“I wanted to punch her,” he admitted.
“Not a good thing to do to your mother,” I informed him. I was glad he managed to crack a small smile.
“I'm sure this will blow over,” he said, but it was obvious he didn't believe it.
“You know that's not going to happen, right?” I pulled my shorts back up. I didn't feel like a sex goddess anymore. “She's going straight to the Ladies with this. It's going to be all over town by morning.”
My voice caught as I thought of what was going to happen.
“I'm so sorry, Jacob.”
“For what?” He wrapped his arms around me. “I'm as much in this as you are.”
I shook my head. “You're the prodigal son returned. They are going to say that I lured you. That I tempted you down the wrong path. Two hundred years ago they'd have me hung as a witch.”
“Hannah...”
I wiped at my face. “I should go home. I'm not going to be good company tonight.”
“Please don't go.” He looked at me with puppy-dog eyes. “I don't want you to leave. Stay. It's not like it can get worse, right?”
I sighed. He was right. His mother had just caught me about to give him a blow-job. Thank heaven it was then and not ten seconds later. Just thinking about it made my skin crawl and my stomach sick.
“I think I'm going to throw up.” Nausea suddenly hit me hard and fast. I ran for the bathroom and barely made it.
I splashed some cool water on my face, but the queasiness remained. It had to be the stress and the worry. It had finally caught up with me. I was already imagining myself being kicked out of the grocery store, a scarlet letter emblazoned on my chest.
“Here.” Jacob brought me a cool glass of water and a couple of Tums. I chewed on them gratefully and took a sip of water. “Come sit down.”
I let him guide me to the couch and there he wrapped his arm around me. We watched TV and I tried not to look at my phone. I didn't want to know what was going to happen next.
I snuggled into his arms, and surprisingly started to drift off to sleep. I'd been tired recently.
“I love you,” I whispered, not even realizing the words came out of my mouth. I froze, suddenly very awake.
He moved, pushing me up and putting his hands on either side of my face. I was sure he could feel the blush heating his palms. I bit my lip. I didn't mean to say it out loud, but it was still true. I loved him. I'd loved him since that science class in high school.
He smiled, his eyes soft and sparkling. He leaned forward and kissed my forehead.
“I love you,” he whispered back and my heart stopped beating.
Jacob Matthews loved me. Me.
“Really?” I asked, my heart still frozen.
He nodded. “Yes.” He kissed me again, this time on the mouth. It was soft and tender. “Always.”
I fell into him, burying myself into his shoulder as he held me tight.
This was no longer the worst day of my life. Jacob loved me. It was now one of the best.
Chapter 23
My stomach still hadn't settled from the night before. I hoped it wasn't food poisoning.
Jacob's phone went off and he groaned. We'd both fallen asleep on the couch watching TV and now the soft morning light filtered in. The “Are you still watching screen?” sat waiting for us to pick the next episode.
Jacob groaned and reached for his phone. It took him two tries to swipe it.