I shove him. “Get in the car.”
I help Baby, who’s still struggling to get her bag in the trunk. “Did you move shit around?”
“No. There’s so much of it. I was hoping to squish it in there.”
When I simply move one of my bags and slip hers in and fit mine on top, I give her the sternest look I can manage when it comes to her.
She just ruffles my hair with a grin. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, princess.”
She scowls. She hates being called a princess.
We get into the car, but I pause at Jacobs with his phone plugged into my stereo.
He smiles at me. “I figured your road trip music is horrible.”
“Do you want to walk to New York?”
“You wouldn’t make me walk.”
I growl. Because he’s right.
Baby laughs from the back seat. “You two are so cute.”
“Are we going to have to put up with that for the next six hours?”
“Me telling you that you’re cute? Yup. You called me a princess. Suck it up, Teddy.”
Jacobs snickers. “Yeah, Teddy Bear. Besides, I’m totally cute.”
Right again.
But I’m going to pretend to be mad. And as we get on the road, I have to admit, his playlist is pretty good.
Mellow, chill music with a beat. Not what I’d normally listen to but perfect for the long drive.
“I don’t really want to admit this because it’s gross,” I start.
Jacobs cocks his eyebrow at me.
“I think we might have something in common other than hockey.”
Jacobs gasps. “Really?”
“Yeah. This music is good.”
Jacobs smiles, but I don’t miss the way he’s firmly on his side of the car. He’s leaning against the door, away from me, with his hand on his thigh.
I don’t know if he’s paranoid because Baby’s in the car, but she knows already, so I reach over and take his hand, placing it on my leg.
He releases a loud breath like he’d been holding on to it, and I shoot him a wink.
I don’t give a shit about public displays in front of my sister.
It takes a million years to get anywhere thanks to Baby’s small bladder because we have to stop countless times. Jacobs and I trade off driving, but the closer we get to New York, the more antsy I become.
“You okay?” Jacobs asks from the driver’s seat.
I nod. “Yeah. Next rest stop, we’ll trade back before we hit the city.”
“Okay.”
It’s dusk by the time he pulls off the road.
We get out of the car—Baby has to go pee again—but as I round the hood, Jacobs gets in my way.
“What’s wrong? Are you regretting asking me to come? Because we’re about three hours too late for that.”
I laugh. “No. Not … exactly.”
His fingers intertwine with mine. “Can you tell me?”
I let it all out in a rush. “I’m worried you’re going to judge me.” And as soon as the words are out of my mouth, I can’t help thinking how ridiculous I sound.
Jacobs has been judging me for years.
“About what?” he asks.
“You know my family has money. That’s not a secret. But … our apartment is … extravagant. My life outside of Colchester is insane. I don’t like it. I don’t like the strings attached to it, and I don’t like … well, any of it.”
“Hence the over-the-top frat boy attitude.”
I want to dispute it, but I can’t. “I’ve never invited anyone from CU into my real life, and I’m scared.”
Something happens to Jacobs’s expression. It softens, and I suddenly feel like we’re standing back in that locker room, about to kiss. I’m holding my breath and hoping that Jacobs gives me more.
“You don’t have to be scared of me. I know your parents have stupid money. And one hundred percent honesty here, the reason I hated you for the last three years is because I don’t have what you have. It’s not that I want to be rich or I’m envious of a lavish lifestyle, but seeing you not care about doing stuff that could get you kicked out of school when I had to leave everything behind just to attend? When I felt guilty for even leaving the farm to go to school so I could have a better life than my parents, so I could get a decent job and help support them and my brothers … it got under my skin when you were so carefree. But I know all of those issues are on me, and I don’t want you to think it had anything to do with you. You’re … really amazing, and I wish I could’ve seen that sooner.”
I’m not completely convinced he won’t freak out when he sees my family’s penthouse, but he has reassured me enough in what we’re doing that he won’t hold it against me for long.
I cup the back of his head and close the gap between us, pressing my lips to his softly.