Lowe chuckled beside me as we waited for Jake to reach us. “I never had a chance, did I?” he joked.
I made a face. “I’m that obvious?”
“Only when he’s not looking,” he said, seeing way more than he should.
Perceptive pain in my ass.
Jake looked up, faltering on a step. At first he didn’t seem sure how to react to the sight of me with Lowe, but he quickly shrugged it off, bestowing a gorgeous smile on me. He pulled his earphones out. “Hey, you,” he said, coming to a stop at the top of the stairs. He leaned down to kiss me, his lips soft. He smelled great.
“Hey,” I whispered back, unable to speak any louder over the force of my emotions. It still surprised me that my feelings for him had the ability to bowl me over without warning.
“Hey, man.” Jake nodded congenially at Lowe. I was relieved.
Lowe seemed to be too. He gave Jake a small smile and nod. “Well, I better get back to the apartment. I have an essay due in two days and we have a gig tonight.”
“Good luck.” I waved goodbye and watched him take the steps two at a time.
“I was coming to get you.” Jake tightened his arm around my waist, and I found myself swiftly falling into his eyes. “I called Beck and he mentioned you were worried about Melissa?”
I shook my head. “It’s fine. Just guilt. But apparently she’s doing okay.”
His dark eyes looked troubled. “I’m glad she’s okay. But you have nothing to feel guilty about.”
I could see his own guilt in his eyes and instantly felt bad for bringing Melissa up. “Ja—”
My ringtone blasted, cutting me off. Giving Jake a look of apology, I dropped his hand and dug through my bag.
My pulse sped up at the sight of the caller ID. My dad.
Relieved more than I could say but still angry and hurt that he hadn’t called in ages, I hesitantly answered.
“Where are you?” he asked abruptly.
Disappointed by his tone, I huffed, “Last time I checked, I was in Scotland.”
“Smart-ass,” Dad grumbled, the edge chipped off his tone. “What I meant is where exactly are you, right now? Because I’m standing in your apartment after your roommate stupidly let me in without checking my identification first. Does that happen a lot? Because maybe while I’m here, I should hold a stranger awareness meeting with you girls.”
I didn’t hear anything after “I’m standing in your apartment…”
“I’ll be right there.” I hung up, eyes wide on Jake’s curious expression. “My dad is here.”
Jake’s eyebrows squished together. “Here, here?”
“Yup.” I turned and started down the steps.
“Hey, I’m coming too.” Jake hurried to catch me.
Marching into the courtyard of my building, I threw over my shoulder, “Do you think that’s wise?”
“I think he’s here for a reason and I think we need to reassure him.” His hand curled around my arm. “Would you slow down—as in, calm down?”
My breathing was way too fast. “I can’t.” I pushed my building door open and rushed the stairs. “My dad has flown all the way across the ocean to come talk to me. That’s not a good sign, Jake. My parents don’t exactly have the kind of money where plane tickets aren’t a luxury.” I stopped in the middle of the first floor and Jake immediately wrapped his arms around me.
“It’s going to be okay,” he promised. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I don’t want you to get punched.”
“If I get punched, I get punched. It’s no less than what I deserve.”