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“Yes.” I spun around, feeling weak in the knees, like I might puke.
“Why are you so worked up?”
“I’m not.”
“Do you still have feelings for him?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Then uncomplicate it.” He narrowed his gaze.
“We’ve been over for a long time. More than a decade. It’s really not a big deal. I’m just surprised.” Now, I was about to word vomit. “I mean, I figured I’d see him at the party. But at home… and with you here…. That’s just weird, don’t you think?”
Jake slowly raised his brow. “How serious were you?”
“Let’s not do this now.”
“Do I need to be worried he’ll steal you away from me?”
“No.”
“Then tell me about him, baby.” He tugged me into his arms.
“It’s really nothing.” I cringed inside. Being called,baby, made me think of Cade. “We dated in high school. Grew up together. It’s just typical small-town stuff.” I didn’t know how to explain Cade and me.
“Except he lives down the road from you, and your families are apparently likefamily.”
“Our parents are best friends. Naturally, they encouraged us to play together and made it easy for us to hangout when we got older. Cade’s an only child and friends with my older brother. We were all like cousins.”
“Except you aren’t blood related. That would’ve been incest.”
“Right.”
“So why’d you break up if you had this perfect little country life?”
I didn’t appreciate the snark in his tone. “College came between us. I wanted to attend UCLA, and was accepted but Cade wouldn’t go with me.” I shrugged my shoulders like it hadn’t been the end of the world to me. “Shall we go downstairs?”
“Not yet.” His arms lowered to my waist to hold me in place. “I need to know what I’m up against.”
I laughed and rolled my eyes. “Jake, you have nothing to worry about. I’m with you.” I kissed him, but he wanted nothing to do with my lips.
“I need to know, Shelby.”
“Fine.” I pulled back. “What do you want to know?”
“Why haven’t you mentioned him before?”
“I have.”
“You made your high school ex sound forgotten. But he’s not, is he?”
“Like I said, I grew up with him. But it’s been nearly twelve years.” I rubbed the back of his tense neck. “You have nothing to worry about. I’m with you, handsome.”
He considered me for a long second. “I guess you’re right. You broke up before you left for college. I’m sure the guy’s moved on.” Jake relaxed and moved in for a kiss, but I couldn’t keep my damn mouth shut.
“Not exactly. We stayed together, well, more like we were off and on while I was at college. Cade would visit over long weekends and fall break, then I’d come home after the first semester finals were over and for the summer.”
Jake furrowed his brow, as if dissecting my words.
