“I’m sure it won’t.” I laid my head on his shoulder. “I think you enjoyed it yesterday.”
“Fuck yeah, I did.” His minty breath hit my face. “That asshole thought he had rights to my girl.”
As soon as we stepped into the room, I felt Jacob’s eyes lock on us.
I turned my head in his direction and regretted it instantly. He was leaning against the table, his body turned toward the door, obviously waiting on us to come in. He tensed and pushed off the table, heading toward us.
Dark circles lined his eyes, and his brown hair was unkempt and, dare I say, greasy. His nose didn’t have a huge bruise like it would have if he hadn’t had shifter healing. However, his gray polo shirt was wrinkled, and his pants had some kind of stain on them.
“You couldn’t find the class on your own?” Jacob slurred as if he were drunk. His breath reeked of wolfsbane.
“Have you lost your damn mind?” This wasn’t going to go well. Wolves weren’t supposed to get drunk near humans. It made them sloppy and could alert humans to the supernatural world.
“I’m mending a broken heart,” he said as his voice increased in volume. “Not that you would understand since you moved on from me in a matter of hours.”
“Dude, this isn’t cool.” Aidan let go of my hand and grabbed Jacob by the shoulder. “You’re putting all of us at risk.”
“Like you fucking care.” He stumbled, forcing Aidan to steady him.
“We need to take him back to the dorm.” I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I hated that I had hurt him, but he was being careless right now.
“Adam, tell them I’m fine,” Jacob hollered at his teammate and almost tripped again.
“Dude, I think they might be right.” He scratched the back of his neck and frowned at me. “You really aren’t fit to be here.”
“What the hell? We’re teammates.” Jacob pouted and turned his attention back to me. “See, you’re ruining everything.”
“Okay, it’s time to go.” I walked out the door, letting Aidan drag Jacob. I spun around to help, but it was already too late.
“Hey, I can walk on my own.” Jacob jerked his arm from Aidan’s grip and shoved Aidan.
Aidan didn’t budge. That’s how strong he was. It also helped that Jacob was hammered.
“Stop showing your ass.” I still couldn’t process that he’d come to class drunk. That was beyond reckless.
When we stepped outside, people stopped to watch Jacob stumble out the door.
As long as he wasn’t fighting us, I was fine with it.
Aidan stayed beside him as I led us toward the dorm.
“How does it feel to break someone’s heart?” Jacob’s voice was barely louder than a whisper.
“Look, I’m sorry.” I waited for him to catch up to me before continuing. “I never meant for it to happen.”
He ran his hands through his hair and winced. “Did you ever care about me?”
“Of course I do.” That wasn’t a lie. I cared about him, but I wasn’t in love with him. Granted, his behavior wasn’t helping his case. “You were one of the people I was closest to.”
“You do?” Hope filled his eyes as Aidan growled behind us.
“Yes, but as a friend.” That was the problem. I’d always cared for him as a friend. “I’m sorry, but there is someone out there who will feel that way about you. Honestly, you had no chance. I met my mate before you ever noticed me.”
“Then, why did you date me for two fucking years?” Jacob sighed and rubbed his eyes.
“I didn’t know Aidan was my mate, and you were always so considerate and sweet to me.” He deserved answers. I could give him that. “I wanted to feel that way for you.”
Aidan groaned and took a few steps away from me, making it clear he didn’t like hearing it.
Well, it wasn’t my fault, and he had to lie in the bed he’d made. I was having to face one of my biggest mistakes right now, and it was partly due to him.
Jacob reached out to take my hand. “So it wasn’t all fake?”
“No, it wasn’t.” I dodged his hand, though. “But that doesn’t change my decision. I’m sorry, but I’m not the one for you.”
“What you really mean is I’m not the one for you.” His laugh was humorless, and he scowled at Aidan. “He is.”
“What do you want me to say?” We were getting closer to the dorms. I got that he needed this conversation, but it would have been better if he’d been sober.
“I just want to wake up from this nightmare.” He frowned, and his shoulders slumped. “Not only do you not want me, but you want a fucking Murphy. They’re assholes who want to take down anyone who doesn’t agree with them.”
That was true. Or at least that was what I’d heard.
“He’s the alpha’s son. Do you really think his father will let him walk away?” Jacob stumbled and reached for my hand again.
Aidan smacked his hand away and slipped between the two of us. “She’s the most important person in the world to me. I will do right by her.”
“Hey, I was talking to her, not you,” Jacob moaned.
It sounded as if he was trying to growl. I wasn’t quite sure.
“And I was giving you a moment to get closure even though I wanted to rip your head off.” Aidan took my hand in his, making it evident that he planned to stay between me and Jacob. “But when you’re trying to talk her out of being with me, that’s when I cut in.”
That was actually very fair. Even though he’d come off like an ass when we’d first run into each other again, I was realizing he was still the amazing boy I remembered, just a little older and maybe a little rougher around the edges, but that was fine with me.
Now the boys’ dorm was only fifty feet away. “Are you good the rest of the way?”
Jacob paused before nodding. He started to say something but closed his mouth and headed toward the dorm.
“Oh, and Jacob.” I’d make sure we were on the same page. “Another stunt like this, and I’ll be calling your father.”
He paused and then shook his head. “Fine.” He continued on, and Aidan and I watched him until he went inside.
Aidan tapped his fingers along his thigh and shifted his weight to one leg. “Do you know how hard that was to listen to?”
“I’m sorry, but I had to talk to him before he acted out more.” I placed both my hands on his shoulders.
“That’s the only reason I didn’t put up a fight.” He pulled me against his chest, and his eyes went to my lips. “Now I need to get the image of you and him out of my head.”
If he thought I would protest, he was dead wrong. I didn’t need any encouragement to help his cause. I grabbed his neck and slammed my lips on his.
He responded in earnest as his tongue met mine and the taste of him filled me. I could kiss him all damn day.
The tickling feeling against my spine broke through my haze. I pulled away, searching for the source.
“What’s wrong?” Aidan’s eyes followed mine.
“Something feels off.” I’d thought it was Aidan, but if I was still having this feeling, he wasn’t responsible for it.