51

JAKE’S P.O.V

I had expected Michael’s anger the moment I walked in through the door which was why I wasn’t surprised when he started screaming at me. Michael was my only friend, he was my closest friend and I knew I had crossed some serious boundaries the moment I decided to pursue something with Hayley. I wasn’t stupid, I knew what the consequences were going to be, it didn’t mean I was ready for them.

I noticed the moment Hayley left as well and I couldn’t blame her. This couldn’t be easy for her, she was caught in the middle and as much as I wanted to protect her from everything, I couldn’t. She was an adult and I couldn’t wrap her up in a bubble like I wanted to. It made no sense to me.

“Put yourself in my fucking shoes, Jake,” Michael slammed his fists down on the table. “You have a niece. Imagine she came home with a dude twice her fucking age and said she had been fucking him.”

I tried not to imagine it. “Please leave Katherine out of this. She has nothing to do with this conve