When I reached the fence, I slipped between the missing slats and into Jacob’s waiting arms. He smelled of smoke, weed, and sin. His hands slid around my lower back and began to creep down to my ass as he pressed his lips against mine. His body was thin but muscular like a swimmer. He was the only person in this town who didn’t treat me like I was a fragile ornament whose only purpose was for decoration.

“You taste so good,” he mumbled against my lips. I ran my hand over his dark hair, which was now long enough to always look like he’d just rolled out of bed. He pressed his lips against my forehead and pulled back to look at me. “Why are you dressed like a librarian?” His chocolate eyes were barely open under the weight of the drugs he’d consumed, and his lips twisted into a smile.

“Like you need to bother asking.” I rolled my eyes, instantly infuriated all over again at being treated like a helpless child.

“I wish you’d let me talk to that asshole.”

I took a step back and shook my head. Jacob and I had been seeing each other for three months, but no one else knew of our secret encounters. “I’d rather not subject you to his bullshit.” I rolled my eyes as my fingers gripped the front of his dark-brown vintage T-shirt that read “Ramones” across his chest. But what I really meant, and what we both were thinking, was that no one would understand us. I didn’t even know for sure what we were. Jacob had been a friend, and we’d blurred that line on more than one occasion, but I wasn’t stupid. Our lives were very different. I was a Blakely, and he’d grown up in the wrong tax bracket. There was nothing logical or permanent about us.

He tucked a blond curl behind my ear, and I leaned my cheek against his warm palm.

“I can’t wait to leave this horrible place and finally not have people telling me what to do.”

Jake chuckled as he ran his hand over the back of his head. His lips curled up in the smile that made my knees go weak. “It’s only horrible for one of us. You live on that side of the fence.”

“The grass isn’t always greener, Jake.” I stepped forward and pressed my body against his as I laid my head against his chest.

“I’m just trying to give you some perspective. You don’t have it that bad. And you know I have the greenest grass in town.” His fingers slid into my hair, and he held me tightly, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

Jacob wasn’t the type of boy who was looking for a long-term relationship. He knew what to say to make me smile, and I pretended I was the only one he said them to.

“My dad is working late tonight. That girl who went missing a few weeks ago was found behind that run-down gas station off of Maple Street. We could watch a movie.”

“You make crime sound so sexy,” I deadpanned as I laced my fingers in his, and we began to walk out of the woods.

“Having a cop for a dad has its occasional perks.”

“Like him looking the other way?” I sniffed the air, letting him know I could smell the pot all over him.

“If you ask me nicely, maybe I’ll share.” He winked, and the butterflies took flight in my stomach as we crossed the dirt road beside the field and made our way up his back porch steps. Jake’s father was the local law and also an alcoholic who suffered from depression and a heavy hand, according to Jake. I’d never had the misfortune of meeting him and was happy to keep it that way. I had my fair share of dominant assholes in my life.

I stood inside the kitchen as Jake closed the door behind us. My eyes wandered over the mountain of unwashed dishes in the sink.

“You should really have someone do those.”

“We can’t all afford hired help, princess.” He lifted my hand and pressed his lips against the back. I pulled my hand free from his and rolled my eyes.

“Don’t call me that.” I folded my arms over my chest as he chuckled, his fingers running through his messy dark hair.

“Aw…did I hurt your feelings?”

I turned my head away from him. “Please. I’d have to care for you to hurt my feelings.”

“Ouch. Can I kiss it make it better?” He placed his fingertips under my chin and turned my face toward his. I couldn’t contain the smile that spread across my face when I looked at him. “Is that a yes?”

He leaned forward slowly, his gaze falling from my eyes to my lips before he kissed me, softly. His mouth moved against mine, and I placed my hands on his chest as my lips parted. I pulled back, opening my eyes as I gazed up at him. “Is this why you brought me here? Just so you can try to get in my pants?”

“You’re not wearing pants.” He smirked as he took a step back and grabbed my hand, pulling me into the living room. “I’m picking the movie. That teenage drama shit put me to sleep last time. Happily ever after is for fairy tales and the delusional masses.”

“Hell on Main Street kept me awake for two days. I pick.”

He sat down on the couch, propping his foot up on the coffee table next to a stack of manila folders. He patted the cushion beside him, and I grinned as I sat down, our sides pressed together.

“I’ll let you choose if you smoke with me.”

“You know I don’t like that stuff. It makes you stupid.” I laughed, my hand over my mouth as he scowled at me.

“This coming from the girl who is in a guy’s house, alone, in the middle of the night, and no one knows where you are?”

“Aw…” I grabbed the remote from the cushion beside me and turned on the television, flipping through the channels while Jacob stretched his leg to dig in his jeans pocket for his cigarette pack.

“What are you doing?” I asked as I tucked my hair behind my ear and continued to change channels.

“We had a deal, remember?”

“You can’t smoke in here.” I glanced down at the joint he had just pulled from the pack and shook my head. “Your dad is a cop. What if he comes home? My first time meeting your family is going to land me in jail.”

He shrugged as he placed it between his lips and lit the lighter. I folded my arms over my stomach as I shook my head, which was now enveloped in a cloud of smoke.

“Come here.” Jake’s fingers slid along my jaw, turning my face to his as his mouth inched closer to mine. I let my lips part as he slowly exhaled, his smoke pouring deep into my lungs.

I held in my breath as my chest began to burn, and I coughed, a giggle escaping me as Jacob’s lips curled into a mischievous grin. My cheeks heated under his gaze as his tongue rolled out over his lower lip.

“What?” I asked, my head tilted as I watched his eyes study me, feeling a blush creep over my cheeks.

“I feel like I’m corrupting you.” He shook his head, but his gaze settled on my legs and slowly drifted upward. I smoothed my hands over the skirt of my dress, feeling naked under his scrutinizing gaze. But this was what I’d been wanting, someone who didn’t want me to be perfect.

“I’d have to be innocent for you to corrupt me.” My fingers grasped the hem of my skirt, and I slid it up my thigh an inch, watching as the column of his throat jumped from a hard swallow. He placed his hand over mine, lacing our fingers before pulling it to his face and pressing a soft kiss to my skin.

“You’re such a tease.”

I felt oddly comforted by the fact that he didn’t want to use me to get in my pants, and I didn’t need to be a mindless bimbo like all of the other girls in town. I leaned my head against his shoulder as he took the remote from my hand and flipped through the channels. “Let’s do something for your birthday. Let me make you a cake or”—he laughed—“buy you a cake or something.”

I smiled at his thoughtfulness. “I wish I could, but I’m having dinner with my family.” The truth was I wasn’t even sure anyone remembered, but to say it out loud was too embarrassing.

He pressed his lips to the top of my head, and with a heavy sigh I let my eyes fall closed.