“Are you going to tell me, or what?” Riley demanded when River got home.He looked at her with confusion. “What are you talking about?” he asked.“About Jacob. And his mother,” Riley said firmly.River’s expression darkened at the mention of Jacob and his mother. He rubbed the back of his neck. “It wasn’t anything crazy,” he muttered.“Don’t give me that bullshit, River,” Riley growled.River chuckled. “Jeez, wife. Feeling a bit feisty today?”Riley narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms as she glared at River. “Don’t try to dodge the question, River. This is serious.”River sighed, his teasing demeanor faltering as he sat down on the edge of the couch. “Look, it’s not what you’re thinking,” he said, his tone softening slightly. “Jacob’s mother…I met her ages ago, and let’s just say…not under the best circumstances.”“What do you mean?” Riley asked.River took a deep breath. “It was years ago. Tiffany had just turned six. I had this enemy, he was always trying to encroach on our territo
Tiffany’s eyes darted to the clock for the hundredth time that afternoon, her stomach twisting as she registered the empty seat beside her.Two days. Jacob had been absent for two whole days now.She forced her gaze back to the textbook in front of her, but the words blurred together. Her pencil tapped an anxious rhythm on the desk.“Miss Foster, is there a problem?” Mrs. Hawthorne’s stern voice cut through her spiraling thoughts.Tiffany’s cheeks flushed. “No, ma’am. Sorry.”As the teacher resumed her lecture, she tried to focus, but her mind kept wandering back to Jacob. Where was he? Was he okay?Stop it, she chided herself. It’s not like he’s your boyfriend or anything. You’re just friends.That’s all.But even as she thought it, she knew it wasn’t true. At least, not for her. Somehow, without her permission, Jacob had become more than just a friend. His absence left an ache in her chest that she couldn’t quite explain.Tiffany sighed, resting her chin in her hand. It’s probably no
Tiffany slid her jacket on and glanced in the mirror, running a hand through her hair to smooth it down. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to do.He will definitely make fun of her for showing up like this.“Be back before dinner, okay?” Riley called after her.“Sure!” Tiffany responded, already stepping out the door.She headed toward the car that waited for her in the driveway. The car her father assigned to her with the driver, John, to take her anywhere she wanted, including school. For once, she was thankful to have that privilege.“Where to, Miss?” John asked.Tiffany gave him the address and leaned back in her seat.Her heart was pounding hard. Was this a mistake?Jacob told her not to come to his house and he sounded very serious. What if he got angry at her for showing up?But then again, this could be a good revenge because he was always intruding into her life!Tiffany smiled. Yes, this was a payback. Stupid Jacob…always following her around an
Jacob complied, lifting his arms as Tiffany carefully pulled his shirt over his head. The warmth of his skin against her fingers sent a shiver through her, and she quickly averted her gaze to the floor. She couldn’t focus on how close they were or how her heart raced at the thought of being so intimate with him.“You have to take your pants off too,” Tiffany said, trying not to blush.Jacob’s lips curled into a small smile. Or what looked like a ghost of his usual charming smile. “Oh, my princess. I didn’t know you were so…forward,” he drawled.“Jacob!” Tiffany snapped.“Okay, gosh,” he said weakly.Tiffany sighed as she watched him struggle with the simple task of opening his zipper. “Let me,” she said, putting her hand on his.Jacob paused and looked at her dazedly. “We haven’t even kissed yet, and you want to take my pants off?”“I am done messing around!” Tiffany exclaimed. She wanted to slap him.“S…sorry,” he murmured and swayed.Tiffany quickly grabbed his shoulders and led him
Tiffany watched Jacob sleep for a few minutes, then stood up.While she was cleaning his room, she found her diary on his desk. Now it was time to take it back and go home. End this silly blackmail once and for all.But somehow, it felt like she was betraying him and instead of grabbing her diary and heading out, she walked over to the desk and placed it exactly where she’d found it.Something must be seriously wrong with her.She looked around the room, studying it again. It was a simple room.A few posters were tacked to the walls, mostly bands she didn’t recognize. The desk was cluttered with textbooks, crumpled papers, and stray pens, yet there was something oddly organized about the mess. It was a side of Jacob she hadn’t paid attention to before—just a normal guy with a space that reflected bits of his life.Her gaze lingered on a photograph tucked into the edge of his mirror. He couldn’t be more than five in it, all toothless and innocent.She smiled. He was so cute.“Mom, no.”
“So now you get to witness the true reality of my life. Jacob stuck in this messy, broken, and old house with his poor mother,” he said. “I wasn’t born with a golden spoon in my mouth. So you are probably thinking I got some audacity to ask a girl out like you,” he added bitterly.“I see your assholy attitude is back. You must be feeling better,” Tiffany retorted.Jacob smirked his expression a mix of relief and annoyance. “Guess some things never change, huh? Even when I’m half dead, I still manage to get under your skin.”“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m just surprised you have the energy to be a jerk again,” Tiffany shot back, crossing her arms. She leaned against the doorframe, trying to maintain a tough exterior, but inside, she felt the tension shift. Despite his words, there was a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes, a reminder of how close they had been just hours before.“I’m sorry,” Jacob’s voice dropped, a more serious tone surfacing. “I just…I never wanted you to see how I li
Tiffany didn’t hate him, and she was willing to go to prom with him willingly.The thought brought a smile to his lips. It made his headache lessen.And she was here, with him. For once, he didn’t have to feel alone. He let out a soft moan as he felt her cool fingers massage his scalp.This had to be a dream, right?“You aren’t actually here, are you?” He murmured, his eyes closed.He felt her shift. “What?” she whispered.“I have a feeling I’m in some kind of fever-induced coma and imagining you next to me,” he said.Tiffany giggled. “You are always saying weird things. Is your headache getting better?”“Yes. But that doesn’t mean you should stop doing what you’re doing right now. God, you have such a soft hand. I’m in heaven,” he said.“You still feel really hot. Maybe I need to take you to the hospital,” Tiffany said.Jacob’s eyes snapped open. “What? No, that’s not necessary.”“Why not? I can ask John to drive us and then…”“No!” Jacob exclaimed, interrupting her. “There’s no need
Tiffany stormed out of the bathroom, her heart pounding with anger and adrenaline. She couldn’t believe the nerve of those two confronting her like that. But a small part of her felt a thrill of satisfaction at the way she’d handled them, the shock on their faces when they realized she wasn’t some pushover.She was her father’s daughter, after all.She rounded the corner, her mind still reeling, when she nearly collided with a solid chest. Strong hands gripped her shoulders, steadying her, and she looked up to see Jacob’s concerned face.“Whoa, where’s the fire?” he asked, his brow furrowed.Tiffany let out a shaky laugh, the tension draining from her body at the sight of him. “Just had a little run-in with the queen bees,” she said, trying to play it off.Jacob’s eyes narrowed, his grip tightening slightly. “What did they do?”She shook her head. “Nothing I couldn’t handle. Let’s just say they won’t be bothering me again anytime soon.”A slow grin spread across his face, his eyes gli
“What are they doing now, Jimmy?” Lucas texted the man he hired to spy on Amy and Asa.Lucas stared at his phone as the message sent, his fingers tapping impatiently against the edge of his desk. His thoughts churned, the irritation growing with every passing second.His phone buzzed with a reply.Jimmy: They’re still on the mini golf course. No sign of anything strange. They’re just playing, talking, looks like having fun. She seems relaxed.Lucas narrowed his eyes, his mind racing.Lucas: Keep watching. I want to know if they kiss.Jimmy: They are on the last hole now. Looks like they’re finishing up. Could be wrapping up soon.Lucas: I want to know everything. Stay close, don’t miss anything.He stared at the screen, watching the little dots indicating Jimmy was typing. The delay felt agonizing, each second stretching longer than the last. Finally, the message came through.Jimmy: They are finishing up now. No kiss yet, though. She’s laughing at something he said. Looks like a prett
Amy paced across the bedroom.Seventeen steps to the window, pivot, fifteen steps back to the mirror. Her new sundress swished around her knees – impulse purchase, one size too optimistic. Twenty-seven minutes until he arrived. Twenty-six, actually. The clock on her microwave was fast.“You are a grown woman,” she told her reflection, which stared back with unconvinced eyes. “You’ve been on dates before.”“Why am I so nervous?” she asked herself in the mirror. “It’s just Asa, your nice neighbor.The sundress was yellow – “Daffodil Dream” according to the tag – with tiny white flowers scattered across the fabric like stars on a summer night.She’d spent forty-three minutes and all her remaining dignity in the fitting room deciding between this one and a blue number that made her look like a corporate retreat brochure. The yellow won because it didn’t take itself too seriously. Amy wasn’t sure she could say the same about herself right now.Amy paused at the window, fingers fidgeting wi
“Have fun on your date.” That’s what he had said.Amy had been annoyed at him since then and refused to look him in the eyes for the rest of the day. And then it was time to go home.“Maybe I should ask Mom and Ben to drive me back to the apartment. No reason for you to drive all the way there,” Amy said when they were near his car.“I have every reason to,” Lucas barked.Amy blinked, taken aback by the sharpness in Lucas’s voice.She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. “Why are you being so weird about this? It’s just a ride home.”Lucas scoffed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. “Because I brought you here, so I am taking you back. Since when have you had a problem accepting rides from me?”“Since you started acting like a jealous control freak,” she shot back, her irritation flaring.Lucas’s jaw tightened. “I’m not jealous.”Amy let out a dry laugh. “Right. So, what was all that about earlier? Telling me I can’t go on a date with Asa? Last I checked, you’re not my boyfr
Lucas couldn’t stop worrying about what Amy implied throughout dinner. He found himself stealing glances at her.Was she serious? Was she bored of him already? How could she already be bored? They had barely just started!When the meal finally ended, Lucas didn’t have the chance to get her to be alone with him again because Tiffany decided to pull her away from him. “What are you doing?” he growled without thinking.Tiffany arched a brow. “Relax, little brother. I just want to get to know Amy better. You did say she’s your girlfriend, right?” she teased, pulling Amy along before he could argue.Amy gave Lucas a nervous smile but didn’t resist as Tiffany led her away.Lucas clenched his jaw, watching them disappear into another part of the vineyard. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. This is ridiculous. He needed to talk to Amy. Now.Jacob chuckled beside him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “You’re acting like a dog whose favorite toy was taken away.”Lucas shot him a glare.
Lucas waited until they were out of earshot of Amy before turning to Alicia.“What’s wrong with you?” he asked, glaring at her.“What do you mean?” Alicia asked innocently.Lucas sighed. “You know exactly what I meant, Alicia. Why are you being so rude to Amy? What is wrong with you?” he barked.“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with YOU? What are you doing, dating my stepsister, Lucas? I didn’t realize you’d play dirty just to get to me,” she said.Lucas stared at her. “Get to you?”Alicia crossed her arms. “You can deny it all you want, but I know you, Lucas. You don’t just accidentally end up with her, of all people. It’s a game, isn’t it? A way to—what? Get back at me? Make me jealous?”Okay, technically, she was right. This was supposed to be a game to get close to Alicia, but Lucas had no intention of doing that anymore. So all he could do now was to deny the accusation.“That’s actually insane, Alicia. You really think everything is about you, don’t you?” He took a step close
“Ah, Luke! Come on up, my boy,” Antonio Costello exclaimed jovially as Lucas led Amy and her family inside the building.Lucas grinned and stepped forward to shake Antonio Costello’s hand. The older man clapped him on the back.“Good to see you, Uncle Tony. Thank you for letting me bring some guests to tour your Vineyard,” Lucas said.Antonio waved a dismissive hand. “Nonsense, Lucas! You’re family. My home is your home.” His sharp eyes flickered over to Amy and the rest of the group. “And who do we have here?”Lucas placed a hand on Amy’s lower back. “This is Amy,” he said. “And this is her mother, Margaret, her stepfather, Benjamin, and…” His voice dipped just slightly. “Her stepsister, Alicia.”Antonio smiled warmly. “It’s nice to meet you all. The Vineyard here is one of my pride and joy. I can’t wait to show you all the true beauty of making wine.”Margaret clasped her hands together, clearly delighted. “That sounds wonderful, Antonio.”Antonio nodded. “Come, let’s not waste any
Amy kept pacing back and forth in her bedroom. Her room was tiny, so there wasn’t much room to pace, but she made it work. She had to think.“This is stupid,” she muttered under her breath. She touched the hem of her shirt—a shirt she had changed three times already.“Jeans and a blouse. Jeans. And. A. Blouse.” She spoke each word like a mantra. She looked at herself in the mirror and blew out a breath. It was a simple outfit, and she looked plain as usual. But who really cares? Lucas had seen her already, so it was not like she had to impress him.“Lucas may have that smoldering, infuriating knack for making me second-guess myself,” she acknowledged to her reflection, “but not today. Today, I am the epitome of casual indifference.” Besides, she was still kind of mad at him.Okay, maybe not mad. But irritated.She thought about Asa and how he asked her out. How would she break that to Lucas? He would go ballistic!But she had to admit…it was kind of nice to be wanted.“Let them fight
Lucas did not like Asa.Not at all.How could Amy choose to stay with him?Lucas ran a hand through his hair, breathing hard. He hadn’t stopped thinking about her and that asshole ever since he left his apartment, his blood boiling with jealousy.Another thought suddenly occurred to him. What if he had pushed Amy toward Asa even more by acting like a caveman back there?Stupid, stupid, stupid!Lucas gritted his teeth, pacing his living room like a caged animal. His fists clenched at his sides as frustration clawed at his insides.What the hell was wrong with him?He had been acting like a lunatic, snapping at Amy, throwing accusations, and now—now she was probably going to go out with Asa.His stomach twisted at the thought.What if Asa made her laugh? What if she actually liked him? What if she realized she didn’t need Lucas in her life anymore?His pulse pounded in his ears.This was his fault. He’d let his jealousy get the best of him, and now she was probably thinking he was a pos
“He is not going to come back in the morning and beat me up, is he?” Asa asked after Lucas stormed out, slamming the door behind him with a loud bang.“I doubt that. He acts all tough, but he is just a giant teddy bear inside,” Amy said.Asa looked at her intently. “So, is he your boyfriend or what?”Amy bit her lower lip and shook her head. “No. He is not.”“Then why was he acting like a jealous boyfriend?” he asked." It’s…it’s complicated,” Amy said.Asa arched an eyebrow. “Complicated, huh? That’s just a fancy way of saying I have no idea what the hell is going on.”Amy groaned, flopping onto the couch. “Tell me about it.”Asa plopped down next to her, propping his feet up on the coffee table. “Well, from what I gathered, he’s either in love with you, in deep denial, or on the verge of a mental breakdown.”Amy let out a tired laugh. “I hardly think he is in love with me, but the mental breakdown part might be true.”Asa took a thoughtful sip of his beer. “Whatever it is, I think y