I’ve got fresh underwear and sweats on. I’ve kept Alex’s sweater on because it’s so cozy. I’m still so angry at Jacob. He could have made extra, just in case I showed up.
I pull a frozen dinner out of the freezer, stick it in the microwave, and cut an apple up. I help myself to a glass of milk. I seethe the whole time. Jacob is reading in the living room, completely ignoring me.
After dinner,I read a little and have a bath. Jacob and I don’t say a single word to each other. Just before I head to bed, I find him brushing his teeth. I suddenly feel bad. “All we did was swim and play Scrabble, I swear.”
He spits in the sink. “I don’t care.”
“But you do,” I argue. “I know you do.”
“Goodnight,” he deadpans.
“Goodnight.”
Surprisingly, despite the heavy weight in my heart, I fall easily into slumber. Fresh air and a busy day will do that to a gal.
Jacob seemsto be in a better mood in the morning. He actually bothered to make extra eggs and bacon. I’m enjoying them over the morning paper, which Jacob picked up at the nearby convenience store. “So…” I say, “How’s your crotch doing?”
He laughs. “It’s much better now… but I’m still mad at you. That was a low blow.”
I smirk. “Well, you know me.”
His gaze lingers on me for the longest time. “I do.”
My heart skips a beat, and I can’t pull my eyes away from his. Just then, the doorbell clangs, and I turn to see Alex on the other side of the screen door. He’s smiling widely, and at the sight of Jacob’s expression, my heart sinks.
I wave Alex in. What else am I going to do? Tell him he can’t come in because my soon-to-be ex is jealous of him?
“Hey, how’s it going?” Alex asks Jacob.
“It’s going,” Jacob deadpans as he rises from the table. He carries his plate to the sink, his back to us.
“So what’s up?” I ask Alex, wondering what brings him around so early.
“I was just having my morning walk and I thought I’d drop by and get my sweater back.”
“Oh… yeah, the sweater. Thanks for lending it to me.”
“It was a gift from my grandma, so it means a lot to me.”
“Oh, I didn’t know. That’s cool.”
Jacob rolls his eyes as he walks past us to leave the kitchen.
I go fetch Alex’s sweater and hand it back to him. “So… what are your plans today?” I ask, an attempt at making conversation.
“Not much… working on a commission,” he says. “But feel free to drop by if you’re bored,” he adds, and I know that he’d drop everything to spend some time with me.
The offer is tempting, but I’m not quite sure where I’m at. I’m confused. Do I really want a fling with a boy ten years younger than me? Of course I do. But somehow, it doesn't feel right. With Jacob here and everything. I feel guilty. How does he manage to do this to me when we’re not even together anymore? I’m so messed up.
I smile up at him. “Well, we’ll see. I’m actually pretty busy today.”
Busy doing absolutely nothing at all.
He nods. “Sure. No worries.”
Jacob rushes past us in a huff and heads outside. I watch him walk away into the distance toward the dock, his tall frame slumped.
“Well, I better be off,” Alex says. “Lots to do.”
“Thanks again,” I say and wave goodbye to him as he sets out to leave. I watch him walk away, and I look in the far distance and study Jacob. He’s dragging a yellow inflatable boat to the dock.
I fetch my journal from the nightstand next to my bed, and walk over to the living room. I get comfortable on the sofa, help Abby and Baxter up, and they eagerly settle at my feet.
