Page 46 of Best Wrong Thing

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I don’t mean to be. We’re not kids, Mum. We’re adults. You can’t plan our lives for us and expect us to be okay with it.”

“I’m not planning your lives for you. Only a holiday. I’ll email you the details. You’ll be excited when you see the villa we’re staying in.” She ends the call.

I sigh and hold my phone against my chest.

“Holiday?” Jacob asks.

“Yup. Your Dad’s going to call you. Sorry.” I expect him to lean in to kiss me, but he maintains his distance.

Well, fuck. Thanks for screwing things up, Mum. Then again, if all it takes is a phone call for Jacob to blow cold on me, maybe this fuck buddies-in-secret arrangement isn’t such a good idea.But I love the sex, and I’m enjoying getting to know Jacob during our cuddle time. I don’t want what we have to end.

I roll onto my side, facing him, and thread my fingers through his. “You can say no.”

His phone rings.

He answers it. “Hi, Dad.”

With a sigh, I slip out of bed and go to the bathroom to piss. Then I go to the kitchen and drink some water. I take my time, not wanting to hear Jacob’s half of the conversation with his dad. When I haven’t heard the murmur of his voice for a couple of minutes, I return and lean against the doorframe. Jacob is lying in bed, knuckles white as he clutches his phone.

“Are you mad?” I ask.

“Not at you.” He wriggles his fingers, inviting me to join him.

I don’t move. “What did you say?”

“That he could send me the dates, and I’d think about it. Dad said it would mean a lot to him and Molly if I went. Does Molly always pull shit like this?”

“Yes. Sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. Come here.”

I push away from the door and crawl into bed. He pulls me to him and envelopes me in his arms, our noses touching. If only he’d been able to do that while I was talking to Mum or he was talking to his dad.

“It’ll be weird, going on holiday together as a family,” he says.

“Uh-huh.”

“It’s one thing pretending we barely tolerate each other for a meal, but sustaining that over two weeks is going to be hard.”

“What are you saying?”

“I don’t know. I’m thinking out loud.” He tightens his grip.

We could tell them we’re fucking.

“They can’t know,” he says.

“Secret fuck buddies.”

“We won’t be able to fuck while we’re there.”

I frown. “I guess not. Is that a bad thing?”

He cracks a smile. “I’m a little obsessed with fucking you.”

“Yeah? Well, I’m a little obsessed with being fucked by you. But maybe abstaining for a fortnight would do us good.”

He wrinkles his nose.