The kind who never commits or settles down.Trina read my mind.It’s been my fear all along.Sure, we aren’tjusthaving sex anymore.He takes me on dates, he came to my party and invited friends, but he won’t introduce me to his family and the topic of them seems to be locked down tighter than Fort Knox.
Cassy nods, agreeing with Trina.
Briar shrugs again but then nods.
I glance at Scarlett, waiting for her response, but that damn poker face of hers is rock solid.
“Scar,” I press.
“Babe, it’s your life.Give him an ultimatum or wait a year to see if he changes.This is your relationship.We can’t tell you what to do.”
“I’d dump him,” Trina adds.
“I’m thirty in a few months.”I sit back in a slump.“You’ll all be on your second child by the time I meet someone.”
“Hello,” Cassy waves.
“I did that already.”Briar giggles, referring to her twins.“Saved myself nine months, I guess.Do not recommend.”
We all know she adores her twins, but the shock was substantial when both she and Aidan, after finding one another again, discovered they had two babies on the way.
“My point is, I haven’t even metthe one.”
I think.
“Or you have, and Jake just needs a kick up the ass.”Trina shrugs.Scarlett lifts a marshmallow off the saucer of her hot chocolate and drops it into Trina’s wine.“Hey!”
I tune out and sip my wine.
I need to decide.
With this many red flags, I don’t want to be thirty-two and look back with regret and be told my eggs are dried up.
It’s a shame he can’t trust me.If his mom, assuming he’s telling the truth, needs help, I’d love to see what I can do for her.
But he’s not even giving me a chance.
The one thing that has kept me going is watching his commitment every time the phone rings.What a good son he is.
Or I’m a fool.
I deserve to know the truth.
But I don’t feel like I have a right to ask him.He made me feel stupid for even asking to meet them.Let’s slow down.
It really feels like Jake is having his cake and eating it too.
Trina is right.
I’ve known all along it likely wouldn’t work.I was hoping I was wrong.
Tomorrow is Friday, always a busy day in the clinic, so on the weekend I’ll tell him we need to part ways.
It’s over.
––––––––
IOPEN THE door forTrinity and smile as she takes one last look in the mirror, grinning.I see this regularly, but there’s nothing like watching a patient walk out of here for the last time—sort of, there are follow-ups—with their perfect smile.
