Eva smiles down at my daughter. “Good morning, sweetie. Can Auntie Eva burp you?”
She takes Eli from Jessie and puts her over her shoulder. She begins to pat her back lightly, then shifts on the couch toward Jessie. “Just go put your clothes on from yesterday. I assume you at least have those. We can stop at your place on the way. We have the Escalade so it will fit everyone.”
“Um …” Jessie looks over at me for help.
I shrug my shoulders. I know she’s looking for an out, but the selfish prick in me needs her with me. “I’m cool with you coming.”
Eva’s head spins. “Walker, don’t be a dick. What do you mean, you’refinewith her coming? How about … you’dlovefor her to come?”
“Fine. I’dlovefor you to come, Jessie. Is that better, sis?” I ask sarcastically.
I don’t miss the wink and smile that Roman gives Jessie, who is now biting her bottom lip as she tries to hide her own smile.
“Jessie,” I continue, “come on. We’ll stop at your place so you can change. I’m sure my parents would love to see you.”
“Can we, um, like, address the fact that my best friend just caught me spending the night at her brother’s place?” She catches Eva’s eyes. “Are you okay with this?” Then she turns to me. “Whateverthisis.”
Eva’s now shooting daggers at me. “Why the hell does my best friend not know what’s going on between you two? Are you stringing her along? I swear to God, Walker.”
I hold up my hands. “Hold on. With all due respect, Eva, I’m going to have to stop you right there. When it comes to me and Jessie, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Please don’t you dare pretend like you understand the depths of my feelings for her.”
The panic spikes hot in my chest—a reminder of the truth I’ve been burying. Eva catching Jessie here is a glimpse of how fast this could all unravel, and the thought of it nearly guts me. Butthen Jessie shifts, her eyes darting to mine like I’m the only one who matters. And just like that, the fear dulls.
I know the secret’s still there, waiting to explode, but for now? I can’t stay away from her. I don’t want to. If these moments are borrowed time, then I’ll take every second I can get.
Jessie stands up and begins to walk toward me, pulling my shirt down as far as it can go. As soon as she steps into my room, I close the door. I follow her into the bathroom, where she grabs her clothes from yesterday, discarding my shirt. She seems to be deep in thought, barely noticing my presence.
The warmth between us from a moment ago is already fading, replaced by an ache that makes her feel a thousand miles away, even as my eyes stay locked on her.
She catches me in the mirror and turns around, standing in nothing but her black lace panties. Beautiful. Perfect. My heart flutters in my chest, making me wonder if there’s something wrong with me.
The thought fades away as my body moves of its own accord to her. I take her in my arms. My lips find hers in a hungry kiss, and I put everything that I can’t say into it. Her hands find my bare shoulders, and she clutches on to me and kisses me back with just as much urgency.
Before I get too carried away, I pull back and look down at her. “I just needed to feel close to you again,” I tell her honestly.
“I’m right here,” she replies softly.
My fingers trace her lower back, just above her thong. “But your heart felt a million miles away from me.”
“My heart is trying to protect itself.”
“So is mine,” I whisper. “Every. Damn. Day.”
A cry from the other room reminds me that there are two babies out there that are ticking time bombs. I kiss her forehead and let her go, the warmth of her presence replaced with cold air that seeps into my heart.
I dress in record time, forgoing my shower so we aren’t late.
We stop at Jessie’s apartment on the way and are pulling up to my parents’ house around eleven.
My mother opens the door, dressed to the nines in a white suit with gold jewelry and a full face of makeup, like she’s going for brunch at the country club.
She smiles, though it’s controlled, like always. “Oh, my children are finally visiting. I was beginning to wonder when you two were going to grace us with your presence. How’s my darling granddaughter?”
Roman carries the car seat up to the front door, where Mother peeks inside and smiles down at Addie, who is still sleeping.
“Oh dear. Is she wearing cotton to brunch?”
Eva smiles through clenched teeth. “Yes, Mother. My six-week-old does not need to be uncomfortable while we eat in your house.”
