“And I’d never ask you to,” I replied honestly.
“But it’s not just Cassie I want. We need time to figure it out, I know that, but you’re as much a part of my future as she is, Kellie. Don’t doubt that.”
I swallowed deeply.
Jake knew all the right words to say, and I had no doubt he meant every single one of them. But the romance of spending one night reading his daughter a bedtime story was very different to the reality of raising a kid.
“But right now, I’m going to kiss you goodnight and go home. And I need you to think about what it is you want, Kellie. I know what I want. I have no doubt. So, you need to think long and hard about what you want.”
And Jake did exactly that.
Three frustrating hours later, I gave up on scratching the itch that Jake had left gnawing just below the surface when the batteries to my favorite pink vibrator died, and I was lying there staring at the ceiling more annoyed than ever. Jake didn’t think I knew what I wanted, but I knew exactly what I wanted. I just wasn’t prepared to put it all out there only to have my dreams go up in smoke again.
The longer I laid there, the more pissed off I got. Watching the minutes tick over, when it passed midnight, I got up and got a bottle of water only to come back and squeal like a pig stuck in mud.
“What the fuck!” I flicked on the light, my heart racing.
With a smirk, Jake laid back on my bed, tucking his hands behind his head. “Wow, Kel! This room hasn’t changed since the last time I climbed through your window.”
ChapterFourteen
Jake
“You got up early,” Mom commented as I stepped inside the kitchen and set my hat on the end of the table. My stomach growled as the smell of bacon wafted from the pan in front of her.
“Wanted to get my chores out of the way before Cassie gets here,” I confirmed, not regretting for a second getting up before the sun. If it meant I got to spend quality time with my girls, then I could sleep when I’m dead.
“Speaking of Cassie…” Mom started, and I froze.
To say this past week had been intense would be an understatement. Mom and I went back and forth arguing over what was right and what wasn’t. She was angry at Kellie for keeping her granddaughter from her, and although I understood her point of view, I couldn’t bring myself to agree.
“Don’t, Mom. Not today. Kellie’s bringing her out here so you can meet her. I don’t want you overwhelming her and scaring her off.”
“Scaring her off? Me?” Mom pouted, looking offended. I wasn’t worried. She’d get over it. Today she wasn’t even in the top two women in my life, and I would do anything I had to to keep the three of them from killing each other.
“All I’m saying is take it one step at a time. This is huge for Cassie.” I softened, accepting the plate buried under eggs, toast, and crispy bacon that had my mouth watering.
We ate in silence, both of us caught up in our heads, and by the time I was done, Mom was already on her feet scrubbing the skillet.
Adding my plate to the dishwasher, I bent down and dropped a kiss on Mom’s cheek. “Thanks for breakfast. I’m going to race upstairs and take a quick shower before they get here.”
“And what are you going to do all day?” Mom asked, spinning around and wiping her hands on a towel.
“I promised Cassie she could help me collect the eggs…”
“Oh shoot!” Mom’s eyes went wide.
“What do you mean, oh shoot?” I asked as a roll of anxiety passed over me.
“I collected the eggs before breakfast,” Mom admitted, looking like she was going to cry.
Juggling was hard, but juggling female emotions was damn near impossible. Every time I’d spoken to Kellie this week, I got the sense there was something behind what she was saying, but I couldn’t place it. When I pressed, she just clammed up, and not being able to look her in the eye and coax the truth out of her didn’t make it any easier. Then there was Mom. She was both exhilarated and terrified of meeting Cassie. She’d vacuumed the house three times this week, and when I assured her Cassie wouldn’t care if the floor was dirty, Mom gave me a look that had me shutting my mouth quickly.
“Mom, it’s fine.”
“It’s not fine. She’s coming to collect the eggs and there won’t be any eggs for her to collect.”
“Mom!” I tried again as I watched her take the eggs back out of the bowl. “What are you doing?” I asked as she headed toward the door, four eggs in her hands.
