Page 120 of Jaked

Jake's expression darkened. "Who do you think put Bianca up to that?"

"I don't know," I said. "I just figured maybe you and Bianca had that kind of relationship."

"Yeah? What kind is that?"

"I don't know. Volatile." I swallowed. "Break up. Make up. That sort of thing."

"Well, we don't," he said.

"Oh."

"That scene today?" he said. "That was new."

"And you're blaming Vince?"

"I know how he works." Jake pushed away from the wall and strode toward me. He stopped just outside arm's reach. "Youdon't."

I looked up at him. "What doIhave to do with anything?"

"Tell me," Jake said. "When he stopped by, was he Mister Charming?"

"What?" I said. "He was nice, if that's what you're asking."

"Nice? Let me tell you something. That fucker? He's not nice." Jake glanced away. "Any more than I am."

"Oh for crying out loud," I said, "that's not even fair."

His gaze returned to mine. "Yeah? Why not?"

"Because," I said, "you can't lump both of you together like that. When he stopped by, hewasnice. And actually, I thinkyou'renice too."

At this, Jake laughed, a hard sound that rang hollow in the quiet room. "Luna," he said. "I'm not nice. And the sooner you get that, the better off you'll be."

I wanted to argue. But something made me stop. Nice guys didn't have sex with their dad's girlfriends. They didn't start fights and film them for money. They didn't cost people millions of dollars and laugh it off like it was nothing.

And they didn't break up with one girl while another girl waited in the bedroom. What the hell was wrong with him? More to the point, what the hell was wrong with me?

I was still staring at him. I didn't know what to say. So I said nothing.

Jake's gaze softened. "Forget all that," he said, closing the distance between us. "Forget Bianca. Forget Vince. Forget my damn brother." He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. I wanted to fight it. But I couldn't. I leaned into him, soaking up the feel of him.

He spoke into my hair. "There's something I should've said right off."

"What's that?"

"I'm sorry," he said. "I would've told her to get the hell out. I should have. Wanna know why I didn't?"

I nodded against him.

"I didn't want her coming back." His voice softened. "Not now. Not with you here."

Did that mean he wanted her to come backlater? When I was long-gone?

"Baby, what is it?" he said.

I said nothing. If I were smart, I'd push away. I'd call my sister and be gone before dark. Instead, I burrowed deeper into his embrace. I didn't want to move. Not now. Not ever.

But that was my own stupidity talking. I recalled what those two guys in the mall had told me. Jake didn't do the girlfriend thing. In a way, that was funny, right? Because apparently, hediddo somebody's girlfriend. His dad's, in fact.

On second thought, that wasn't funny at all.

Damn it. Why couldn't I stop thinking about it?

I heard Jake's voice low in my ear. "Luna?"

Lost in my own thoughts, I was only half listening. "What?"

"If you've got something to say, just say it."

"Okay," I said, letting that dreaded question tumble from my lips. "Who's Debbie?"