“Don’t do that,” I warned. “Don’t look at this place as if it’s beneath you.”
He blinked, a flash of pain crossing his eyes—but before I could say more, his attention snapped to the roof. “What’s that man doing?”
“Our landlord is finally fixing the leaks after we threatened court,” I said.
Griffin’s jaw clenched. “I’ll be right back.”
“Grif—don’t?—”
Too late.
He stormed across the lawn, all controlled fury and six-foot-three of it. I couldn’t hear what he said to Stan, but I saw they shook hands. Griffin handed the man a card from his breast pocket. Stan’s eyes bulged, and moments later he peeled out in his truck like the devil was chasing him.
“What the hell was that?” I yelled.
“I bought him out.” His voice was calm—too calm. “I’ll be your mother’s new landlord.”
I stared, dumbfounded. “You—youwhat?”
“By tomorrow, I want an email with a list of every repair. Big or small. I’ll have a crew here to take care of everything. Hell, for that matter we’ll add on an addition so your family can be more comfortable. Cars too—I’ll replace those with new ones. And I want you back in the city with Theo and me, where you belong.”
“You’re unbelievable,” I snapped. “You can’t just throw money at my life to get your way.”
His gaze softened, the fight fading from his voice. “That’s not what I’m trying to do anymore.”
“Really? Because it sure looks familiar.”
“I did all this because I need the mother of my child and her family to be safe and secure in their own home.”
The words punched the air right out of me. My heart cracked open, equal parts fury and longing. “Despite what it looks like, we don’t need fixing.”
He shook his head. “No. I’m the one who’s broken. You were the only thing that ever made me feel whole.”
Tears burned my eyes. I fought them hard. “You’re used to control, Grif. You can’t manage love the same way.”
“I know.” He cast his eyes down. “I tried. And I lost you because of it. I’m so sorry that I didn’t fight for you in front of Sam. And that I let you walk out of my life in New York. I’ve deeply regretted both ever since.”
He gave an apology? Only in my dreams did I think I’d get one, but never expected… I chewed my cheek, knowing full well well he wasn’t the only one at fault here. “And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the baby the day I arrived. I was waiting for the perfect time and that never happened.”
He reached into his chest pocket and pulled something small out. He pressed it into my palm.
My breath caught at the sight of a single red dried pasta noodle.
“Theo must have slipped this into my pocket when I dropped him off. I couldn’t stop thinking about it—the way you used it to fill the missing piece in the game. Jessa, you’re my—” He choked up, and continued with a shaky voice. “You’re my noodle. The missing piece in my life.”
My hand flew to my mouth as a sob escaped me. I’d never been someone’s noodle before.
He swallowed hard. “You were right. I let fear win. I was terrified of failing again. So I tried to protect myself the only way I knew how—by confusing money with love, by hiding behind a contract, never letting go of control. But I’m done with that, Jessa. I love you. I love Theo. And I love the baby we made. And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it.”
He pulled off the bandage on his ring finger and held it up for me to see. I gasped. My name, Jessa, inked in stark letters, appeared around the base.
“You got my name tattooed on you?” My tears broke free.
“In a town between the city and here, when I stopped for gas, I noticed a tattoo parlor.”
“But you said you hate needles,” I whispered.
“Then you know what it means,” he breathed. “That I’d take any pain—every damn jab life throws at me—to be worthy of you.”
