brought the axe to bear.
His face flush, Jacob stumbled out of the chair, nearly knocking it over. His heart raced out of control.
“What’s wrong?” Cass asked from the doorway. Her voice quavered.
Jacob whipped around wide-eyed and saw Cass standing at the doorway. He hadn’t heard her come in. He waved her question off, then pulled his hand down when he realized it was shaking.
“Nothing,” he lied. His mind struggled to find a better answer. “This is just some gruesome shit.” He motioned toward the monitor.
Cass stared at him a moment. She set the tray she carried aside and walked over to the computer. She glanced at the screen and shook her head. Jacob sensed she knew he was lying. He’d never been the squeamish type and Cass knew that better than most.
“The movie we watched the other night was worse than this.” She looked at him, her eyes narrowing when she saw him sweating.
“It’s just that it’s real, you know? That it happened right here in town.” He stammered as he tried to get the words out. “I can’t believe someone like Jenks can just wander around free after doing something so horrible like that.” He pointed at a picture of the axe wound, the image grainy in black and white.
Cass looked to Jacob and then to the computer. She reached over and turned the monitor off. “Yeah, it’s bad, but why are you getting so worked up over it?”
“I—” He started to lie again but found it hard to speak. “I don’t know,” he finally said. “It’s just sad, I guess. It could happen to anyone, you know?”
Cass pushed him over onto the couch. She went and grabbed him a soda, popping the top and handing it to him.
He took it, his hand still trembling. He swallowed half of it in big gulps. He was breathing heavy when he finally pulled the can away from his lips.
“Seriously, are you all right?” Cass sat beside him, her eyes moist. “You’re acting real weird.”
He met her gaze for a moment. Yeah,” he answered as his breath slowed. “I think maybe I’m just stressed out, all the shit with my dad and all.”
“Is that all it is?”
The question hung in the air.
Jacob looked back at her. “Yeah, Cass, I’m sure that’s it.” He reached out and took her hand, turning his so hers was on top. He gave it a squeeze. “This has nothing to do with you, okay? I probably just need more sleep—and a dad who isn’t homicidal.” He laughed hollow and tugged on Cass’s hand to get her to smile. “We’re good.”
She eased a tiny grin onto her lips. “You know you can always crash here, if you want.”
“You’re already feeding the stray. You don’t want to give it a place to sleep too.” He winked at her. “I’d never leave.”
She feigned disgust. “I’d probably just have to put you down anyway. You’d be scratching up the furniture, marking your territory, spraying all over.”
“Hey, I wouldn’t—”
Cass pulled him into a hug with a laugh. “I know you wouldn’t do that, Jake, because I’d have you neutered first.”
He pulled away, his face pained. “You’re mean.”
She just laughed harder, then stuck her tongue out. “So I hear.”
Jacob shook his head as Cass got up and grabbed some snacks from the tray. She tossed the packages at him. They landed in his lap. “I know you’re getting ready to bail, so take them with you. You need to eat something.”
He looked down at the packages and sighed. His gaze drifted up to hers. “Thanks.” He collected the snacks and went to give her a hug. “See you at the party tonight?”
“As long as you don’t get into trouble.”
“I don’t plan on it,” he answered, mocking her tone.
“You never do.” She grabbed his arm and playfully dragged him down the stairs.
In the foyer, Cass pulled him close before he could walk out the door. “I really want to hang out tonight.”
Jacob lifted her chin and kissed her quick. He resisted the urge to linger, her parents gone for the day. “I’ll