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Huh. Wonder where he got the idea he could do that?

Shut up.

Normally, I gave in to him because I didn’t care what he was being bossy about. When I did, we always compromised. We both seemed to know what was worth the fight and what wasn’t.

Sighing, I pulled into a spot at school and forced myself to go to class.

*******

“Girl, I don’t know what the deal is, but your man is putting out a serious pissed off vibe,” Harlow said, looking past me at the table in the cafeteria.

I whipped my head around and saw Jake stalking towards me. I vaguely heard Melanie ask what was going on, but I was already up and heading his way.

As soon as I got within arm’s reach, he pulled me to him. Grabbing my ass, he lifted me up and I wrapped my legs around him. One of his hands weaved into my hair as his mouth crashed down on mine.

It wasn’t until Jake pulled up and gently lowered me to my feet that I registered the comments, catcalls, and whistles. His hand curved around my neck and his thumb pressed my chin up.

“It wasn’t my place to tell you how to handle your business.”

“Thank you for that. I’ll talk to Rhys about working through him. Next time, though, please ask me, don’t tell me. Deal, Mr. Bossy Pants?”

“Deal. But don’t leave without kissing me again. Yeah?”

I nodded because the lack of kiss had thrown my whole day off, too.

When we returned to the table, Jake sat, grabbed my waist, and pulled me onto his lap.

I wrapped my arm around his shoulders. “Don’t you have to get back to work?”

“Nope. They kicked me out for the day. Out of my own damn business. Apparently, I was making it a ‘hostile work environment,’” he scoffed with air quotes. “Where’s your lunch?”

“I wasn’t feeling hungry.”

“Important class next?”

“Not really.”

“Let’s get the fuck outta here and get you some real food, yeah?”

*******

“You sure you’re alright? Maybe we should call your doctor.” The concern in Jake’s voice made the tears start all over again.

“No. No, I’m fine.” I hiccupped, wishing he wouldn’t stand outside the door. I didn’t like being sick. Ireallydidn’t like Jake hearing it. “Can you go call Ray and tell her I can’t make it today?” I listened to his footsteps fading before I lost more of my breakfast.

When I stood up, feeling wobbly but better, I heard the front door close before Jake’s bike roared off a moment later. I was surprised, but grateful, he’d left. I needed a shower badly.

And a gallon of mouthwash.

That’ll teach me to never play hooky.

We left school but I ended up not feeling well enough to go for a bite. Instead, we came back to the condo and I slept most of the day and night. Every time I woke up, Jake was holding me close and would try to get me to drink or eat something. Though I sipped at the water he always had waiting for me, I couldn’t stomach anything else.

I woke up early and felt worse than I had the day before.

After my much needed shower, I was brushing my teeth when Jake came into the bathroom. His face was blank as he handed me a plastic bag from the store and my cell. Without a word, he walked back out.

Looking at the phone, I saw it was already connected to Ray. “‘Ello?” I croaked.