His Miracle

Bad News.

I enter the living room in search of Jake. I know the time I spent in Tobias' room must be driving him crazy. He's probably sitting on the edge of his seat, waiting to discover whether his relationship with Tobias is truly over. I push open the door and Jake's head snaps up. His blue eyes search mine and I give him a smile. It's all he needs. The relief that floods through his face warms my insides. He extends his hand for me and I slip my hand inside his. Within a split second, I'm pulled into his lap and his arm is securely wrapped around me.

"Is everything good, Wentworth?" Jake says while breathing in his favorite spot on my neck.

"Yeah, all good. We talked it out." I smile down at him.

I'm amazed to find the tension completely disappearing from Jake.

The old Jake Melvin would have felt the need to investigate himself... usually with a physical fight. This version of Jake only needs to hear my reassurances to know everything is okay. I love how much he trusts me. The door swings open and Tobias enters before nodding his head in Jake's direction.

"Are we good, man?"

Jake pauses for a moment before looking at me. His eyes soften and I feel his arm tighten around my frame.

"If Emily says we're good, we're all good."

Tobias breathes a sigh of relief before walking into the living room. He drops down on the opposite sofa before reaching for his phone. My heart hurts for him when I notice the deflation in his usual confident posture. Finding out Jane is breaking up with him plus revealing he was previously in love with me must be overwhelming and exhausting for him. I grimace when I realize Jane has already moved on and Tobias is oblivious to her continuing betrayal.

"We have something else to tell you, Tobias." I say quietly.

I climb out of Jake's hold and take a seat beside him. Tobias places his phone down before glancing between Jake and I. Nobody speaks. As soon as Tobias senses the uneasiness in the room, he leans forward and his expression turns serious.

"What is it?" Tobias questions us both. Jake stands up and walks toward Tobias before taking a seat. He slides a supportive arm around his cousin's shoulders.

"This isn't easy to say, T," Jake says quietly. Tobias stiffens against Jake.

"Did somebody die?" Tobias asks with a narrowed expression.

"Somebody might die," Jake mutters under his breath.

I don't want to be the person to tell him Jane is cheating on him. It's like picking up a shard of his broken heart to stab him with it. How many blows can he take before he crumbles under the pain? I give Jake a knowing look, silently asking him to be the bearer of bad news. I don't think I can stomach breaking Tobias' heart any further.

"I don't want to tell you this, but Jane is cheating on you." Jake finally delivers the bad news.

Tobias' face contorts with hurt and anger. His entire body stiffens but his leg bounces up and down with adrenaline. He throws Jake's arm off his shoulder before springing to his feet.

"I knew it! I had a feeling all along. Who is it?" His voice holds no emotion behind it.

Tobias begins pacing the room and his aura turns murderous.

"It's a guy named Dylan. That's all we know," Jake tells him.

Tobias stops pacing before sliding his hands into his hair.

"Fuck!" He screams with anger.

I wince at the harsh tone of his voice. It's difficult watching him descend back into darkness, but this time, I won't let him.