Shotgun Love

Unknown Number

When Mira finally left the living room, Keira leaned back against the sofa and let out a long sigh. Her mother’s words kept replaying, but another image was starting to overpower them. Jacob.

If someone looked at him from afar, he could easily pass for a leader of some street gang. His face piercings, the tunnels in his ears, the way he carried himself, confident, almost intimidating. Yet, there was something more to him than what the surface revealed.

Keira noticed details most people would miss: the way his sneakers were spotless, clearly expensive, and his clothes, though casual, weren’t cheap either. He had taste, a quiet sense of style that wasn’t loud but spoke volumes.

And then there was the way he spoke. Jacob wasn’t bookish or polished like Kevin had been, but his words had weight. He had a knack for turning even the most mundane conversations into something meaningful or funny. Keira found herself leaning in every time he talked, drawn by the rhythm of his thoughts.

She hated to admit it, but it impressed her.

Despite his rough edges, Jacob had this surprising streak of gentleness, pulling out chairs, making sure she got home safe. He looked scary, yes. But the longer she stayed around him, the more harmless he seemed. Almost safe, in his own strange way.

Keira rubbed her temples, frustrated with herself. “What are you even thinking, Keira?” she muttered under her breath. Her mother had just warned her, and here she was, already replaying Jacob’s smile in her head.

She shook it off, stood, and wandered toward her bedroom window, pulling the curtain just slightly. Her heart skipped when she saw him.

Jacob.

He was still outside. Leaning casually against the lamp post across the street, hands tucked into his pockets, looking like he had all the time in the world. The glow of the sunlight caught the metal in his piercings, giving him that same dangerous edge, but his posture wasn’t menacing at all. If anything, he looked… patient. Almost like he was making sure she was okay.

Keira’s chest tightened.

Why was he still here? He could’ve gone straight home after walking her back. She bit her lip and let the curtain fall shut, pacing her room. Her mind was a mess. Kevin had always been the picture-perfect guy for her parents. Rich, polished, formal. And yet he had betrayed her in ways she couldn’t even put into words. Jacob, on the other hand, was everything she thought she’d never want. Tattoos. Smoke on his breath. A laugh that could be too loud. And yet, he was here. Still outside.

Keira sat at the edge of her bed, burying her face in her hands.

“He’s not the type of guy you dream of,” she whispered to herself. “But why does it feel like he’s the type who might actually stay?”

The headache from last night hadn’t completely worn off, but at least she was home. She reached for her phone on the nightstand, blinking at the flood of notifications.

One message stood out.

Unknown Number: Delete all your pictures with Kevin on your social media.

Her stomach tightened. She still had those old photos locked in her profile, hidden but never erased. Kevin used to have access to her account, but she’d already changed her password months ago. No way it was him.

Then the realization struck like ice down her spine.

Chelsea.

Of course. It had her written all over it. Only someone insecure enough to play petty games would send something like that. Keira clenched her jaw, anger rising like fire in her chest. “What the hell is wrong with her?” she hissed.

Slamming her phone down, she stomped toward the window again, and there he was. Jacob. Squinting at the daylight while fiddling with his lighter. He looked up and noticed her, flashing a grin that instantly softened her mood.

Without thinking, Keira marched downstairs, opened the front door, and called out, “Jacob!”

He stood, a little startled. “Yeah?”

“Why are you still outside??” she asked, trying to sound casual.

Jacob blinked at her, then tapped his head with a grin.

“You forgot to give back my beanie hat.”

Keira froze. Oh. Right. The beanie.

She instinctively touched her messy hair and remembered him pulling the beanie over her head because she kept squinting at the sunrise on their way home. She felt her cheeks heat up. Here she was, overthinking like he’d been waiting for her, when in reality… he was just waiting for his hat.

“That’s… seriously why you’re still here?” she asked, squinting at him.

Jacob nodded, deadpan. “Well, yeah. That’s my favorite beanie. Do you know how hard it is to find one that makes my ears look less like satellite dishes?”

Keira burst out laughing, covering her mouth. “Oh my god, you waited all this time for a hat? I thought—” she stopped herself, realizing she was about to spill the embarrassing truth.

Jacob tilted his head, smirking. “You thought what?”

“Nothing,” Keira said quickly, disappearing inside to grab it. She returned, holding the beanie out with two fingers like it was something sacred. “Here. Your precious fashion statement.”

Jacob snatched it back dramatically, clutching it to his chest. “Finally. My soul is whole again.”

Keira rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t stop smiling. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And you look cuter in this than I do,” Jacob added with a wink as he pulled the beanie back on.

“Come inside. Wait for me a sec. I’ll just wash up, then let’s go out together.”

Jacob raised a brow, smirking. “You sure about that? Your mom might kill me twice.”

Keira rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the corner of her smile. “Just get in before I change my mind.”

Jacob chuckled, sliding his hands back in his pockets as he stepped toward the house. And for the first time, Keira felt like she was taking control, not of Kevin, not of Chelsea, not of anyone else’s shadow. Just her, “Just wait here while I wash up. And don’t steal anything!”

Jacob laughed, settling onto the couch like he owned the place. “Relax. I only steal hearts.”

Keira groaned. “Ugh. Please don’t start.”

Steam still clung to the bathroom mirror as Keira stepped out of the shower, towel wrapped around her hair. She reached for her phone on the dresser, only to see the screen flashing nonstop. Beep. Beep. Beep. One notification after another.

The same unknown number.

Her chest tightened as she scrolled.

“Delete those ugly pictures already.”

“Kevin is mine now. Stop flexing yourself like you were ever good enough.”

“You look pathetic, desperate even. You don’t even look good without filters.”

Keira clenched her jaw, gripping the phone tighter. She knew it was Chelsea. Nobody else would be this bitter, this low.

Her fingers flew across the screen before she could stop herself.

Keira: “I don’t wear makeup, but I’m sure I have pure beauty and brains. I don’t know about your face ’cause it’s covered in thick powder. Or... maybe you’re hiding a monster behind all that makeup. Now, you may rot in hell.”

She hit send with a sharp exhale, feeling her pulse calm just a little.

Tossing the towel aside, she threw on her clothes quickly and marched downstairs. Jacob was lounging comfortably on the couch, scrolling through his phone like he owned the place.

“Let’s go,” Keira said abruptly, grabbing his hand before he could react.

He blinked, startled. “Uh—where?”

“Stop asking, just come with me!” she muttered, tugging him toward the door.

Jacob stumbled after her, still holding onto her hand. “Wow, okay. No warning. You drag people around a lot, don’t you?”

Keira didn’t even glance back. “Only the ones who don’t complain.”

Jacob chuckled under his breath, but he didn’t let go.