He should have known better.
Jacob was never anyone’s first choice. Well, that wasn’t true. Jesse loved him and had chosen Jacob over everyone else. At least until Lake had shown up and taken all of Jesse’s attention.
Clearing his throat, Jacob reached for the toy. “I should go.” And he wouldn’t come out of his house until the new semester started.
James curled his fingers over the package. “I’d like an explanation, Professor.”
The way James saidprofessorput Jacob in his place.
Jacob was just James’s landlord. They weren’t friends. Hell, they weren’t even civil to each other. The nice afternoon of baking didn’t mean anything to the boy. An apology. A thank-you for getting James inside safely after a bad shift.
“Are you going to answer me?” James demanded.
Jacob backed up another couple of steps. He didn’t do well with anger. His parents had always been angry. “We were talking about superheroes when I brought you inside. It just…I wanted to do something nice for you. I didn’t feel good about how we ended the night.”
James’s jaw was clenched and his eyes were bright with anger. “Why would that even matter? We never get along. You’ve been an asshole since the moment you found out that I was moving in.”
Direct hit. Jacob was an asshole. “I apologize that—”
“I don’t want your fucking apology!” James slammed his fist on the counter. “I had a bad night. A bad shift. I’d never seen something so horrific as that accident.”
Jacob nodded.
“You went out of your way to make sure that I got out of the cold and inside safely. I appreciate that. That doesn’t make us friends. I don’t need you to buy me presents like I’m some little kid!”
James was practically screaming by the time that he was done.
The shaking was starting. Jacob wrapped his arms around himself like he’d done when he was little. “I understand. I…I’ll go. I’m sorry.”
James started to speak again but Jacob couldn’t even understand the words. He ran. Jacob took off toward the front door.
Get somewhere safe.
His house.
Jacob was safe in his house. Get home. Home. He slammed the door of the apartment behind him, knowing that if James was intent on getting to him that a closed door wouldn’t stop him, but maybe it would slow him down.
A light drizzle had started to fall while he’d been inside the apartment and he slipped off the bottom step. Grabbing for the handrail, Jacob cried out as his shoulder jerked painfully. He ignored that jolt. Not like Jacob wasn’t used to hurting.
Back on his feet, Jacob hurried to his own house where he would be safe. He slammed into the door, fighting for breath and finally the knob turned in his hand. Jacob got himself inside and locked the door behind him.
He ran and hit the light switch, knowing he was safer in the dark. He’d always been safest in the dark. Jacob slid down the wall and wrapped his arms around his legs while burying his face in his knees. His harsh breaths were the only sound in the room but Jacob knew from experience that didn’t mean he was safe.
Chapter Five
James
“Fuck!” James shouted at the door as it was slammed closed. He ran to follow Jacob but stopped himself before opening the door. That had been fear on Jacob’s face. Something that made James’s stomach turn. He’d put that look on Jacob’s face and didn’t know why.
Admittedly he had overreacted, again, and had been cruel.
So much for the apology cake.
James locked his front door before returning to the counter where the plastic-wrapped action figure remained. It was just a stupid present. A thoughtful one yet James had freaked out.
Seeing the action figure with a red cape had instantly put him on the defensive. Like somehow Jacob had known that James had worn Michael’s cape that had been left behind. Or that he knew that James had cuddled and slept with the cape the night before after Jacob had left his apartment.
There was no way that Jacob would know any of that.
