“What about the Scotts?” he asked. “Why do you want me to look into them? They’re a very old, very powerful family around here.”
I knew what he was trying to say without outright saying it: he could get into a lot of trouble looking into the Scotts. Would he upcharge me? Would he demand more money? Fuck. This was a game I didn’t know how to play; it wasn’t like I was born knowing chess. This was confusing, and I supposed having enough money to wipe my ass with it every night would help. Alas, I didn’t have that kind of money, and I didn’t know the machinations of the rich.
There was no point in hiding anything from him. He knew I lived with Ollie, knew I didn’t feel safe in the house. Why not go all out? “Oliver threw a fundraiser—” I paused as Jacob nodded, as if he was familiar with it. “—and two of the Scotts came over. I was upstairs, keeping myself away because I wasn’t allowed downstairs, and I heard them go into Oliver’s office.” The memory was alight in my head, and I could picture it perfectly. “I couldn’t hear exactly what they were talking about, but it sounded like…”
“Like what?”
I met his hazel stare, feeling a strange sensation in my gut. A warm, fluttering feeling. His eyes really were pretty. “Like they were involved in something shady.”
“So you hired me because something doesn’t feel right to you? Let me clue you into something about Midpark. Nothing is right around here. Everyone does shitty things—you should’ve learned that yourself tonight.”
Lecturing me, patronizing me. I shot him a frown. “Just because everyone does shitty things doesn’t mean I should be okay with it and go along with it. If my mom and I aren’t safe here, we’re moving.”
He let out a laugh. “Kids don’t usually have a say in what the family does.”
I wanted to punch him, but I held back, somehow. “I’m not a kid.”
“That’s what you keep saying, but I’m not convinced.”
I let out an annoyed grunt. “What the hell do I have to do to make you realize it? You don’t know who I am or where I came from. You don’t know that I had to give everything up practically the moment I turned eighteen. Do you know any kid who’s willing to give up all social media because their mom told them to? Do you know any kid who’s willing to change numbers and forget their friends? You don’t know a thing about me, Jacob. Not a thing.”
Jacob was silent for a while, staring at me, studying me. I wasn’t stupid enough to believe he was appraising me in a new light, but maybe he could realize that I was not a kid. He wasn’t dealing with someone who didn’t know how the world worked. I’d given things up, given people up, sacrificed all because my mom told me we were moving. I was the only one my mom had. If I’d have told her no and stayed, she would have no one.
His gaze dropped to my chin, but then he turned his head, broodingly staring off into the distance as he muttered, “You don’t seem like the typical Midpark brat. I knew it the first moment I saw you, I just didn’t know why. Hiring me, wanting the truth…” Jacob’s hazel stare was back on me, the intensity in his expression back as well, tenfold. “You might not like what I find, Jaz. You might regret contacting me.”
“If you’re worried I’m going to back out, don’t,” I told him, blatant. “It isn’t like I’m going to change my mind and want the money back.”
“Good, because there’s a no-refund policy.”
“I never assumed differently.” My stomach chose that moment to growl, loud enough for both of us to hear. Great. I was literally just telling Jacob I wasn’t a kid, and then my stomach had to go and proclaim it.
Granted, I didn’t eat dinner tonight, which was probably why whatever was in my drink had hit me so hard and fast, but still. You didn’t stomp your foot and say you weren’t a kid, and then moments later let your stomach grumble in need of a cookie or a snack.
“You’re hungry.” Jacob’s gaze fell to my stomach. Thank God I no longer wore that dress, so it wasn’t like he could see anything. My full figure was hidden behind the fabric of his clothes, his baggy shirt and his sweatpants that were the very opposite of form-fitting.
“No, I’m not.” I said it quickly, without thinking. Obviously I was, though. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. Only someone with ears.
He heaved himself to his feet, shuffling towards the kitchen on the opposite end of the long room. The kitchen and living room were pretty much one giant room. “I don’t have much, but…I can see about making you something.”
“That’s okay,” I said, not wanting to be in his debt any more than I already was. Him feeding me tonight would only be the cherry on top of the cake. “I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”
Jacob would not take no for an answer, though. I watched from the couch as he peeked in his fridge, moved a few things around—beer bottles, from what it sounded like. He really didn’t have to make me anything. Hell, just knowing the teeny bit I did about him, I doubted he was a good cook anyways. He probably got Chinese takeout every night and then spent half of the hours he should be sleeping in that workout room.
I decided to wait in silence, more curious than annoyed now. What would Jacob Hall make me for dinner? If you could call this dinner. It was pretty late now—I never told my mom what time I’d be coming home. I really should text her.
Jacob had my phone. Right. I’d given it to him when he’d miraculously come to save me from my Mean Girls tormentors.
Getting to my feet, I asked, “Where’s my phone?”
Jacob was near the stove, and he tossed a look over his shoulder at me. “It’s in my room. If you wait a minute, I’ll get it.”
I waved him off. My body might not feel great, but I could move better now. My guess was, my phone was still in the pants he’d been wearing earlier. I headed down the hall, turning in his room. It wasn’t like I planned on snooping or anything, just grabbing my phone. Getting what I needed.
His room was nothing spectacular. The bed wasn’t made, and by the look of the pillows on it, he slept smackdab in the center, all sprawled out. Wooden boards with deer painted on them adorned the walls, and for a moment I had to pause to take it all in. It was not the kind of room I’d expect to see anywhere in Midpark.
I didn’t belong here, but I was starting to think Jacob didn’t, either.
The pants Jacob had been wearing earlier sat on the floor near his dresser, and I went for them without thinking. The moment I knelt down, the world started to sway without me. I didn’t know if it was the act of me sinking to my knees or if I was still being affected by whatever had been in my drink. Either way, I had to stop moving.
I heard Jacob’s heavy footsteps in the hall, his voice gruff as he said, “I told you I’d—” The moment Jacob came into his room and saw me, he stopped. He probably would’ve said something insulting, but I was too focused on trying to make the world stop acting so unlevel and wild.
Ugh. My head. It really, really hurt.
My face must’ve given away what I felt inside, for Jacob fell to his knees beside me. “What’s wrong? You don’t feel good? Come on, let’s get you off the floor.” His hands went to grip my elbows, and with a steadiness I was not currently capable of, he helped me up.