When Hanna and Jacob arrived home, the silence between them was thick with tension. The party had left its mark on both of them, and it wasn’t just about Finn. Jacob was unusually quiet, his brows furrowed as he stared at the floor, clearly lost in thought.
Finally, Hanna broke the silence. “Jake, don’t be mad at Finn. He’s your best friend, after all.”
Jacob glanced at her, his face softening, but the concern in his eyes didn’t fade. “I’m not mad at him, Hanna. I’m worried about you.”
Hanna sighed, frustrated. “Why? Finn liked me, Jake. Can’t you be happy for us? Why does everything have to be so complicated?”
Jacob shook his head, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not that simple. You don’t get it.” He stood, pacing the living room. “Finn just told Ciara they could be together, and in a snap, it’s gone. That’s who he is, Hanna. He doesn’t have much control over his life. He’s got everything else pulling him in different directions—his parents, school, soccer. And when his parents find out about you and him? They might tell him the same thing.”
“What do you mean?” Hanna asked, confused.
Jacob stopped pacing and looked her dead in the eye. “They might tell him to drop you, Hanna. Focus on his studies, on his future. They’re strict like that, and Finn listens to them. He might have feelings for you now, but what happens when they tell him you’re just another distraction?”
The weight of Jacob’s words hit her hard. She hadn’t thought about it like that. Finn’s world had always seemed so different from hers, but now she was being dragged into the realities of it.
“I don’t want you to get hurt,” Jacob continued, his voice softening. “I’m your brother. It’s my job to protect you, even from Finn.”
Hanna stared at him, her heart heavy. “It’s all part of loving someone, isn’t it?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “There’s always a risk.”
Jacob sighed, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he gave her a long, searching look. “Just... be careful, Hanna. That’s all I’m asking.”