Loved & Loyal | 1

xix

~Jacob's P.O.V.~

I walked through the door with my wife, Lisa, by my side. I had taken her out to a dinner for supper, leaving Ben and Abby to fend for themselves, assuming Abby stayed. But she usually did. John's daughter was quite the looker, just like his wife, but my wife was better. We always argued over it and had agreed that we wouldn't want any other woman. We were so lucky.

Lisa and I walked through the kitchen, my hand warmed by her soft, smaller one. We saw the dishes in the sink so I knew that Ben had made spaghetti. That boy had gotten my talent for cooking. Thankfully mine, and not his mother's. I loved the woman more than life but she couldn't cook to save her's. Not for lack of trying, though.

I heard the sound of a movie in the living room so I brought Lisa in there, expecting to find Ben and Abby watching one of those movies they loved so much. Instead, though, I found the sight of Abby sitting on my son's lap, curled in a ball, a blanket encasing them both. They were both peacefully asleep and looked so damn cute.

I saw the look in Ben's eyes when Abby was brought up in conversation or whenever he looked in her eyes. It's the same look I get when I look at my Lisa. He loves her, more than he can comprehend or know what to do with. What he doesn't know is that she looks at him the same way.

I wish they would just tell each other how they feel and save themselves a lot of trouble but I understand how hard it must be to take that risk. Especially with a friendship like theirs.

"Oh, Jake, they're so cute together. Why can't they just date already?" My wife asked me. I had told Lisa what Ben had revealed to me the last morning we made pancakes together. When he told me he thought he loved Abby. I think he knows it but doesn't want to confront it. He's scared, but that's alright, because he'll figure something out.

He is my son, after all. I raised him to do the right thing and how to treat a lady properly.

I smiled at my wife, now. "Just wait, my love. He'll do the right thing. But they can never has as good a love as ours," I said to my angel with a wink.

A cute pink blush graced her cheeks and I knew I had said something swoon-worthy. I kissed her on the lips quickly before dragging her out of the living room and up to bed. We were both tired and I just wanted to cuddle my wife and fall asleep.

"To bed with you," I told her, tapping her bum as she went up the stairs ahead of me. She squeaked and moved a bit faster. I chuckled and went up after her.

~End of Jacob's P.O.V.~

When I woke up, Abby was still snuggled into my body on the loveseat but the movie was turned off. I shook her slightly, whispering in her ear.

"Abby, hun, wake up. You have to get home." I did a quick time check. "It's 9:00."

She stirred but groaned and hugged me tighter. I chuckled and grabbed her hands, unclasping them from my sides.

"Up, Abs. Get up," I said gently.

"But, Bear. My parents were fighting again and I wanna stay here with you."

I knew I was going to give in to her eventually, so I saved us some time.

"Alright, fine. But you have to go home and talk to your parents tomorrow," I said. "Promise me?"

"Alright, alright, I promise."

"Thank you. Now, up to bed."

I waited for her to get up off me, expecting her to, but when she didn't I picked her up bridal style and walked up the stairs to my room. She giggled on the way up but refused to walk on her own feet. On my way to my room, I saw my parents door closed so I suspected they had come home when we were sleeping.

I carried Abby into my room and set her down on my bed. I pulled back the covers on her usual side of the bed and she snuggled under them. Then, I went around to my side of the bed and slipped under my white duvet. I pulled her body up close to mine and curved my own around her backside. I love how she fits perfectly against me. We were like two puzzle pieces, made to fit together.