summer in st. louis

Chapter 20 - Under the Arch We Go

Chapter 20
Under the Arch We Go

"Claire, hurry up! You are seriously the slowest person I've ever seen," Heather groaned, yanking me by the arm. I laughed, watching Jenny try to catch up with us. She was a little pissed that Seb couldn't be here (apparently he's spending Fourth of July with his fam inside Alabama). At least Tucker and Jacob are here, though. Jacob. Jesus.

We were walking the long trek up to the Arch of St. Louis, and oh god was he the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. His dirty blonde hair shone in the sunlight, and when he looked back at me with his blue eyes I nearly fainted.

Claire, stop daydreaming, I thought. Claire! COME ON! Of course, I thought I was thinking about that, but it turns out Tucker was yelling at me. I snapped out of my trance, fixing my long blond hair out of my eyes.

"Eek!" I shrieked. Jacob had come up behind me, and his cold hands held me tight. I started breathing hard as his face met the crook of my neck. I was already dizzy with his hands on my skin, but now with his lip attached it was worse. Then in my peripheral vision I noticed Mom, Dad, and Connor making their way up the steps, so I moved my head slightly, whispering to Jacob.

"My parents are watching."
"I know."
"When are you gonna stop?"
"Not now." Then Jacob bit my neck, and I groaned softly. I ran my hands over his shirt, feeling the abs beneath. Jesus.
"Jacob, stop. It's-it's too much."
"You moaning just turns me on, babe," he whispered in a low, husky voice. Then I slapped his face, pulling away from his grasp.

"God, pervert," I muttered, jogging to catch up to Heather and Jenny. I turned around, seeing him laughing where we were just having our "moment." Eh. At least Mom didn't make a comment.

______

"Wow, isn't this beautiful," Dad whispered, taking a picture of the gigantic, steel Arch. Mom sighed next to him, clinging to his arm. And when I looked at Connor, well...Connor was just playing Pokémon Go on his iPhone.

"Hi Mr. Dawson, I don't believe we have met," Jacob said, popping out of nowhere and sliding his arm around my waist.

My dad tore his eyes from the Arch and took a glance at Jacob. Then he shook his hand. "Who might you be, young man?"

"Jacob Sartorius," he whispered to me, and I laughed. Then, out loud he said, "Jacob Merid, Sir."

My dad's eyes opened wide. "Merid? Are you Hank Merid's son?"

"No, he's my uncle. Why? Do you know him?" I sucked in a breath as I heard Jacob. He didn't know what he was getting himself into.

"Yes, I do! He's my coworker at Private United Airlines. I fly a 402 Jet. What does he fly?" Then I groaned, because of course he was gonna start talking about how our family is rich.

"Oh, he flys a single engine turbine powered..." Jacobs voice fades away as I'm pulled toward a picnic table by mom.

"Who's this boy?" She asked, moving her eyebrows up and down. I started blushing, about to say something when Heather shouts.

"Jacob is her boyfriend."

F*ck.