He smiled again, a little smaller this time, and I started the walk to Uncle Jim’s truck. But not before stealing one more look back at Jacob before he disappeared into the barn.
* * * *
I was sure I was going to hurl my lunch on the ride to drop Kasey off, but I managed to make it the whole way without refunding any food.
I slowed the car as we approached the blue rancher with dingy white shutters. The porch swing was hanging from only one chain and the railing was in serious need of repainting. The grass looked like it hadn’t been cut in months. But that was nothing new.
My childhood home, and I barely remembered what it looked like inside.
I parked the car in front of the driveway, my slick palms sliding down the steering wheel. What were the odds I could get the truck back on the road before someone came outside?
“Will you pick me up on Sunday night?”
“Sure.”
Kasey grabbed her bookbag from the backseat and opened the car door.
“Thank, Maeve,” she said after stepping out.
Her tone of voice told me she knew how hard this whole situation was for me.
“Call me if you need anything.”
She smiled and closed the door. Every nerve in my body was pulling me away from this place. But I fought against it and watched Kasey willingly walk toward the house. Mom used to have to drag me back. My feet would make marks in the ground as I tried to resist her pull.
My gaze flickered to the porch when the screen door swung open. I sat straight up and clutched the steering wheel.
My stomach twisted when he caught sight of me. I slumped down. Shit. Could he see me? His frown deepened and his eyes squinted. Probably thought he was hallucinating. Doug exchanged a few words with Kasey. From the looks of it, it wasn’t a “hi, sweetheart, it’s great to see you.”
She disappeared into the black hole of the house while Doug lingered on the porch. He let the screen door fall behind him. I put the car in drive and screeched the truck back onto the road.
* * * *
The rest of the afternoon was dedicated to watering the tomato plants and tending to the greenhouses.
By dinnertime, I barely had enough energy to microwave a frozen dinner.
“I’m too tired to eat,” I mumbled when we were inside again.
Jacob took off his glasses, wiped the sweat from his face, and then put them back on. I used to think those glasses looked nerdy on him, but I didn’t find them so nerdy anymore. “Aunt Meg did mention that you haven’t been coming here too much.”
“You’re one to talk. I picked twice as many tomatoes as you.”
He grimaced.
“Should we grab something out to eat?” I asked.
“I think I’m just going to shower and crash. Plus, I have some studying to do.”
“Studying? The semester hasn’t even started yet.”
“I know,” he said. “Trying to get a head start.”
I nodded. “Yeah…okay. I’m just going to hang out for a little and then do the same. Except the studying part, of course.” Geeze, how many times could one person get rejected in twenty-four hours? “Did you want to take the first shower? I know I’ve been hogging the hot water.”
“Okay.”
“You know, you could sleep in Kasey’s room tonight, if you want. She’s got the window unit, and I know she wouldn’t mind. It’s got to be sweltering in that tiny room without any air.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, sure.”
He scratched the back of his head. “It would be nice not to wake up in a pool of sweat.”
I chuckled. “It’s all yours then. Goodnight, Jacob.”
He gave me a small smile. “Goodnight.”
Jacob grabbed a few things from his room and headed upstairs. I putted around the kitchen for a while and then trotted upstairs. Who would want to sleep in a bed with someone else’s lived-in sheets? I found fresh linens in the hallway closet and stripped Kasey’s mattress.
As the flat sheet fell on the bed, the smell of the laundry detergent Aunt Meg had been using for years wafted through the air. A sense of comfort washed over me.
The bathroom door creaked open down the hall. A minute later, Jacob appeared in the doorway in nothing but a towel notched around his waist as I stuffed the last pillow into a fresh pillowcase. A few beads of water lingered on his toned stomach. I was surprised to see the tattoos weren’t limited to just one shoulder. It took a little longer than usual for me to form words.
“Just thought you’d like some clean sheets,” I said.
He took a few more steps into the room and pushed back the wet strands of hair out of his face. “That’s really nice of you,” he said. “Thanks.”
I knew I needed to move, but my body wasn’t cooperating. Jacob didn’t say anything. He didn’t even give me a funny look as I stood, silent and motionless, next to the bed as he waited half naked.
“Is there something else?” he said.
I shook my head. “No, all finished.”
What the hell was I doing? Leave. Now. Stop waiting for the towel to magically fall to the floor.
“You sure?” His stare never faltered.
“Yeah…”
It was like the concept of walking away was completely foreign to me. “I guess I should be getting to bed now.” I kneaded my fingers together.
He tossed a white shirt from his bag to the bed. “Me, too.”
“You know where I’m at if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Maeve.”
I could barely make it past him before my cheeks became enflamed. Okay, so I was gawking. But who could blame me? Was he actually enjoying it? The smirk on his face was a clue—yes, yes he was.
Jacob waited until I was down the hall to close the door. I showered—in cold water—and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
* * * *
When I cracked
