Shotgun Love

Take Me With You

Keira’s phone buzzed on the table, screen lighting up with her mother’s name. Her chest tightened as reality seeped into the haze of alcohol. She opened the message:

Where are you? It’s late.

For a moment, her fingers hovered, but then she typed back quickly: I’m with friends. Don’t worry, I’ll stay safe.

It wasn’t a lie, not exactly, but the words felt like a shield. When she put the phone down, her gaze wandered to Jacob, who was leaning back casually, smoke curling from his lips.

She exhaled, her thoughts a jumble. Maybe it was the drinks, maybe it was the way he had made her laugh all night, but something inside her ached, something bold and restless.

“Jacob…” her voice softened, almost vulnerable. “Take me with you tonight.”

He raised an eyebrow, amused but cautious. “Angel, you’re drunk. I’ll walk you home. End of story.”

She shook her head, clutching his sleeve like a child refusing to let go. “No. If I go home like this, my mom will kill me. Please. I just… I don’t wanna be alone.” Her words faltered, then came out quieter, almost like a confession: “I wanna be with you.”

That made him freeze. He searched her face, as if weighing every ounce of sincerity in her words. For a long moment, he said nothing, only the sound of glasses clinking around them filling the silence.

Finally, he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Alright. But only because I don’t wanna see you get into trouble.”

Later, when they reached his place, she stumbled slightly, and he caught her by the arm. “Careful, angel,” he muttered, guiding her inside. She looked up at him then, eyes glassy, cheeks flushed, lips curved into a small, daring smile.

“Thank you,” she whispered, and before he could reply, she leaned forward and kissed him.

Jacob stiffened, caught between surprise and restraint. His hands hovered at her shoulders as if holding himself back. “Keira… you’re not thinking straight.”

But she deepened the kiss, steady this time, pulling him closer with more certainty than he expected. “I know what I’m doing,” she murmured against his lips, breath warm and earnest. “I want this.”

He finally gave in, wrapping her in his arms, not with urgency, but with care, like she was something fragile he couldn’t bear to mishandle.

The night blurred gently into warmth and closeness. There were no wild sparks or careless movements, just whispered words and soft laughter between kisses. Keira felt the world grow quieter, like all the noise and chaos she’d been carrying melted away in the safety of his presence.

When they finally lay together, it wasn’t reckless but tender, two souls holding on, two broken edges finding a strange comfort in fitting. Jacob brushed her hair back, pressing his lips lightly to her forehead.

“Sleep, angel,” he whispered.

And for the first time in a long while, Keira closed her eyes without fear, drifting into the comfort of belonging.

The morning sun filtered through the thin curtains, stabbing right into Keira’s eyes. She groaned, rolling onto her side and clutching her temples. Her head pounded, her throat dry as sandpaper.

Oh no… I definitely drank too much.

But as fragments of last night began to rearrange themselves in her head. The drinks, the laughter, the kisses, the way she whispered yes without hesitation, her stomach dropped.

Her heart thudded wildly. I chose this. I wasn’t forced. This was me.

It hit her like a brick:

Her first time sneaking out with a guy she barely knew.

Her first time puffing a cigarette.

Her first time… sleeping with someone.

And not just someone. Not her boyfriend. Not Kevin. But Jacob, this moody, cigarette-smoking, leather-jacket-wearing stranger who somehow made her laugh harder than anyone else ever had.

Her eyes flew open wide. “Oh. My. God.”

Then they grew even wider when she felt a soft, furry movement against her arm. She gasped, bolting upright. “NO WAY. Not again!”

She looked down, bracing herself for Allison, the cat that had startled her days ago—but no.

This one was smaller, with the same patchy orange-and-white fur but a more mischievous face, green eyes blinking at her like it had just robbed a bank and gotten away with it.

“AHHH!” she screamed, pointing at it dramatically. “You multiplied overnight?!”

The cat blinked once, yawned, and then very casually curled back into her arm like yeah, lady, this is my spot now.

Her scream was so loud that Jacob came rushing in—only he wasn’t panicked. He was holding a tray with a full breakfast, smirking like he’d expected this.

“Relax, angel,” he chuckled, setting the tray down. “That’s Bandit. He won’t bite.”

“B–Bandit?!” Keira squeaked, still clutching the blanket to her chest like it was a shield.

“Yeah,” Jacob said, casually scratching the cat’s chin. Bandit purred like an engine. “Found him a while back. He used to sneak around my place, stealing scraps. Like some outlaw from the woods. Looked like a furry thief. So… Bandit.”

Keira stared at the cat, then at Jacob, then back at the cat again. “So what, your cats just… audition for my nightmares now? One at a time?”

Jacob grinned, sliding the tray toward her. “Better get used to it, angel. Bandit’s got more attitude than Allison. If he sticks to you, it means he likes you.”

Bandit meowed right on cue, hopping onto Keira’s lap like he had chosen her as his human now. She froze, lips pursed.

Jacob laughed at her expression. “Guess you’ve been robbed, angel. By Bandit himself.”

Keira sat stiffly, staring at the tray Jacob placed in front of her—eggs, toast, bacon, and even a glass of orange juice. It smelled so good her stomach growled louder than she wanted to admit.

Jacob caught it and smirked. “That sounded like a death threat. Better eat before Bandit decides to steal your bacon.”

Right on cue, Bandit pawed at the edge of her plate, his whiskers twitching like he had already planned the heist.

“Don’t you dare,” Keira whispered at the cat, shielding her bacon with her fork. “I’ve already been traumatized enough this morning.”

Jacob leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching her with amusement. “Traumatized? Pretty sure you’re just hungover.”

Keira shoved a forkful of eggs into her mouth to avoid answering. The food was warm and comforting, but her mind was anything but calm. What do I even say to him? Thanks for the drinks… and also for ruining my innocence?

Her cheeks burned.

Jacob’s voice broke her thoughts. “So…” he drawled, eyes glinting, “was Bandit scarier than last night, or…”

She nearly choked on her juice. “Jacob!” she hissed, eyes wide, half mortified and half ready to throw the toast at his smug face.

He laughed, holding up his hands in surrender. “Relax, angel. Just checking if you even remember. Thought you might wake up and try to convince yourself it was a dream.”

Keira stared down at her plate, poking the toast nervously. Her lips parted, then closed again, then finally she whispered, “I remember.”

Jacob’s teasing grin softened. He walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, and tilted his head toward her. “And… regret it?”

Her heart thumped painfully. She didn’t know how to answer. Her mind was screaming about mistakes, but her chest—her chest felt different. Lighter. Like she wasn’t drowning anymore.

She pressed her lips together, avoiding his gaze. “I don’t know what I feel yet,” she admitted quietly. “But I know this—” She glanced at him quickly before looking back at Bandit, who was now triumphantly munching a stolen piece of toast. “You… you make me laugh when I thought I couldn’t. And last night, for once, I wasn’t just… broken. I felt… free.”

Jacob looked at her for a long moment, his smirk fading into something gentler. He didn’t push. He just nodded once and leaned back, letting Bandit’s crunching fill the silence.

Then he chuckled. “Guess Bandit approves of you too. You should feel honored. He doesn’t even let me hold him sometimes.”

Keira groaned, covering her face with both hands. “Great. So now your cat’s my problem too.”

Jacob leaned closer, lowering his voice just enough to make her pulse jump. “Careful, angel. Keep saying that, and you might sound like you’re planning to stick around.”

Her heart skipped—but she didn’t argue.

Keira put her fork down slowly, her appetite suddenly gone, replaced by a knot in her stomach. She pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging them with her arms, and looked at Jacob through her lashes.

“Jacob…” she started, her voice small. “I… I’m sorry if I was… aggressive last night.” Her cheeks burned, and she rushed to explain, “That wasn’t me. I mean, I was drunk, and maybe I pushed things too much. I don’t want you to think…” She trailed off, biting her lip hard.

Jacob didn’t say anything at first. He just leaned forward, elbows on his knees, watching her carefully. Then he shook his head and gave her a soft smirk. “Don’t apologize. You weren’t the only one there. I knew what I was doing. And I don’t regret it.”

His voice lower now, steadier. “But what I need to know is this… What do you want this to be?”

Her chest tightened. The question hung between them, sharp and heavy. She whispered, almost afraid of her own answer, “I don’t want to be your… your fling. Or worse, your fubu. That’s not me. I can’t do that.”

He reached out, brushing his fingers against hers. “Good. Because that’s not what I want either.”

Her head snapped up, searching his face.

He leaned closer, his eyes locking with hers. “Keira, I like you. You’re different. With you, I don’t feel judged. I don’t feel pressured.

You make me laugh when I didn’t think I could anymore. And…” He smirked, almost shyly this time. “You make me feel… excited, but also at peace. Like I can just be myself with you. No pretending.”

Keira’s heart pounded. Her lips trembled, trying to form words, but the relief and warmth flooding her chest were overwhelming.

“Then… what are we now?” she whispered.

Jacob tilted his head, eyes never leaving hers. “If you’ll let me… I want to call you mine. Officially.”

Her breath caught, and a smile tugged at her lips despite the tears welling in her eyes. “Girlfriend and boyfriend?”

“Yeah,” he murmured, his hand sliding gently to her cheek. “But,one thing. Let’s keep this between us for now. I don’t want people talking crap about you, making it seem like you’re easy or reckless. You don’t deserve that.”

Keira swallowed hard. She understood. Deep down, she knew gossip could be cruel, and she didn’t want whispers staining something that felt so pure right now. “Okay,” she said softly. “I get it.”

His smile widened, relief flickering in his eyes. “Good. Then come here, angel.”

The kiss that followed was nothing like last night’s hesitant fumbling. This one burned, urgent, fiery, full of all the tension they had held back. Jacob pulled her close, and Keira melted into him, her hands clutching his shirt as if she couldn’t get near enough.

Every touch, every kiss felt like a declaration. Last night was a state of confusion, but this, this was a choice. This was them finally giving in, not to the alcohol, but to the feelings that had been simmering from the start.

The room grew hotter with every heartbeat, every whispered name between kisses. And for the first time in a long time, Keira didn’t feel broken, or uncertain, or left behind. She just felt wanted, completely and fiercely wanted.

And she wanted him just as much.