Tangled Love
CHAPTER 46

CHAPTER 46

The wind picks up speed and I shiver, wrapping my jacket tightly around myself.

"No and that's exactly why I'm leaving." I add, turning on my heel and walking away. His hand shootsout and grips onto my elbow tightly.

"You're not going anywhere," he threatens me quietly, his grip tightening. My heart begins to thumpwildly against my chest. I bite my lip to stop myself from screaming out and kick back with my leg withas much strength as I can replace.

My foot connects with his groin and he groans in pain, doubling over. Huh, I'm getting good at this.

I take the chance to run, the dog right behind me. I hear his shouts of protests but I never once slowdown until I'm safe behind a locked door. I slam the front door shut, bolting it and slide down the wall.My chest is rising and falling heavily and I suck in a deep breath, forcing my nerves to calm down.

"What the hell happened Emily?"

I look up, meeting Jake's eyes that are worried and concerned. He's glancing between me and Boe, aconfused frown on his face. It takes me a few moments to structure my sentence properly.

"A man chased me in the park, I think he knows Trevor." I gasp, catching my breath. My hands aretrembling by my side and I feel like I'm going to throw up. Jake's eyes widen at my words and within asplit second, he grabs his jacket and pulls it on.

"Stay right here, I'll be back soon." He says firmly, slamming the door shut as he leaves. I lower myselfto the floor, replaying the interaction with the creepy man over and over again in my mind.

After three hours of waiting, I finally give up and drag myself to bed.

The room is engulfed in darkness when I hear the faint noise of the door being opened slowly. I groanand bury my head deeper into Jake's blankets, sleep washing over my body. His scent radiatesoff everything and it's the only place I feel comfort. I've automatically associated his scent with safetyso when I can't sleep, his room is my safe haven.

The mattress dips and I feel him settle beside me, his presence causing the hairs on the back of myneck to prick with anticipation. Despite being half asleep, I reach out, my hand resting on his arm.

"Where have you been?" I mumble sleepily. He wraps an arm around me, pulling me closer towardshim.

"It doesn't matter, go back to sleep." Jake whispers, his warm breath tickling my ear. I sigh contentlyand press further into him, getting comfortable. Jake coughs behind me and clears his throat, adjustinghimself. I groan in protest and open one eye, turning halfway to question him —

"What's wrong?"

"You were backing up into me Muffin, no guy is going to be okay with that."

It takes me a few seconds to register what he's saying before I burst out laughing.

"Sorry, I'll try and keep my movements to a minimum." I smile in the dark before leaning forward. I peckhis lips and squirm when I feel something warm and wet. I quickly turn around to flick the bedside lampon and blink as my vision adjusts to the brightness. When I look down, my hands are stained in freshblood and I gasp.

"Oh my god. You're bleeding."

His lower lip is split, the blood slowly dripping from it. I can see the shadow of a bruise darkening underhis eye and his hands are a total mess, swollen and the skin tinged with red.

"Jake, what the hell happened?" I ask, my eyes wide with worry. He glances down at his fists before hiseyes flicker elsewhere, avoiding eye contact with me.

"I don't want to lie to you." He mumbles under his breath and I sit up straighter, my features twisted inconfusion. "You don't need to lie to me."

As soon as I finish speaking Jake sighs and stands up, turning his back on me. Within seconds hedisappears out of the door and I hear him walk along the landing before entering the bathroom. Theimage of his bloody lip and bruised eye flash through my mind on a continuous loop. Has he beenfighting with the guy from the park?

I stand up, folding my arms across my chest to keep myself warm. As I'm walking towards thebathroom, I can hear him mumbling behind the door, making little sounds of discomfort. I push the dooropen and it creaks, alerting Jake of my presence.

"Let me help you," I say softly, my words barely a mumble. He pauses and turns around slowly, hiseyes fixed on the clothes I'm wearing. It's one of his shirts, ending a few inches above my knee.

"You always look good in my stuff."

I blink at his response, wondering whether him changing the subject is intentional. Regardless, hiswords cause me to blush and I pause for a moment, trying to calm my beetroot red face.

"Thanks." I murmur. He smiles back at me, a smile that's sweet and sincere.

"Did you replace him? Did he hurt you?" I whisper, remembering Creepy Guy's voice and dangerous darkeyes. Thinking of the way his eyes looked into mine causes me to shudder. His entire presencescreamed danger and I never want to experience the cold shiver he set off inside me again. Jakepauses and drops his head, his shoulders tense.

"I didn't replace him.”