Easter~
The shopping mall's fluorescent lights still buzzed in my mind as Jacob's hand enveloped mine, his grip firm yet achingly gentle, guiding me through the parking lot. My heart thundered, each beat a frantic drum against my ribcage, stirred by the way he'd sent Brandon scurrying with that bone-crushing handshake. Jacob's face now was a mask of calm, but his brown eyes—those deep, ancient pools—held a storm I couldn't quite decipher. Was it anger? Jealousy? Something else entirely? I clutched the mango juice tighter, its cold sweat slick against my palm, and tried to ignore the flutter in my belly—partly the baby, partly something far more dangerous.
"Easter," Jacob's voice shattered my thoughts, low and edged with something raw laced in it. He stopped by his nice black car, turning to face me. His tousled silky hair caught the early afternoon sun, and for a moment, he looked like a painting—too perfect, too untouchable. "You okay?"
