Page 53 of Breaking the Rules of Love

“Oh, well, that makes sense,” I sigh, slumping back in my seat. My heart is still pounding, but I’m a little less anxious now. Deep down, I guess I know Jake isn’t some crazed murderer or something. He’s not taking me wherever he’s taking me to kill me. But that still doesn’t explain why I’m here.

“See I knew you’d understand.” He smirks. He’s messing with me.

“Seriously though, Jake,” I say, more emphatically, “whereare we going?”

“You’d better just settle in and relax,” he replies, placing his strong hand on my thigh. “It’s going to be a bit of a drive.”

For the first time since I met him, I actually don’t want Jake’s hand on me.

I swat it off and scoot over in my seat as far away from him as I can get. This doesn’t look like it bothers him, though. In fact, it actually looks like it amuses him. He kind of smiles and just turns his attention back to the road.

I don’t say anything for a while. I just keep my mouth shut until long after we’re out of Stamford and the surrounding towns. Jake doesn’t say anything, either. It’s like we’re playing a game of chicken to determine who talks first. But as it turns out, I end up losing.

“So we’re headed north,” I say. “Which means you’re taking me to Boston for a surprise shopping trip. I guess that means you’re my new sugar daddy?”

“You got me,” Jake replies with a smile. But obviously that’s not what’s going on.

“Or maybe an impromptu Red Sox game?” I suggest.

Jake laughs. “You really don’t know when baseball season is, do you?”

I don’t know if I should feel embarrassed about that or not.

“Okay, so the aquarium then,” I say. “I haven’t been there in years.”

“We could stop by there on the way back,” Jake replies. He looks actually genuine when he suggests this.

“On the way back fromwhere?”I’m getting really angry now. Not that I wasn’t already, of course, but this is getting ridiculous. You’d think now that he already has me in the car, Jake would be willing to spill where our destination is. But for some reason, he’s still keeping it a secret from me.

“Your mom really cares about you,” he says. It’s an off-handed remark, said in an almost casual way like it doesn’t mean anything. And I would almost be willing to believe that if I hadn’t caught my mom downstairs in Jake’s house that morning having a conversation with him.

And given how much she’s been hassling me about finding a man and settling down lately, there’s no way I think Jake’s little comment is meant to be innocent.

“Yeah?” I ask. “You know that, do you?”

I’m egging him on, and I really shouldn’t be. But I’m in a mood given the circumstances.

“Well, it’s pretty obvious,” he replies. “You’re lucky in that regard.”

He says nothing more, and even though right now I know it shouldn’t, his comment raises my curiosity.

Don’t say anything, I tell myself.Just keep your mouth shut.

He kidnapped me. I shouldn’t be engaging in a conversation with him, especially a personal one about our families. But despite his actions, I still can’t help but wonder what it is he’s talking about.

“Lucky?” I ask. “Why am I lucky? Did something happen to your mom?”

An emotion crosses Jake’s face. It’s only there for a split second, but it’s there. He nods slowly. “My mom died when I was eleven.”

I can’t help the shock that comes over me when I hear this. I also can’t believe he didn’t tell me this already. But then again, with my no-relationship rule, maybe it’s not surprising. Maybe I wouldn’t have let me if he tried.

“I’m sorry, Jake…”

Jake smiles, but this is the first time I can tell it’s a forced smile.

“It’s okay, Sadie,” he replies. “You should get some sleep. We’ve got a long drive ahead of us.”

“That long?” I ask, surprised.

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