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Today’s rants:
Hmmmm… I only have one today…
Why is Jacob so damn annoying?
I’ve been looking forward to reading my book but it’s impossible now with Jacob and I sharing this small space. He’s sitting in the arm chair across the room, reading the latest John Grisham novel, and he’s doing that whistling thing he does. He does it when he cooks, when he works with his hands, and when he reads, basically whenever he needs to concentrate.
And to make things worse, Abby is cuddling up next to him.
“Abby, get over here.” I pat a spot right next to me on the sofa. “C’mon, sweetie.”
Her little ears perk up and her cute brown eyes study me for a second. She considers it for a beat, but ultimately she chooses to stay next to Jacob. He shoots me a sly smile, and damn if he doesn’t look sexy right now, in his white t-shirt and pajama clad legs.
I shoot Abby the stink eye. “You little traitor. You’re not my favorite anymore.”
Baxter cocks his head and eyes me curiously, seemingly offended.
What can I say? She’s always had a crush on Jacob. Well, at least I still have Baxter by my side.
“You want a fire?” Jacob asks. “I could start one.”
I shake my head. “No, it’s pretty warm in here. And besides, I’m tired and going to bed.”
Baxter jumps off the sofa when I stand. “Goodnight, Jacob.”
“You sure you don’t want to share a room?” Jacob teases. “It would be kinda rude to mess up two rooms, don’t you think?”
“Well, I know that’s what Beatrice wants… to get us back together,” I say. “Never going to happen. It’s been almost two months since we last hooked up, and I don’t even miss you.”
He smiles. “Really? I find that hard to believe. You’ve never been a good liar, Corrie. I could always read you like a book.”
I glare at him. “I’m going to bed.”
He shoots me a wink and it makes my traitorous heart flutter a little. “Suit yourself.”
I brush my teeth, wash my face, slip into my cozy flannel pajamas, and try not to think about Jacob in the next room. I’m feeling a little restless and as I slip under the covers, I try to relax and let myself sink into the bed. My body is on high alert — it wants action. Yet my mind is telling me,You’ve been doing so well… you don’t need him. Sex is overrated.
Following much tossing and turning, restless sighing, and R-rated visions of Jacob’s body on mine, I finally manage to fall into slumber.
I spring up like a jack-in-the-box.I’ve always been a light sleeper. Jacob’s snoring used to always wake me up (that’s one thing I don’t miss). Baxter is yapping. I’m not sure where Abby is. The room is dark, save for the moonlight coming from the window and the red numbers on the digital clock: 3:32 AM.
“Quiet, Baxter,” I call out.
He shuts up instantly — he’s always been a good boy. He stares intently at the window.
“Is there something out there, Baxter? What did you hear?”
It’s dead quiet — I think we might both be going crazy. Yet, there was something. I felt it too. I’m not sure what it was exactly; a flutter, a swoosh. My heart is beating frantically. I close my eyes, and lie back down on my pillow. It must have just been a nightmare. I can’t even remember the last time I had a bad dream.
I struggle to relax again but my eyes flutter open, on instinct. There’s definitely something. Just when I’m sure that I’ve gone certifiably insane, I see it. It’s a blur. Dark & fluttery. Is it a bird? A bird in my room? The window curtains ruffle as it heads back to its hiding spot behind the curtains, just next to my bed.
I turn on the light, and approach the window very slowly and cautiously. I pull at the curtains, wanting to get a closer look. My heart leaps in my chest when I see that it’s not a bird at all — pointy ears pointing to the floor, furry belly, and tightly closed wings. Its beady dark eyes appear as terrified as mine.
“Yikes!!!” I jump off the bed and run off screaming, falling over my luggage in the process. Serves me right for leaving my crap everywhere — Jacob is always telling me to pick up my stuff.
I’m simply not equipped to deal with this at all. I knock frantically on Jacob’s door, until he finally reluctantly answers. “What the…” He looks tired, disheveled, and very annoyed. “What’s the big emergency now, Corrie?” Abby is by his side. Figures.
