Page 83 of Under His Control
* * *
Jacob’s headlights shine on the back of a red SUV as we pull up behind it.
It’s well-lit on this street. There are more houses too unlike Jacob’s isolated neighbourhood.
Many of the houses in the city are modern boxes with lots of glass. The houses here are either old brown brick or sun-weathered vinyl siding.
Bushes and pine trees covered in snow line parts of the sidewalk. Several houses light up the night with colourful Christmas lights even though it’s February.
A snowman is missing his head and one of his stick arms in front of the pale yellow house on the left. On the front lawn of the brick house beside it is a large white sign in red text: STOP THE PIPELINE! VOTE “NO” ON MARCH 5TH!
At least five cars are parked on the street ahead of us. Likely guests at the party we’re about to attend.
Earlier today, Jacob asked me if I wanted to go to a party hosted by a co-worker. I immediately said yes. I’m glad for the change of scenery and to stretch my legs. I also want to escape the thing between us.
There’s this charged vibe that’s been growing stronger ever since we almost kissed. I know Jacob is aware of it too. We’ve both been pretending it doesn’t exist.
Last night, he slept on the couch instead of sharing his bed with me. Today, he found various things to do outside. Then he came in, and the vibe was still there, begging one of us to slip up.
The less time we spend alone together, the safer. It’s not like Elizabeth is going to show up again and save us from ourselves.
I’m not going to prove her right that I’m a whore. When my time with Jacob is up, I can leave feeling good about myself that I didn’t fuck my ex-stepfather for his money.
We exit the car and step out into a cold so bitter, I let out a huff like I’ve been slapped. My breath is a gust of white fog that’s swept away with the wind. I shiver.
“Fuck, it’s cold.”
“Come here.”
Jacob draws closer and coils his arm around my shoulders. He pulls me flush against his side, rubbing my arm up and down. He turns us and we set off down the sidewalk.
Tall and solid, Jacob is a walking furnace. I’m hyperaware of how intimate this seems. I wrap my arm around his back and cling to him anyway, greedily absorbing his heat. I’m a little ashamed how much I like it that we must look like a couple as we walk down the street.
We arrive at a white two-storey house, the driveway crammed with cars. I’m disappointed Jacob has to release me so we could walk single file along the narrow path to the front porch.
“Jake! Good to see you made it!”
The sturdy man who opened the front door is bald with a neat, thick, salt-and-pepper beard. His eyes light up when they land on me and he grins at Jacob.
“Keith wasn’t wrong at all.” He offers his hand for a shake. “I’m Lewis.”
Lewis invites us inside after our introduction. On the outside, the house seems small. On the inside, it’s big enough to comfortably hold what seems like twenty or more people dotted about the living room and kitchen.
A rock song I don’t recognize is playing, drowned out by several voices chatting and laughing. Various scents are fighting for dominance too.
Perfume, the faint scent of alcohol and cigarettes, something being baked, that overwhelming sweetness from a can of pop. At least they all co-exist in a way that doesn’t turn my stomach.
Lewis guides us over to a pretty blonde woman and introduces her as his wife, Melissa. She offers us drinks. Jacob takes something non-alcoholic and I follow his lead.
“I got that sucker working,” Lewis says to Jacob with a triumphant grin. He jerks his thumb behind him. “Come take a quick look at my handiwork. I want you to see how fucking amazing I am.”
Jacob chuckles then turns to me, giving my arm a gentle caress.
“I’ll be right back.”
I silently nod and he follows Lewis away. When someone else comes up to talk to Melissa, I wander over to a free space by a window.
Left by myself, I feel a little awkward. I sip on my drink and scan the room. While I don’t know most of the people here, I recognize a few.
