Page 28 of Jacob Michaels is Not Crazy

“Are you the type of person to ask that of me?”

“No.”

“Then it’s moot.”

“But would you?” I egged him on playfully.

“Okay, okay.” He relented. “Maybe I wouldn’t do absolutely anything you wanted. But pretty close.”

I smiled.

“You enjoy this banter, don’t you?” He grumbled.

“I enjoy messing with you, yes.”

“Eat your food.” He gestured at my plate. “Mrs. Wagner will get mad if you don’t eat everything on your plate.”

“You and Oma get awfully concerned with what’s going into my body,” I replied. “For obvious different reasons.”

“Do you want to go to dinner and a movie yet?”

I looked over at Lucas as he chewed his bite of food and popped a bite into my mouth as well.

“Or are you enjoying the chase too much to commit to the next step?” He asked. “Because I think the reason you haven’t accepted an invitation to an actual date is that you enjoy the foreplay too much.”

My first instinct was to laugh at this statement, especially because of how it was phrased and the words Lucas had chosen to convey his thought. However, what he said actually gave me pause. Was I avoiding moving forward with Lucas because we’d no longer be in a “honeymoon” phase and the magic would be lost that is there in the early days of a relationship? Isn’t the first part of any relationship the best? Where two people aren’t quite in a relationship, but they’re getting used to each other as people, exploring each other’s bodies, experimenting sexually, enjoying the pleasures each body can provide…flirting with danger?

“No.” I shook my head, suddenly no longer playful. “Of course not, Lucas.”

“Then…are you going to go have dinner and see a movie with me?”

“Fine.” I shrugged. “If it’s that important to you.”

“It is.”

“Fine.” I shoved another bite of food into my mouth.

“Fine.” He smiled.

So, that was done. The deal was made. A gauntlet had been thrown down. And I had accepted the challenge.

“Do you think I should talk to Andrew?”

“About what?” He turned up his nose.

“The other night? How he’s a werewolf and all? I don’t know.”

“Why would you need to talk to him about that? He’s learned his lesson. You won’t have to worry about him anymore.”

“Well, he’ll see Oma at the center whenever she goes, so he’ll still be around,” I explained. “I mean, maybe I should at least try to get on an even keel, ya’ know? So that there’s no animosity or tension there.”

“Why would there be?” He asked. “Just steer clear of each other and problem solved, ya’ know?”

Looking over at Lucas, the redness in his cheeks, I couldn’t help but grin at the thought that suddenly popped into my brain.

“Are you jealous that I’ll talk to a guy I went on an actual date with?”

“Of course not.” Lucas shoved another bite in his mouth. “That’s just ridiculous, Rob.”