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“Why is Jacob talking to your dad about me and you?” Axel asked.

“What?”

“Jacob’s talking about us?” He lowered his eyebrows like he was actually worried that was what was happening. He seemed genuinely concerned.

“Axel, you’re being very dense this morning. Jacob is talking about me and him. Not you and me. On top of being grounded and homeschooled, my dad also forbade me from seeing Jacob anymore.”

“He did?”

“Yeah.”

“Huh.” Axel laughed. “That sounds more like the Uncle James I know and love.”

I stared at him. That was a weird thing to say in this situation. “He’s ruining my life.”

“He likes to do that. It was honestly stranger that he was okay with the two of you dating in the first place.”

“Yeah.” I’d thought that was strange too. But none of that mattered right now. “So Jacob is hopefully going to get my dad to let him keep dating me.”

“Well, good luck with that. You’re going to need it.”

“Thanks?”

He smiled. “To be a fly on the wall during that conversation.” He walked toward the trapdoor.

“Wait, did you say you had a question about our coding project?”

“Actually...I guess I can be a fly on the wall,” he said, ignoring my question. “I can watch on the computer downstairs, right?”

What?! “No.”

“Are you sure? I thought RJ hacked the security cameras in your house.”

“I meant please don’t watch.”

He started walking down the stairs.

“Axel,” I hissed. “Axel!”

But he’d already closed the trapdoor.

It was tempting to run after him, but Jacob would be arriving soon. And I didn’t want him to have to face my father’s wrath alone. I hurried out of my room.

The living room was empty. And so was the kitchen. The whole house was eerily quiet. Were my parents still asleep? And I wouldn’t have been surprised if Liam never came home. But of course he wasn’t in trouble.

There was a knock on the door. I answered it and smiled up at Jacob. His bowtie was untied around his neck and his tux was a little wrinkled. It looked like he really had been out partying all night. Or sleeping with me. I swallowed hard. This was a bad idea...

The security door down the hall opened and Porter came running out.

“Hold up!” he called as he jogged over. “I’m sorry, Mr. Miller. But you’re no longer allowed on the premises.”

No way. “Are you serious?” I asked.

“Sorry, Scarlett,” Porter said and lifted up his clipboard. “He was taken off the approved guest list last night.”

I guess my father hadn’t wasted any time. “That was a mistake. Jacob is still allowed in.” I held the door open for him.

Porter stepped between us. “Not a mistake. James told me about it himself.”