. I hurried after him. We walked into the family room just as my dad was walking in from the other side.
“Hey, sweetie,” my mom said. “Oh, hi, Jacob. How are you doing?”
“Never been better,” he said with a smile.
I mean tonight could have gone a little better... I thought about our teeth knocking together and sighed.
“Jacob said he has some big news for us,” my dad said as he sat down on the couch next to my mom.
“This better be good, Scar,” Liam said as he walked into the room. “I was on an important video call.”
