car. He’s dumping his stuff at a friend’s place.
I don’t think much of it until I get outside and see him climbing out of a car that looks like Grant’s. The driver looks like Grant, but I thought he was in Canada?
Jacobs reaches me and smiles. “Hey, I’m all set.”
“Who was that?” I nod to the retreating car.
“Grant’s brother. His twin, actually. They look nothing alike, huh?”
“I dunno. From where I’m standing, they looked nearly identical. I didn’t even know Grant had a twin.”
“You don’t pay attention much, do you? That guy’s been at all our home games for the last three years.”
I shrug. “I wasn’t close to Grant. Kinda hard to be when his best friend hated my guts.”
“Grant’s best friend is an asshole.”
“He used to be. Is Grant’s brother queer too?” Yeah, hard to miss the growl in that.
Jacobs tries to hide his amusement. “Nope, but even if he was, would it matter?”
“I … guess not.” This jealousy thing is new. Have to say, don’t like it.
“The Grants let me dump all my stuff at their place while I go home. It’s so much easier than carting it back and forth.”
“Come to New York with me,” I blurt.
He’s taken aback. “You want that?”
“He does!” Baby calls from where she’s trying to shove her luggage into the car. “He’s been whining about asking you!”
I rub the back of my neck. “She’s lying. Uh, about the whining. But, uh, yeah, I want you to come to New York.”
Jacobs smiles. “I can for a few days, but I promised my parents I’d be back in time to help them with the beginning of harvest season until I have to go back to school.”
“I … I mean, I’ve already invited myself to your place, but I mean, I could help with that too?”
Jacobs’s face lights up. Probably because this stammering isn’t me. “My parents will love you for it. They need all the help they can get, even with my three brothers being there.”
“Do you need to check with them first?”
“Nah. I’ll just let them know I’ll be a few days late.” He takes out his phone and taps away.
I take a deep breath. This is big.
Mom and Dad won’t be there, but in the three years I’ve been at this school, I’ve never invited anyone into my real life like this.
I have friends—good friends—on the team, but none I want to bring home to reality.
Minus my stupid business classes, college has been separate from my life in New York and the expectations that go with that.
“Are you sure you want me to come to New York? You look like you’re gonna be sick.”
I shove him. “Get in the car.”
I help Baby, who’s still struggling to get her bag in the trunk. “Did you move shit around?”
“No. There’s so much of it. I was hoping to squish it in there.”
When I simply move one of my bags and slip hers in and fit mine on top, I give her the sternest look I can manage when it comes to her.
She just ruffles my hair with a grin. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, princess.”
She scowls. She hates being called a princess.
We get into the car, but I pause at Jacobs with his phone plugged into my stereo.
He smiles at me. “I figured your road trip music is horrible.”
“Do you want to walk to New York?”
“You wouldn’t make me walk.”
I growl. Because he’s right.
Baby laughs from the back seat. “You two are so cute.”
“Are we going to have to put up with that for the next six hours?”
“Me telling you that you’re cute? Yup. You called me a princess. Suck it up, Teddy.”
Jacobs snickers. “Yeah, Teddy Bear. Besides, I’m totally cute.”
Right again.
But I’m going to pretend to be mad. And as we get on the road, I have to admit, his playlist is pretty good.
Mellow, chill music with a beat. Not what I’d normally listen to but perfect for the long drive.
“I don’t really want to admit this because it’s gross,” I start.
Jacobs cocks his eyebrow at me.
“I think we might have something in common other than hockey.”
Jacobs gasps. “Really?”
“Yeah. This music is good.”
Jacobs smiles, but I don’t miss the way he’s firmly on his side of the car. He’s leaning against the door, away from me, with his hand on his thigh.
I don’t know if he’s paranoid because Baby’s in the car, but she knows already, so I reach over and take his hand, placing it on my leg.
He releases a loud breath like he’d been