The Suburbs

Chapter twenty-two

I watch as the skin around Jacob's knuckles turn white the harder he clenches his fist.

"Move the fuck away from her." He demands, and he takes a step towards Daniel.

"Don't, Jacob!" I shout and stand in front of him confrontationally. I know just how quickly his temper can turn, I remember the fight outside his house only too well and I won't allow him to do that here.

Daniel looks surprised but not too phased by Jacob's threats.

"What's going on? I don't understand? Mia I thought you said you were single?"

"I am single!" I protest.

"Then who the fuck is this guy?"

"He's...he's my neighbour."

"Your neighbour?" Daniel scoffs and stares at Jacob as if he's insane.

For a moment I'm convinced Jacob is about to lunge at Daniel and beat the crap out of him just for that sarcastic laugh alone, but to my surprise he turns to me instead.

"Is that it, Mia? Is that all I am? He bellows in my direction.
"Well? Answer me!"

"I don't have to answer any of your questions! If I wanted to, don't you think I would have replied to you tonight? Just go home Jacob. Back to Elle!"

I realise how loud I'm talking. I tried to start off so calmly but by the end I'm practically screaming in his face.

I have so many conflicting emotions and I hate him being here. He confuses me so easily. Being with Daniel was easy but now Jacob is here and everything is complicated again.

"There's no fucking way I'm leaving you with him, you have to be joking!" Jacob yells again.

"For your information, I've been having the best night I have had in ages with Daniel." I say, purposely antagonising him. Although I'm slightly scared of how angry he is getting, I'm worried he'll lash out at Daniel, but I want him to feel shit just like I have been.

"Bullshit!" Jacob fires back arrogantly.
"That's why you looked bored up against that wall, is it?"

I shoot him a glare. He's right and I hate it. I wasn't exactly seeing fireworks with Daniel but I wish he didn't have to call me out on it.

"Is that why your eyes were shut? Probably trying to picture me instead." Jacob continues to push, arrogantly.

"You know nothing! At least Daniel doesn't come with an alcoholic, money grabbing, selfish wife like yours!"

"Yeah and you've never used that to your advantage have you. You never supplied her with alcohol, have you!?"

I instantly cringe at the memory.

"Oh please! Like, she needs encouraging!"

"Mia...maybe I should leave, we can do this another time, if you want?" Daniel hesitantly interrupts.

"Pffft." Jacob sarcastically chuckles.
"No fucking way."

Daniel is already heading for the front door before I even have a chance to try and persuade him otherwise. Jacob definitely killed the mood.

"I'll call you..." I politely answer.

"No she won't." Jacob childishly adds.

Daniel turns back to offer a smile, albeit reluctantly and somehow I already know I won't be hearing from him ever again. Jacob is enough to scare anybody off when he is in one of these moods.

As soon as the door closes behind him, I'm barely given a second before another question is fired at me.

"Well? What the fuck is going on?"

"I'm not in the mood Jacob! Why don't you go home back to your wife. Isn't she wondering where you are right now?"

"She's passed out on the sofa as usual." He mumbles and for a second, a wash off empathy for him comes over me.
"Plus, I need answers. I'm not going anywhere."

He is being relentless.
I awkwardly adjust my dress, making sure it's pulled down and covering me and I head for the kitchen. Jacob closely follows behind.
His breathing is still heavy like he could kick off at any moment and he keeps doing that thing where he clenches his jaw. God it makes him look sexy. Which I try to ignore.
I'm not sure what to do with myself, but without thinking I'm grabbing a bottle of wine from the fridge.

"Haven't you had enough tonight?"

"Shouldn't you be saying that to your own wife?" I snap. But immediately feel guilty for the harsh dig.

"Fuck Mia! What's gotten into you? Why are you playing these games?"

"'Me, playing games? That's rich! Considering you're the one planning a secret getaway to the fucking Bahamas!"

"Bahamas? How the hell do you know about that?" Jacob asks confused, his voice finally softening.

"Your wife told me! She couldn't tell me quick enough! She told me all about how you often book little breaks away to fix your circus of a marriage!" I scream and tears fill my eyes.

Oh shit. No Mia, don't. Don't cry. Hold it back.

"Mia?" Jacob steps towards me, closing the space between us.

His thumb comes up to my cheek and gently, he wipes the tear away that has fallen.

"Please don't. Please don't touch me. This has gotten too deep. I'm scared of how I'm feeling now. And then you booked the Bahamas...and that's just more than I can bear. I thought...I thought it was me you wanted. Why would you do that?"

"Mia, you've got it all so wrong." Jacob says so gently whilst he continues to cup my cheek, the warmth of his palm is comforting.

I gaze up at his eyes now and they're so different than they were ten minutes ago. They're no longer wild or angry, but soft and understanding.

"Mia, listen to me. I booked the Bahamas a couple of days ago when I had decided I wanted to start the shit storm that will come when I tell Elle I want a divorce. I was worried about all this causing you stress and I didn't want you to lose sight of us. So I thought I could book a break. Just you and me. I just wanted to protect you and give you some space away from here."

He brings his other hand up to my cheek and gently pulls me close to place a kiss on my lips. It's the most gentle kiss, almost as if I'm fragile and he needs to be careful with me. I open my mouth slightly and welcome his tongue as he slides it over mine. My heart beats hard against my chest. Jacob runs his fingers through my hair before gripping the ends and pulling my head back slightly as he slides his tongue in harder and kisses me passionately.

"Jake..." I moan as goosebumps rush over my entire body.

I love how he brings his hands down to my waist and pulls me in so tightly, I feel like he'll never let go of me.

"Mia?" He whispers and pulls away just enough to stare into my eyes.
"How do you not see by now I've fallen for you?"