Page 98 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 11

Kind of like the line between me and Jacob. We’d always been friends. He’d moved to New York City when I was already obsessed with Axel. I thought I’d had my whole life planned out when I was three. But maybe I’d just needed a kiss thief to open my mind to new possibilities.

I wasn’t sure I would have ever been able to look at Jacob differently if he hadn’t hidden his identity at first. But I didn’t need him to wear a mask. Or hide behind his phone texting me suggestive things. I was ready to take this leap. For real.

I didn’t want to relive Aunt Brooklyn and Uncle Matt’s story. Especially since I knew it had taken them another 16 years to finally tie the knot.

I wanted to live our story.

I wasn’t my mother. I wasn’t going to fall in love with my teacher. I was going to fall in love with one of my best friends. Hell, I think I was already falling. I’d been slowly falling for him since the first day of school. When he noticed me. Really noticed me.

“I love that story,” I said. “A kiss thief. That must have been very exciting.” I knew. Because I had one and it was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to me.

Aunt Brooklyn laughed. “Honestly at first I was just really upset about the whole thing.”

“You loved it,” Uncle Matt said.

“You’re infuriating,” she said. But she was smiling so hard.

I stared up at Jacob. To see if his face gave anything away. But he didn’t seem to have much of a reaction to the story. Or maybe he looked a little...sad? I pressed my lips together. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked about this.

I put my hand down on top of his.

That seemed to pull him out of his thoughts. He turned to me and smiled.

“Really,” Uncle Matt said. “What is going on between the two of you?”

I really wanted to know the answer to that question too. So I didn’t say a word, waiting for Jacob to answer instead.

“Well.” Jacob lifted his hand from my thigh and put his arm around my shoulders. “Scarlett is my girlfriend.”

It felt like my heart stopped beating. For a second I just stared at him. Had he really just said that? Or was I imagining it? I needed someone to pinch me.

Chloe squealed. “Really?! We’re going to be sisters!” She lunged at me, throwing her arms around me.

That seemed even better than a pinch. I hugged her back.

Jacob had just asked me to be his girlfriend. Or more declared it. And that felt even more romantic to me.

Uncle Matt smiled. “I knew it.”

“I knew it first!” Mr. Nigel yelled. “Master Tanner predicted it when Young Jacob was only four years old. When he taught him that hoes are before bros.”

“What are hoes?” asked Max.

“Nothing,” Aunt Brooklyn said. “Don’t repeat that word.” She gave Mr. Nigel a hard stare. “Nigel.”

“What?” he said. “It worked out perfectly. He put his hoe before his bro.” He gestured toward me and Jacob.

I knew my face had to be bright red.

“Hoes before bros,” Max said and lifted his hand for a high five.

Mr. Nigel high fived him.

“No,” Uncle Matt said. “Don’t high five over that.”

“But what does it mean?” Max asked.

“I think it’s time for a movie and cupcakes,” Aunt Brooklyn said.

“Cupcakes before hoes?” Alora said.

I burst out laughing.

Uncle Matt groaned. “No. Alora...just...no.”

“Oh,” she said. “Hoes before cupcakes?”

“Sweetie, come help me put icing on them,” Aunt Brooklyn said.

“Hoes?”

“No, the cupcakes, sweetie.”

“Hoes before icing,” Alora said as she followed Aunt Brooklyn.

Jacob laughed. “Mr. Nigel, what are you doing?”

“I know that phones aren’t allowed at the table, but I’m texting Master Tanner the good news!” He frowned at his phone. “Huh.”

“What?” Jacob asked.

“Master Tanner already knew. He found out on Saturday apparently. With Young Robert. Why did no one tell me?” Mr. Nigel stuck out his lower lip.

Oh crap. My eyes grew round.

“I only just asked her to be my girlfriend tonight,” Jacob said.

“What were you doing with Rob and Tanner on Saturday night?” Uncle Matt said at the same time.

I knew Uncle Rob and Mr. Tanner had specifically not asked Uncle Matt for help with the secret lair. And I agreed with their reasoning. I wasn’t allowed in Jacob’s bedroom with the door closed anymore. I didn’t think Uncle Matt would be thrilled with the easy access to my house.

I cleared my throat. “I just happened to run into them after the party on Saturday night. When I was wearing Jacob’s varsity jacket.

” Which I guess did just mean we were boyfriend and girlfriend.

Like they’d said. Because Jacob hadn’t asked me to be his girlfriend in so many words. He’d asked me to wear his jacket.

Like Axel had asked me to wear his jacket.

I shook the thought away. Axel definitely had not asked me to be his girlfriend. He just didn’t want anyone on his team to flirt with me. I took a deep breath.

“Uncle Rob and Mr. Tanner just leapt to the conclusion,” I quickly added. “I didn’t tell them you were my boyfriend. Because you hadn’t technically asked me. I...”

“It’s fine,” Jacob said with a laugh. “We’ve pretty much been dating since the first party of the year.”

Had we? Because I’d kissed an awful lot of guys since that party... And been texting my kiss thief nonstop. If I’d known Jacob and I were dating I never would have done any of those things! Crap. Did I need to tell him about the kiss thief?

Wait. No. I didn’t need to tell him because he was my kiss thief. Right? Gah! “I need to use the bathroom real quick,” I said. I didn’t wait for anyone to respond. I just hurried off. I needed to talk to Soph ASAP.