His words were like a match to gasoline, igniting the flames of desire that she didn’t know she had.

He was right. She was curious to know what it felt like to be with someone in that…way.

But doing it with Jacob? Oh god…

“Take me home,” she demanded, her voice shaky but determined. “Now.”

Jacob laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that sent shivers down her spine. “As you wish, princess,” he said with a mock bow. “Your chariot awaits.”

He held out his hand, and Tiffany hesitated for a brief moment before placing her trembling fingers in his. She allowed him to lead her out of the ice cream parlor, her heart pounding in her chest as she wondered what the hell was happening.

As they walked to his car, Jacob’s hand remained firmly clasped around hers, his thumb tracing maddening circles on her skin. Tiffany’s mind raced with a million thoughts and doubts, but one thing was certain - she was in way over her head.

Jacob opened the passenger door for her, and Tiffany slid into the leather seat.

“Don’t look like I just pronounced your death sentence, Princess,” Jacob said lightly as he started the car.

Tiffany rolled her eyes, trying to hide the turmoil swirling inside her. “Just drive, Jacob.”

As they pulled out of the parking lot, Jacob glanced at her, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “You know, I could take you back to my place instead. My mom’s at work…”

“Stop it!” Tiffany snapped, but her heart skipped a beat at the thought of giving her first time to Jacob. “I am not going to sleep with you, you moron.”

Jacob nodded seriously. “No, you are right. My place is a complete shithole. Our first time should be somewhere nice. You deserve the best, my queen.”

Tiffany groaned. “You are insane.”

“No, I am telling the truth. I am not rich like some of the other kids at school, you know. Is that a deal breaker?” Jacob asked with a genuine concern in his eyes.

Tiffany blinked, taken aback by the sudden vulnerability in Jacob’s tone. His usual cocky demeanor had slipped, revealing a rare glimpse of something real beneath the surface. For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. She had always thought of Jacob as this arrogant guy, but hearing him talk like this like he actually cared about what she thought, made her pause.

“I don’t care about that,” Tiffany said softly, her voice losing some of its usual sharpness.

Jacob glanced at her, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Good. I was hoping you’d say that,” he said, his voice low.

“If you are so poor, how do you have a car?” she asked.

Jacob chuckled, shaking his head as he pulled onto the main road. “You really think this old thing counts as a car?” he teased, patting the dashboard. “Dear old Lucy is a hand-me-down from someone who felt sorry for me. Barely runs most days, but it gets me where I need to go.”

Tiffany glanced around the interior of the car, noticing the worn-out seats and the faint smell of motor oil. It wasn’t exactly luxurious, but she couldn’t deny it had character. She felt a little guilty for asking.

“You make it sound like you’re driving a death trap,” she muttered.

Jacob grinned. “It’s not that bad. Just don’t expect air conditioning or heated seats.”

Tiffany rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter what you drive. I still won’t sleep with you.”

“You will. But let’s not argue about that now. Where do you live anyway?” Jacob asked, suddenly realizing he had no idea where he was going.

Tiffany raised an eyebrow. “You’re just now asking where I live? What, were you planning on driving in circles all day?”

Jacob shrugged, flashing that infuriating grin again. “Figured we’d get there eventually. Or, you know, if you change your mind, I could always turn the car around and—”

“No!” Tiffany cut him off quickly, her cheeks flushing. “Just… take a left up here.”

Jacob chuckled under his breath but didn’t push further. He followed her directions, the tension between them simmering just below the surface. Tiffany stared out the window, trying to focus on the passing streets instead of the way her stomach fluttered every time Jacob spoke.

“Take the next right,” she said quietly, trying to push down the strange warmth building between them.

“Got it,” Jacob replied, his tone calm, the usual teasing gone for now.

As they neared her house, Tiffany felt a wave of nerves crash over her. She was finally going home, away from the confusing mess of feelings swirling around Jacob. But part of her wasn’t sure if she wanted this moment to end just yet.

Something must be wrong with her.

“Pull over here,” Tiffany blurted out, a block away from her house. Her tone was sharp, urgent, and Jacob raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled by the sudden request.

“Here?” he repeated, glancing around at the quiet street.

Tiffany swallowed hard, her heart racing. She didn’t want him to see her house, not with all the cameras, the security guards, the imposing gates that screamed wealth and isolation. She didn’t need Jacob asking questions about why her home looked more like a fortress than a regular suburban house. No one at school knew just how different her life was, and she wanted to keep it that way.

“Yeah, here’s fine,” she insisted, her voice firm. “I’ll walk the rest of the way.”

Jacob studied her for a moment, his brows knitting together. “And why is that? Embarrassed to be seen with me?”

“Yes,” she blurted out. It sounded harsh, but it was still better than letting him see.

“Jeez, Tiff. You really like to hit where it hurts, huh?” he pouted.

Tiffany’s heart skipped a beat at his reaction. She hadn’t meant for it to sound so cold, but the panic of him seeing her world had taken over.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” she muttered, trying to recover. “It’s not you, okay? It’s…complicated.”

Jacob’s eyes softened, though the hint of hurt remained in his expression. He leaned back against the seat, running a hand through his hair. “It’s fine. I am glad I got to spend time with you. Can I at least get a goodbye kiss?”

Tiffany stared at Jacob, her heart doing an odd flip at his request. A goodbye kiss? The thought made her stomach twist, not out of disgust but from the confusing mess of emotions she had been pushing down all day.

“Are you serious?” she asked, trying to sound annoyed, but her voice came out softer than she intended.

Jacob grinned, though it didn’t have the same cocky edge it usually did. “Come on, Tiff. It’s just a kiss. You might even like it.”

Tiffany rolled her eyes, but her pulse quickened. She wasn’t sure if she could handle being any closer to him, especially after the way he had dropped his usual bravado and shown her a glimpse of something real. She didn’t know if she wanted that kind of vulnerability with him.

“Jacob,” she started, her tone warning, but even she wasn’t sure what she was warning him about—him asking for a kiss, or her potentially giving in.

He held up his hands in surrender, his expression softening. “Alright, alright. No kiss. I get it.”

There was a beat of silence as they sat there, neither of them moving.

But then, she did something that she never thought she would do. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

The moment Tiffany’s lips brushed against Jacob’s cheek, she could feel the warmth radiating from his skin. It was quick, barely more than a soft press, but it left a lingering tingle on her lips. She pulled back immediately, her heart thudding wildly in her chest, unsure why she had just done that.

“There, I kissed you. Now stop bothering me at school,” she said quickly before running out of the car.