The Second Chance Year(2)
Back then, I’d responded that no chef in her right mind wants to attract flies, it’s a health code violation. But now, as I head into my third month on this borrowed couch, having put not only Alex’s job prospects in jeopardy, but mine, too, I wonder if maybe my mom had a point. Maybe there was a better way to handle my boss and Alex’s coworkers that wouldn’t have left me single, homeless, and struggling to find a job.
As Kasumi holds up the gold dress, Jacob, my brother’s best friend and the owner of the apartment where I’m currently crashing, walks in. Kasumi waves the sparkly frock in his direction like a road worker directing traffic. “Jacob. Hey, Jacob.”
Jacob stumbles to a stop, blinks, and then pulls an enormous pair of black headphones from his ears, leaving them hanging around his neck. “Sorry? Did you say something?”
Kasumi neatly folds the dress and sets it on the pile. “Sadie and I were just talking about a carnival party my friend is throwing tonight.” She cocks her head. “Don’t you think she needs to go out and have some fun for once?”
Honestly, I don’t know why she’s asking Jacob. I’m pretty sure a carnival-themed party, or any party, really, is his worst nightmare. But then again, he’s probably dying to get me off his couch, so he’d say yes if she suggested I bungee jump off the Brooklyn Bridge.
Jacob’s dark eyes drift from Kasumi to the clothes on the coffee table. Finally, they settle on me. “Will there be clowns at this carnival?”
Kasumi rolls her eyes. “What is with the two of you and clowns?”
“Sadie is terrified of them.”
I glance sharply at Jacob. Ever since my brother made us watch Stephen King’s It when I was in sixth grade and Owen and Jacob were in fifth, I’ve been afraid of clowns. But I’m surprised that Jacob remembers that. I’m surprised he knows anything personal about me at all.
When I lost my apartment, the last person I expected to come to my rescue was Jacob. We’re not exactly what you’d call friendly. He’s so introverted and uptight, and I’m… well, a loudmouth. Abrasive, as they say. I can’t imagine how it tortures him to have me in his space. But no matter what Jacob thinks of me, he’s always had Owen’s back, and I guess he didn’t want my brother to get stuck with cramming me into his studio apartment when Jacob had a spare room he wasn’t using anyway.
Kasumi looks him up and down. “What are you doing tonight? You could come along to the party to protect Sadie from the clowns.” She gives me an eyebrow raise, which I know she thinks is subtle, but it’s about as obvious as if she’d yanked down my neckline, hiked up my boobs, and shoved me in his direction.
A slow heat drifts across my cheeks, and not because I’m interested in Jacob. Because—Ew. He’s my little brother’s best friend. The kid with the too-large glasses and pimples who I once caught flipping through my Victoria’s Secret catalog. Who, along with my uber-nerd brother, never had a date to a high school dance because the two of them were glued to our basement computer writing bizarre ambient music and hacking the nuclear codes.
But Kasumi never knew Jacob as an awkward teenager, so her view of him is entirely different from mine. I mean, objectively, I can see the pimples did clear up, he shot up past six feet when I wasn’t paying attention, and his clear-rimmed glasses are trendy now, probably from one of those indie eyewear brands. Plus, he’s become so successful at composing his electronic music that he was able to afford to buy this bright, spacious apartment. But, still. He’s Jacob.
He hesitates, and I can feel the weight of his gaze on me. If he were anyone else, I’d say he’s considering coming to the party. But more likely, he’s judging me and the glittery outfit Kasumi picked out, because Jacob would never deign to attend a theme party.
I smile to myself, trying to imagine him dressed up in a black jacket and sparkly top hat, waving a magic wand. But as my gaze settles on him, my amusement fades. A suit would highlight his tall, lean frame, and with his glasses and that razor stubble on his jaw, I think he could actually pull off sexy-magician. I realize I’m staring as soon as our eyes meet, but for some mystifying reason, I don’t look away and neither does he. Even more inexplicably, my breath catches.
“So, are you coming or what?” Kasumi cuts in loudly.
Jacob breaks eye contact first, and my cheeks grow warmer. This is all Kasumi’s fault for planting the seed of Jacob as a smokeshow in my clearly addled mind. “I’m sure Jacob has better things to do tonight,” I stammer. “Some creepy sci-fi music to compose, or something?”
Jacob’s eye gives a little twitch, but then he nods. “Yeah. I’ve got a deadline. You should go, though.” He pulls his headphones back over his ears and turns back toward his bedroom. “I’ll probably get more done with a little peace and quiet.”
As he walks away, I haul myself up off the couch with a sudden urge to get out of here for a while. “Okay. Let’s go to the party.”
Kasumi jumps to her feet. “Yay!”
I grab the gold dress off the coffee table and head down the hall to get ready. As I pass Jacob’s bedroom, I can hear him moving around, probably tinkering with his sound mixer or electronic keyboard or whatever other equipment he’s got in there. I stop outside the door, recalling his hesitation at the party invitation and his dark eyes locked on mine. Will Jacob be here all by himself when the clock strikes midnight? Something about that leaves me as hollow as a cannoli without any filling. He always seems like such a loner, aside from his friendship with Owen. But could he actually be a little lonely? I picture sexy-magician Jacob, and my cheeks heat again. Maybe I should knock, apologize for my snarky comment, and see if he wants to come to the party after all.