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Lewd commentary filled the room as Quil, Embry, and Jared cheered the women on screen. Jacob ignored them as he typed, hoping to finish his term paper despite the distraction. He couldn’t wait for the end of the semester, to enjoy the summer without worrying about schoolwork.
Jacob’s disabled father, Billy, escaped the racket for the day, wheeling himself down the street to visit a friend. Jacob almost wished he’d gone along and left these dirty dogs to their porno in peace. Billy was too lax with Jacob’s friends taking over their home, and Jacob rarely had the heart to make them leave. These were his brothers, his pack, and they gravitated toward his company whether or not he wanted them around.
The roar of Paul’s pickup drowned out the television as it pulled into the drive. Jacob rolled his eyes before attempting to finish the paragraph he was typing.
“You stupid motherfuckers will never believe this,” Paul said as he thundered into the house, the screen door loudly clapping behind him.
Jacob sighed and closed his laptop. “What’s so unbelievable, dipshit?”
Paul snorted. “Guess who I just saw at the grocery store, fucker? Your best friend!”
Jacob frowned, glancing toward Quil, his actual best friend. What the hell was Paul talking about?
“Oh, come on! ” Paul glowered at Jacob indignantly. “ You know who. The person who made every summer hell, dude.”
Suddenly the memories of a mouthy, pale brunette with two left feet and a toothy grin came to mind. Jacob could feel the involuntary curl of his lip as he sneered.
“What’s the matter, Buddy? Thought you’d be happy to hear she’s back in town.”
Jacob scowled at Quil and Embry as they side-eyed each other knowingly and Jared tried to bite back a laugh.
“Yeah, Paul. You’re hilarious.” He reached behind him and hurled a cushion at Paul’s head. Paul cackled as he caught it and flopped onto the loveseat beside Jared.
“What? You mean you don’t miss Chief Swan’s hot daughter?”
“Hot? Yeah. Right.”
Bella Swan had been the plague of his existence since childhood. Their fathers had forced them together every summer. Fishing, camping, carnivals, the beach… You name it, and Jacob endured it with Bella’s mopey attitude and obvious disdain for ‘guy time.’ For years, she ignored Jacob’s attempts to talk or play (at Billy’s insistence), following his older sisters around instead.
When left to their own devices, Bella and Jacob’s meager attempts to get along quickly disintegrated. He was too rough and loud for her delicate sensibilities, and she was not interested in what he and Quil determined was ‘cool,’ like digging up worms for fishing or playing frisbee on the beach. Instead, she tagged behind them, bored, quiet, and reserved. Mostly, she hid against her favorite driftwood with her nose in a book.
When they were eleven, she and Jacob finally seemed to ‘connect.’ Jacob realized Bella was quick-witted, sarcastic, and funny. Meanwhile, she realized there was more to him than mud, bare feet, or the constant presence of his obnoxious friends. For almost two weeks, that connection grew, leading Jacob to trust Bella for the first time since he was four and she tricked him into eating mud.
Their friendship was short-lived. Bella wandered into the Black’s garage one afternoon, discovering Jacob, Embry, and Quil smoking. She lectured them before storming inside and tattling to Billy. Jacob’s father raised seven kinds of hell that afternoon and Jacob got grounded for the next two weeks.
Livid, Jacob refused to acknowledge her existence for the rest of her visit despite several heartfelt apologies. She returned to Arizona as disappointed in him as he was in her.
The following summer, they had the beginnings of puberty to fuel their tempers. Bella started her first period that summer and her PMS could have knocked the house down with a feather. She seemed to snap in fury or burst into tears at every turn. She and Jacob fought every time they opened their mouths. Something as simple as pizza toppings became a screaming match, and Jacob determined he would never give two shits about Bella fucking Swan.
Bella declared that was her last summer in Forks. Seeing how heartbroken Charlie was every time she refused afterward only solidified Jacob’s dislike of the girl.
Maybe it was favoritism that allowed Jacob and his friends to get away with anything short of murder, but he didn’t question it. Charlie trusted him implicitly despite knowing Jacob and his friends partied frequently. After all, if Billy didn’t care, why should Charlie? It wasn’t like he had jurisdiction in La Push anyway.
Plus, there was the whole, “We look twenty-five because we’re fucking werewolves,” thing.
It was probably for the best that Bella stopped visiting. Seeing Jacob turn into a horse-sized wolf at sixteen would have been too much for her - one of the few things that Billy, Jacob, and Charlie unanimously agreed on.
Paul snorted at Jacob’s comment and shook his head. “Make no mistake about it, Jacob. Swan left the duck pond back in Arizona. She’s smoking.”
“We’ll see,” Jacob grumbled. If Bella was back in town, there was no way Charlie and Billy wouldn’t force them together eventually. He just hoped she wasn’t ragging when it happened.
Jacob spent the few weeks waiting for the inevitable. To his surprise, Billy never mentioned it and Charlie never dragged her to the house.
Despite the satisfaction of not seeing her, Jacob was… curious. Paul, Embry, and Quil met her several times since Paul announced her return. Each expressed disbelief at how attractive she’d become, but all Jacob could visualize was a bruise-riddled (she was very clumsy) freckle-faced kid with a flat chest, knobby knees, and a stuffy attitude.
Still, he couldn’t help but wonder. He could have ordered someone to show him but refused to admit how curious he was. They would’ve teased him relentlessly, and there were more important things to worry about, like bloodsuckers breaching their territory.
Jacob considered swinging by Charlie’s and saying hello, to settle his curiosity. He told himself that he had no intention of seeking her company. She couldn’t be the curvy, graceful woman they said she’d become, and her looks didn’t matter if she was still a bitch.
Bella was home for exactly one month when Jacob finally saw her. He, Embry, and Quil had just left an unsuccessful party in Port Angeles. It was an hour trip each way, and they barely suffered the sausage-fest long enough to say hello. Bored, hungry, and bummed about the wasted trip, they stopped at the only all-night restaurant in Forks to drown their aggravation in grease.
Jacob was still contemplating the menu when Embry and Quil greeted someone with a loud, drawn-out, and flirtatious, “Hey.”
Smirking at their antics, Jacob looked up from the menu and into a familiar pair of approaching brown eyes. He froze solid for a moment, oblivious to his awed expression as the world around him disappeared.
After each blinked a mutually stunned daze away Jacob absorbed her other features. Long, reddish-brown curls loosely tucked in a French braid hung over her shoulder. Her makeup was light enough for her freckles to shine through, and she had finally grown into her toothy grin. Jacob vaguely wondered if she’d had braces during her absent years as he glanced down at her curvy figure.
Her smile wasn’t all she’d grown into. Every inch of her peach and white waitressing uniform looked painted on.
Jacob whispered, “She works here now?”
“I told you that, idiot,” Quil said, gently kicking Jacob in the shin.
Jacob cleared his throat as he adjusted his sitting position to accommodate the erection her swaying hips were causing and looked back down at his menu. To his satisfaction and aggravation, she stopped beside their table.
“Hey, guys. How’s it going?”
Jacob glanced up in surprise over the flirtatious tone in her voice, but quickly dropped his eyes to the menu. It was odd to hear how much her voice had changed, but her greeting made him scoff.
“Hi, Jacob,” she quipped. “Nice to see you, too.”
He gave her the cockiest grin he could muster. “It’s always nice to see me.”
She smirked, but he could see the familiar fiery irritation behind her eyes. “Sure it is.”
Ignoring Embry and Quil’s snickering, she asked, “So what can I get you?”
Despite holding his menu the entire time, Jacob couldn’t remember what he’d wanted to order. He suddenly had little appetite. Still, knowing he’d likely get hungry again while his friends ate, he muttered something about hot wings and onion rings. He remained silent until all orders were placed and she finally left their table.
Embry said, “Told you she’s hot.”
“Sure, sure,” Jacob grumbled.
Quil kicked him again. “You know, you looked at her like the sun sets in her ass for like two whole minutes, right?”
“No I did not, and knock that shit off,” Jacob said, kicking his friend back a little harder.
“Hey, hey. No playing footsies,” Embry teased as he leaned away from Quil. “I’ll sit at the counter and hit on Bella instead. I’m pretty sure she likes me, anyway.”
“Yeah.” Jacob scoffed again as he pictured Embry attempting to hit on Bella. It was unsettling, and that confused him. Ignoring the feeling, he said, “You do that. Just because she’s pretty doesn’t mean she’s not still a bitch.”
Quil frowned. “Come on, dude. You still really hate her that much?”
“I have my reasons,” Jacob answered vaguely, ignoring the meaningful glances between his friends.
Try as he might, Jacob couldn’t take his eyes off her as she flittered around the diner, delivering items and laughing with customers. It was hard to look away when he’d never witnessed her so free and friendly.
Then again, she was making tips here. This was her job and being friendly was part of that. After years of forced courtesy between them, he knew precisely how polite she could be. Oddly, though, she wasn’t being polite to anyone. She was sassy, and her customers loved it.
Jacob was grateful his friends were too busy inhaling food to pay much attention to him. Twice, Bella met his gaze, staring back with a troubled expression. Jacob looked away, wondering if she’d found the changes in his physique as drastic as he saw hers.
Despite his stance on Bella and watching his brothers annihilate the food he’d barely touched, he was reluctant to leave. Jacob waited until they walked away before adding a generous tip to the table. After tolerating their presence for the last hour, he figured she deserved it.
That night he dreamed of bending her over in her uniform and pounding into her like his life depended on it. He locked it away, hoping his brothers would never see it.
For the next few weeks, Jacob feigned indifference when anyone mentioned seeing Bella, but inwardly he was straining to hear every word. He couldn’t understand how the odd fascination with her began, or why she was suddenly tormenting his subconscious, but Bella Swan began invading his dreams. His aggravation grew.
He’d seen her three times since the diner, and each moment had been funnier than the last. He greeted her cockily, unable to keep the grin from his face, noting her immediate suspicion and irritation.
First, Jacob brushed his whole body against hers as he reached above her head for something she couldn’t at the grocery store. Then, just to be a dick, he walked away with it, leaving her fuming where she stood. He didn’t even drink whatever the crap was, but seven bucks and a raging hard-on were worth her aggravation.
The second time, he cut her in line at the gas station. The third time, he honked, making her drop the large coffee in her hand. She’d glared, shaking her head as she watched him wave, grinning as he drove away.
Each encounter left him feeling smug at the moment but troubled later, wondering what about her always made him rise to the occasion. Then, without understanding why, he couldn’t wait to see her again. Jacob told himself he was merely giving back a little of the abuse she’d piled onto him through the years. It seemed to be his new favorite game.
Nearly a month after the diner, Billy stopped Jacob to tell him Charlie was bringing Bella to the bonfire that evening. The old man chuckled ruefully at the scowl on Jacob’s face. The reaction was automatic after years of despising her.
“You can be nice for one night, Jake. Maybe don’t act like a drunken hooligan for a change?”
Jacob laughed. “Same to you, old man.”
“It’ll be curious to see how things go,” Billy said. “Warn the boys to keep the shenanigans to a minimum?”
“Dad…:” Jacob hesitated. “Why are you doing this? You know she’s not allowed to know what happens around here.”
“Because curiosity killed the cat, son,” Billy said cryptically. “So kennel your dogs and be nice for once, alright?”
“Fine,” Jacob said, not understanding a damn thing that his father just said. “But you know she’s always hated coming here. I don’t know why she’d agree.”
Billy’s grin returned. “To see me. Not everything is about you. Get out of here. I never get this house to myself anymore. Scram.” He shooed his son toward the door.
Jacob laughed before kissing the top of his father’s head and slapping him on the back. “See ya’ later, Dad.”
As he left the house, Jacob tried to picture Bella surrounded by the pack and countless others. Oddly enough, she was familiar with all of Jacob’s friends but Jared. Only Jacob despised her. Even Paul liked her, and he hated everyone.
He was so distracted that he forgot to push it away as he phased, instantly showing everyone present his suspicions of how the night might go.
‘Woah, woah,’ cried Paul, interrupting his thoughts. ‘Are we thinking about Bella?’
Embry’s voice preceded Quil’s laughter as he asked, ‘Is she coming tonight?’
Paul said, ‘I’d like to make her come…’
Jacob tried to ignore his rising temper over the mere idea of Bella with Paul, then cursed inwardly as a flash of his dream flickered through his mind. The brief but incredibly detailed visual brought the obnoxious flurry of overlapping voices to an immediate halt. Jacob slammed the door on his thoughts to keep his brothers out.
Always the one to push, Paul demanded, ‘What the hell was that?’
Astonished, Quil asked, ‘Jake?’
‘Nothing. Don’t ask,’ Jacob grumbled. ‘Yes, Bella will be at the bonfire with Charlie, so be nice. Billy told me to kennel the dogs. Remember, she doesn’t know shit about the pack.’
“So, hey, Jake,” Paul pushed. ‘Was that her nice little ass under that waitress uniform?’
‘Paul,’ Jacob warned. This was exactly why he’d kept the dream from them.
‘Hey, I’m just wondering if you tapped that’
‘No,’ Jacob grumbled. ‘I had a dream about her one night. There now, are you satisfied?’
‘I don’t know, Jacob,’ Embry said. ‘Were you satisfied?’
Quil said, ‘Better yet, was she satisfied?’
Jacob rolled his eyes at their laughter. ‘Hilarious, guys. That’s great. I’d appreciate not bringing it up again.’
Paul snorted. ‘Will you be able to see her tonight without ‘getting it up’ again?’
Through their laughter, Embry said, ‘Don’t worry about it, dude. It’s not like you’re the first person to have a wet dream about someone you can’t stand.’
‘Shit, I think we’ve all dreamed about that uniform,’ Paul grumbled. ‘I’d like to take it off with my t-’
‘Okay, enough!’ Jacob tuned them out, focusing on patrol instead of Bella fucking Swan.
Jacob arrived late to the bonfire so Bella could see the drinks he’d stolen from her at the store. She looked beautiful in a frilly dark purple blouse that tied at the side of her waist and black jeans that fit like a second skin. He cursed as he realized they nearly matched, but his shirt was a much deeper shade. She suddenly looked down at herself and scoffed.
He gave her a shit-eating grin as he opened the case and tossed a few into a cooler before grabbing a beer.
Bella rolled her eyes as Charlie threw his arm around Jacob, greeting him cheerfully, ignoring the alcohol in his hand. Jacob could feel her eyes following as he made rounds, greeting others, saving her for last. He was unsurprised that his friends were flirting with her between bursts of conversation as she sat beside Jared’s girlfriend, Kim.
As Kim stood and approached Jared a few yards away, Paul eyed the seat beside Bella. Jacob rushed over and took it, intentionally pushing himself between them, knocking Paul back.
“Dick,” Paul hissed as he stepped away, making Jacob laugh.
“So, Bella, how are ya?”
“Fine.”
Her annoyed tone amused him. “Sure? You don’t sound fine. Maybe you should have a beer with me, Bells.”
She scowled at him. Only Charlie called her Bells. “Charlie might let you get away with that shit. I’m a different story.”
He grinned at the familiar fire burning behind her eyes. “Do you want to drink?”
Her face fell into a familiar, frustrated expression as she looked at him like he was stupid. “I’m a college student, Jake. Of course, I want to drink.”
“Hey, Charlie,” Jacob hollered. Charlie looked up from where he was reaching into a cooler and Jacob waved. “Come here!”
She hissed, “What are you doing?!”
“Just….” he gestured for her to hush and almost laughed at her rising temper.
Carrying a few beers with him, Charlie asked, “Problem, kids?”
“Bella wants to drink with us,” Jacob said, holding her fiery gaze. “She could just sleep at Billy’s right?” She raised one skeptical eyebrow as he grinned.
“If anything happens…”
“Yeah. My fault. I got it, Charlie.” Jacob nodded. Charlie handed her a beer and walked away.
Shocked but still irritated, she muttered, “Thanks.” Bella opened the can and took a long drink from it.
“Honesty is best, Bella. You taught me that, remember?”
Jacob smirked at her stunned expression as he pulled cigarettes from his pocket, then headed toward the parking lot with Quil.
They avoided direct conversation for the next few hours while subconsciously gravitating toward each other. When one turned around, the other was there. It became increasingly difficult to ignore her, though he tried.
The pack teased her relentlessly, but she held her own - along with more alcohol than he’d expected. When the older crowd left, someone played music from their phone, and Bella danced. Her chosen partners didn’t matter. She seemed sexy and carefree, and the more Jacob watched her move, the harder it was to look away.
As their gathering ended, Bella spoke quietly with Kim as the guys doused the fire and cleaned up. Soon, the group began the trek home, saying goodnight as Jared and Kim, then Paul, branched off near their homes.
When Jacob realized Quil and Embry still followed, he asked, “Where are you going?”
“Your house.” Embry chuckled.
“Oh, no. You’re not keeping me up all night with your horn dog bullshit. Go home guys.”
Bella giggled, and it took everything Jacob had in him not to grin. Quil and Embry exchanged a lecherous glance before pointedly looking between Jacob and Bella. When Quil winked, Bella’s cheeks flushed as her eyes widened, and she glanced between the three of them nervously.
Subtle, Quil. Fucking idiot. Jacob sighed. “Guys, go home.”
Bella took a few steps toward the house and laughed. “I’m, um… going inside. Night guys.”
Still glaring, Jacob hollered, “I’ll grab you some blankets and pillows in a minute, Bella.”
As she walked into the house, Quil teased, “I thought it was supposed to be bros before-”
Embry slapped his hand over Quil’s mouth. “Don’t finish that.”
“I’d recommend that.” Sure, maybe Jacob thought her bitchy, but calling her a whore was out of line. “Don’t make me order your ass, Quil. Go home.”
Quil laughed as he slung his arm over Embry’s shoulder. “Fine, cranky. You know, you two should just bang and get it-”
“Quil, for the love of God, shut the fuck up,” Embry interrupted, leading their drunk friend away.
Jacob took a deep breath to calm his temper before heading inside.
It took him about twenty seconds to gather blankets and pillows from the hall closet and set them on the couch. “Help yourself to anything else you need. You know this damn house as well as I do.”
As he turned to sprint for the bathroom, she whispered, “Jacob?” He stopped and looked back at her. “Could I borrow a t-shirt to sleep in? I’m pretty sure there’s sand and dirt all over my jeans.”
“Give me just a minute.” Jacob dashed into the bathroom to piss, washed his hands, and went to find her a shirt. He didn’t hear Bella come to the door and almost stumbled as he leaned into his closet when she spoke.
“Nothing’s changed here, has it?”
He chuckled as he held out a shirt. “I think I’ve changed a little.”
Bella grabbed his hand with the shirt and held his arm out as she boldly appraised Jacob’s lengthy frame. “That you have.”
A surprised laugh escaped him. Was Bella Swan flirting … with him? That was unexpected.
The idea was intriguing after dreaming about her for weeks. But, the part of him he’d always known, who distrusted her since childhood, was suspicious. He decided she must be fucking with him and grinned wickedly, choosing to meet her halfway.
“Like what you see?”
“Mmhmm.” Her breathy hum rocked through him, quickening his pulse as he searched her face for the cruel humor he failed to find.
Still unconvinced, Jacob licked his lips, looking over her figure while kicking off his shoes. He could see the pink flooding her cheeks as he lifted the hem of his shirt and she turned toward the door.
He grinned, triumphant over calling her bluff as he removed the shirt, only to hesitate as she locked the door. Bella turned and leaned against it, digging her teeth into her bottom lip. The flush of her skin, the hungry expression on her face, and the scent of her arousal nearly took his breath away. Jacob hadn’t noticed her scent earlier, but now it was unavoidable… and so good.
Unconsciously, he stepped forward, inhaling deeply. No one he’d slept with in the past smelled this good. The air in the room felt thicker as he locked eyes with her. Bella’s intense stare held him in place as she untied the ribbon at the side of her blouse and let it fall to the floor. Jacob’s eyes instantly dropped to her breasts, barely contained by her lacy white bra. He could hear her heart racing, mimicking his own as the blood rushed from his head to his dick. It took everything in him not to groan as he reached for her waist.
Suddenly her mouth was on his, and Jacob was sucking on the sweetest lips he’d ever tasted. When her tongue slid into his mouth, he nearly forgot his fucking name. It took more strength than it should to pry his lips free from someone much smaller than him. Her kiss was a thousand times better than any dream.
Risking whatever was happening between them, he said, “You don’t even like me, Bella. We can barely stand one another.”
“Doesn’t change anything,” she said, panting as she glided her hand across his abdomen, over his belt, and between his legs. Jacob squeezed his eyes shut as she stroked his erection through his jeans. “There’s… something here I can’t explain.”
“Oh, I can explain it…” he said sarcastically, looking down at her hand placement.
She gave him an extra squeeze as she chuckled. “Don’t ruin it, Jake…” He shuddered in pleasure as both of her hands moved to his belt.
Instead of stilling her hands, Jacob reached for her hair at the nape and tugged, making her pause. “If you want to do this, it stays between us.”
Bella frowned as she leaned back, searching his face. “Are you… with someone? Is some crazy girl going to show up at my work and try to kick my ass?”
“No. I just refuse to let you get harassed about it. You know the dipshits my friends can be.” He chuckled as he loosened his hold on her hair, and she smiled.
“Deal.” She went to work unbuckling his belt as his long arms reached around her to unhook her bra.
Were they truly doing this? He’d never screwed someone he disliked so much before. He wanted to say he hated her, he truly did… but her scent drove him mad and he couldn’t find the will to lie.
She released his belt and unbuttoned his jeans before pulling her bra off entirely. Jacob trailed his nose up the side of her neck, breathing her in before cupping her face and pressing his lips back to hers. He focused on her mouth, lowering his hands to brush his thumbs across her pert nipples. As he gently pinched them between his fingers, her needy whimper vibrated around his tongue. It lured an involuntary growl through his chest and she shivered as goosebumps prickled her skin.
He tingled where her hands stroked him, gliding across the dips and plains of his flesh like she was trying to memorize each with her touch. She gasped for air as he guided her toward his bed and unbuttoned her jeans. Fiery brown eyes burned into his as each pushed their pants down and stepped out of them.
Bella looked down at his naked body, reached out to grab his erection with one small, trembling hand, and stroked him from base to tip. He fought the urge to let his eyes roll back as she repeated the motion, sweeping her thumb over the head and the drop of precum pulled from him. Bella gasped as he spun her around to see her ass and the tiny white thong thread between her rounded cheeks. He kissed the crook of her neck and shoulder from behind and she moaned as he slid his hand over her ass and between her legs. Just like her kiss and taste, her firm, perky ass was even better than he’d dreamed. Her panties were soaked, leaving no further doubts of her intentions in his mind.
She squeaked in surprise as he lifted her and gently tossed her onto his bed on her stomach. Bella bounced and turned over to glare at him ruefully as he chuckled, straddling her legs as he caged her between his arms.
“Last chance to back out,” he challenged before trailing light kisses between her breasts and up her chest. He held her gaze as he swiped his tongue over her left nipple and reveled at the inferno behind her eyes.
She reached down to wiggle the thong over her hips as she whispered, “Shut up and fuck me, Jacob.”
While her command sent a wave of rebellious anger crashing through him, it also made him want her, this, more. His lips crashed into hers in a searing kiss as he took control, repositioning himself between her legs. Hands roamed, groped, and rubbed as he ground himself against her soaked folds, drawing out her need, impatience, and temper. His dick ached as it slid against her, an exquisite torture that only eased when he slowly guided himself into her.
It was far from a one-and-done. Barely a few minutes of recovery time would pass before they began again, and they came together almost every time, riding each other’s highs until the breaking dawn shone through his bedroom window. Eventually, exhausted, they both drifted off to sleep.
He woke a few hours later to her brushing the hair away from his forehead as she whispered his name. Jacob opened one eye to look up at her and her cheeks flushed, making him grin.
“I have to get home. Thanks…. For last night.”
“Thank you,” he teased and rolled over to stretch, noticing she was dressed, truly ready to go. He sat up and tossed back the sheet. She boldly watched as he stood and pulled on his jeans from the night before.
“Come on, I’ll walk you out,” he offered, surprising himself. He felt good this morning. Better than good, he felt great. It was as though an enormous weight had lifted, numbing the newfound fascination and familiar irritation that always surfaced when she was near. He felt… satisfied.
When he opened the door for her, she went to say something, but the words seemed to catch in her throat. She shook her head and looked away.
“Come, hang out again sometime,” he said before consciously registering the thought. “The guys like you and it seems Kim does too. I’m sure she’d be glad to have another girl around for a change.”
Bella smiled. “Maybe I will. Bye, Jake.”
“See ya around, Bella.”
He watched her walk toward the trail leading to the beach where her car waited in the parking lot before shutting the door and pulling his cigarettes from the pocket of his jeans. He nearly jumped as he turned and spotted his father in the kitchen doorway, chuckling as he shook his head. Billy’s mischievous glare said he knew precisely what they’d been up to all night.
Jacob strode past his father toward the back porch where he usually had his first cigarette of the day and sighed. “Not one word, old man.”
Billy held his hands up, still chuckling as Jacob stepped outside.