Chloe laughed. “Scarlett, do you want to make bracelets with us?”

I glanced at Jacob. What I wanted was to be alone with him so he’d kiss me. But I didn’t dare say any of that out loud.

“Maybe in a bit, Chloe,” Jacob said. “We have to study for a test.”

I smiled. We did not. But I loved the excuse.

“We’ll make one for you,” Chloe said.

I smiled. “Thanks, guys.” I followed Jacob to his room. He closed the door behind us.

It felt like forever since I’d been in Jacob’s bedroom. But it looked exactly like I remembered. He even still had the little stars on his ceiling that would probably still glow when all the lights were off at night. I remembered having slumber parties in this room and falling asleep looking at the stars. They were brighter than any stars in the city.

Jacob’s fingers trailed down the inside of my forearms.

I turned to look at him over my shoulder as he started to untie the ropes around my wrists.

Jacob laughed as he struggled with one of the knots. “Why is that kid so good at tying rope?”

“I have no idea.”

We were both quiet as Jacob kept untying the knots.

I took a few seconds to just stare at him. Really stare. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t noticed how handsome he was before. His skin was tan from being outside after school every day. And each time he untied a knot, the muscles in his arm bulged slightly. He looked good in his school uniform. But I liked him just like this. In a black t-shirt and jeans.

It took a while, but Jacob finally freed me.

“Thank you for saving me from being tied to the fireplace.” I rubbed my wrists.

“Is that what Onyx said he was going to do to you?” Jacob chuckled and shook his head. “It makes you wonder what kind of things Uncle Mason is teaching him.”

“Maybe they’re going on a camping trip or something.”

Jacob laughed. “I can’t picture them on a camping trip.”

I shrugged. Well, I wasn’t sure why else Uncle Mason would teach Onyx to tie rope. I looked around Jacob’s room. There was a picture on his nightstand of him, Aunt Brooklyn, and his father. I picked it up. “You look so much like your dad.”

“That’s what everyone tells me.”

I swallowed hard. I couldn’t imagine how hard it would be to be told I looked like my mom if she wasn’t here. And it would be even worse if I didn’t remember her very well. I put the picture back down and turned to him.

Jacob had sat down on the edge of his bed.