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“You’re here?”
“Right outside, actually.”
“Jacob, what the fuck—You know what? Hold on,” I said, ending the phone call with a click. I then walked over to Nicholas’ front door, swiftly pulling it open, soon revealing Jacob standing patiently on the other side of it.
“Jacob! What the fuck?!” I repeated my earlier phrase, finding it much more satisfying to do so in person. “What are you doing here?!”
“I already told you.” He offered me a small smile. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay?—”
“Parker? Is that you?” Nicholas asked, as he walked up behind me, wearing nothing more than a towel around his waist. “I was just about to hop in the shower and wanted to ask if you wanted to join—Oh.”
“Hi.” Jacob waved over at him, eyeing him up and down with pure suspicion. “You must be the homeowner? Nicholas Cooper?”
“That I am.” Nicholas held out his hand for Jacob to shake. “And you are?”
“Jacob Bronson,” he replied, as he shook Nicholas’ palm. “One of the co-owners of Wild Woods HQ.”
“And my wrangler, apparently,” I grumbled, and Jacob gave me a look out of the corner of his eye.
“Did you want to come in? Have a bite to eat?” Nicholas offered. “We also have a lot of beer left over from a party, if that’s more your speed.”
“Sure, I’d be happy to come in.” Jacob nodded as he crossed the home’s threshold. “It’ll give me a chance to catch up with Parker here.”
“I think you’re all caught up, actually—” I started.
“Of course. You two catch up and I’ll go put on a few more clothes.” Nicholas nervously chuckled as he disappeared from the living room, leaving Jacob and me standing awkwardly near the door.
“What is this? What are you doing?” Jacob whispered. “Have you two just been playing house this whole time?”
“And? What if we were? That’s none of your business?—”
“Parker, I was worried that something happened to you. If you just came out here to hook up with some guy, that’s fine with me but you should’ve told me the truth?—”
“He’s not just some guy?—”
“He’s not just some guy?” Jacob quirked an eyebrow. “What are you saying right now? That this is something serious?”
“If I say it’s something serious, will that make you go away faster?”
“If you say it’s something serious, that means I need to go into vetting mode.”
“In that case, it’s just a fling?—”
“Too late.” Jacob shook his head as he spoke. “You already laid your cards out on the table, Parker.”
“Sure, whatever, but that doesn’t mean you need to set up a game of poker,” I groaned. “I’ve got this, Jacob. Just let me handle it?—”
“Nicholas! Welcome back.” Jacob beamed over at him, just as my stomach sank.
Jacob didn’t beam at people.
Which meant whatever plan he’d come up with was already being put into action.
Dear Diary—
Dear Journal?—
Dear God And/Or Whoever Else Is Listening?—