“YES!”
“Alright, I’ll make it easier for you.” I get out of his back and start waving the phone around, waiting for someone to notice. Suddenly, it gets out of my hands, but it wasn’t him, no,it was Emily.
“Jacob Louis Lowe West, did you really bring an old phone to family time?”
Blake and Brandon snicker in the background and can’t help adding, “Holy shit, she brought out his government name.”
“Are we thatunbearablethat you had to bring back to life aNokia?” Emily continues shouting, and Jake furiously stares at me while I laugh behind his mother’s back.
“It’s not like it’s like the old ones…” He mutters.
Oh, how the turn tables…
“She’s laughing at me!” He calls after our parents.
“Being a snitch doesn’t look good on you, son.” Joey throws back.
“I think you’re actually the offspring of immorality and corruption.”
“Then aren’t we sweet together, Evil Spawn?” I smirk at him.
“I never got the nicknameEvil Spawn,” He starts to wander off in his thoughts, out loud. “I’m a lovely and caring person-”
“I’m tired!” Paige says suddenly, interrupting.
Jake lowers to his knees, without thinking, and makes a gesture for Paige to come and sit on his shoulders. She smiles excitedly and climbs him. Her tiny legs can be seen hanging from his shoulders, and her head rests on his.Imagine sleeping in that hair.It’s nice and fluffy and messy… I look at both of them, and Jake just said something that makes Paige laugh. I don’t know what it is with boys and children, but it’s the second time this week he’s charming me, and I don’t like this type of manipulation. It’s like I’m actually starting to see something in him. In hisheart. And that’s dangerous, I can’t have that. The Great Wall of China surrounds my heart, and he just can’t come in here and pull a Mulan on me. He can’t- Comecloseand have a look and startcherishing it, only to throw it away when he gets back together with the actual Devil reincarnated,Amanda.
I push those feelings and questions to the back of my head. No need to panic, just look at the nice trees. We walk, and wewalk, andfinally,half an hour has passed when we get to the cars again.
“Cars!” I yell.
“She’s more excited to see the cars than to see me.” Jake complains to Paige, and she giggles.
“And never doubt that for a second, honey.” I counter, honestly.
“How are they dating?!” Blake asks, incredulous.
He’s right. We won’t fool anyone if we continue our relationship like this. We have to be more…Clingy…
I turn to Jake, hesitant, and grab his hand. The second my fingers touch his, he turns his head to me, surprised. But not in a bad way.
“I’m sorry for jumping you nearly four times.” I say almost through gritted, reluctant teeth. Because I’m definitely not sorry for that. It wasfun…
“Is Madelaine Brown apologizing? To me-” He asks smugly.
I hate to put myself in this position. We never apologize to each other, ever. And that smug face is sovexing, especially when I was the one causing it.
I elbow him on the ribs, and he coughs. He looks beside me, and Blake is narrowing his eyes at us. Finally, Jake’s brain starts putting it together, and he says something.
“I-I’m sorry for tackling you over a Nokia.” He apologizes, defeated and feeling observed.
And I do the stupid but necessary thing that comes to mind.
“Don’t worry.” And I peck him on the lips. Quick and easy. Just a small touch that it could be his cheek, as easy as that. But I know it was on the lips, and I can’t help but panic as my chest tumbles.
“Ew!” Blake shouts.
I direct my gaze back to Jake, and he is smiling,genuinelysmiling that 1.21 gigawatt smile and shaking his head slowlybecause a tiny Paige is sleeping on his hair. I point to it, and he whispers to me. “Guess I’m good to lie on.”
