I eat the rest of my burger feeling a little better.
“So… we have the projector, and we’ve got the streaming services, so no cost there,” I say. “What about food?”
Jacob finishes his burger and takes a swig of his bottled water.
“Breakfast should be easy. We can keep it simple and just do a breakfast bar. Eggs, bacon, bagels—”
“French toast with blueberries and strawberry topping,” I say, licking my lips. Jacob laughs.
“Very specific, but okay.”
“Red sauce, you know, for like shark blood.”
He shakes his head. “You’re insane.”
I smile as I reach for my water. “That wasn’t a no.”
Jacob smiles, and it’s genuine. I don’t think twice about reaching out and pushing some hair out of his face. “You have a great smile,” I say without thinking. He looks up at me, those blue eyes full of something I can’t quite place.
“Thanks.”
I lower my hand as I pick up our plates. Jacob gets up with me.
“I think it could be fun,” he says. “French toast, I mean.”
He grabs our waters as I head towards the house to dispose of our dishes. I pass my mother, sitting in her chair out on the deck, my dad nowhere in sight.
“Where’s dad?” I ask.
“He and Rob went down to the marina.”
Figures. Only my father would give us an impossible situation and then abandon ship. How the hell is he supposed to spend time with us and make a decision if he isn’t even here? This is ridiculous.
“What are you reading?” Jacob asks, and I realize my mother’s got a book in her lap.
“Shannon lent it to me,” she says. “She says it’s good, though I’m not sure I like it yet.”
Jacob smiles softly. “It’s cute. But I liked the second book,Hook, Line, and Sinker,better.” He shrugs.
She smiles back at him with appreciation. “Thanks. I’ll check it out when I finish this one.”
I move to open the door for Jacob, and I don’t miss the smirk on my mother’s face as she goes back to reading her book.
“After you, baby,” I drawl, noting Jacob’s pink cheeks.
“Thanks.”
The house is quiet, but it’s cool and comforting. I take our plates to the sink and drop them off, fully intent on collapsing onthe couch after this insane day, but Jacob heads to the sink and hipchecks me out of the way.
“What the—” I realize what he’s doing as he turns on the faucet. “What are you doing?”
“Dishes, what’s it look like?” he says as he reaches for the dish soap. I stop him, raising an eyebrow.
“You don’t have to do that here. You’re a guest.”
Jacob shoves my wrist, his fingers brushing warmly against my skin.
“It’s a couple dishes, Aaron. It’s fine,” he says, grabbing the sponge stick and going to town.
