“I just thought I saw something.” Then, walking back toward them, I ask, “What are you guys doing out here?”
“We thought we'd walk you home,” Tahnee answers, throwing her hair up into a bun. “Can never be too careful at night, especially with a certain someone on the loose here.”
“Yeah, I heard you guys have a rapist living here,” Justin says with a scrunched-up nose.
Damien moves to stand beside me. “All the more reason to come visit our town.”
It's a struggle to keep my irritation under wraps when my protective feelings for Jacob surface. I keep telling myself that they don't know any better, that they don't know Jacob is innocent, that they don't know him like I do.
But I still feel that not one of them has the right to talk about him at all.
Somehow I manage to bite my tongue, and we start walking in the direction of my home. Tahnee and Justin move a few steps ahead, leaving me to walk beside Damien. I glance once more over my shoulder down the alley behind us but still see nothing. I must have just imagined him there.
“So, what do you do in your free time?” Damien asks me after a few steps.
“Oh, I like to go for walks along the beach.” I shrug. “And just whatever else comes up, I guess.”
Actually, most of my free time has been spent with Jacob lately, but I can't imagine that answer going down very well.
I ask him what he does in return, and then we continue to make small talk for the rest of the walk to my place.
Just when I think I'm going to be free and maybe get a chance to go see Jacob tonight, Tahnee turns to me in front of my house.
“Can I use your bathroom while we're here?”
“Actually, I wouldn't mind that either, if that's okay?”
“Me, too.”
Internally I wonder why the hell no one bothered using the bathroom at the bar, but on the outside, I just smile and nod. “Sure.”
As we walk the path to my front door, Damien looks around and says, “This is cute.”
“Thanks.” I unlock and open the door, gesturing for them to go in.
“You guys should check out her back deck while you wait,” Tahnee calls as she heads to my bathroom.
Stifling a sigh, I say, “Come on,” and then lead the guys to the deck, purposely leaving the lights off inside my house and not offering a drink, so they don't get too comfortable.
Justin and Damien each take a seat while waiting for the bathroom, probably intending to leave right afterward, but because Tahnee settles down and makes herself cozy in one of the chairs when she comes out, they follow suit and return to their seats once they're done with the bathroom as well.
I guess my plan didn't work.
I had been leaning against the railing, but when they start chatting amongst themselves, I curse under my breath and go sit in the only space left, on the chaise next to Damien.
It's not like I told Jacob I was coming over, I guess. He knew I was going out with Tahnee and a couple of guys. But I had wanted to go see him, especially after thinking I saw him outside the bar and after the way we left things this morning.
My head snaps to the side when I feel Damien's hand land on my arm. “You don't mind us chilling here for a few minutes, do you?”
“It's fine,” I say with a smile.
Facing forward, I notice Tahnee shifting her gaze between the two of us with a smirk and a look that says she still thinks I should be giving him a shot. But there is zero part of me that is even contemplating seeing him after this. Maybe if I hadn't met Jacob, I'd be willing to give him a chance.
Poor Damien. He's a good guy and has been trying to get to know me all night, but I've kept it surface level and have only asked him a few questions in return. I really do feel sorry for him.
Finally, half an hour later, they decide to leave. I politely take Damien's number when he gives it and says to use it if I ever feel like hanging out again. Then hug each of them goodbye.
When they're finally far enough away that I don't think they'll be coming back for any reason, I quickly walk back out onto my back deck and step over toward the side steps to walk to Jacob's place, hoping he's not already in bed.
