I blinked, caught off guard. “Youknew? And you didn’t say anything?”
“Why would I? I trust you to handle your life, Charlie. Besides, I’m your brother, not Mom. My job isn’t to judge—it’s to make sure you’re okay.”
I folded my arms, feeling both relieved and mildly annoyed. “So you’re not mad at me for keeping it from you?”
“Mad? No. Annoyed you didn’t tell me sooner? Sure,” he said, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. “But more than anything, I’m just trying to figure out why youthought I’d freak out. You’re married to someone you clearly love, fake or not. I don’t see the problem.”
“The problem,” I said, my voice rising slightly, “is that it’s a mess. Austin’s life is complicated, and now so is mine. And I dragged you into this by spilling it all.”
He studied me for a moment. “You know, bringing a child into the world is terrifying. It’s a huge responsibility, and it changes everything. But from what you’ve told me, Austin’s trying to do the right thing, and he probably needs support now more than ever. You willfully supported him enough to marry him—what’s stopping you from supporting him now?”
“Because I’m scared. Scared of what this means for us. Scared that no matter how much I love him, this changes everything.” I hesitated, my throat tightening. “And... maybe a little jealous.”
“Jealous?”
“Of his ex. I know she’s engaged to someone else, but now, with the child, I can’t shake this feeling that they could end up being this big, happy family without me. Like there’s a bond between them I’ll never be a part of, no matter how much he says he loves me.”
My brother furrowed his brows. “Charlie, that kind of bond doesn’t erase what you have with him. Love isn’t some limited thing that gets used up on one person or situation. If Austin loves you—and it sounds like he does—it doesn’t mean less just because he’s a dad now. Families don’t have to look a certain way to be happy. If you keep holding onto this jealousy, you’re going to make it impossible to see where you actually fit in all of this.”
I swallowed hard, another fear unearthed. “What if I don’t fit at all?”
Jacob’s gaze didn’t waver. “Charlie, life’s messy. Love’s even messier. If you want a life that matters, you don’t get to back away just because it’s complicated. You don’t have to be perfect,and you don’t have to have all the answers, but you do have to show up. For him, for the child, and especially for yourself. That’s what real love is—showing up, even when it’s hard.”
Show up.
The one thing I hadn’t done. Instead, I’d run. I hadn’t just physically left Austin—I’d emotionally shut down too, pulling away the second things got messy. I told myself I needed space, time to think, but the truth was, I was scared. Scared of the child, of his ex, of the life I hadn’t signed up for but found myself tangled in. Scared of being second best again.
Running had been easier than showing up, easier than facing the fear that maybe I wasn’t enough for this new version of Austin’s life. But as Jacob’s words echoed in my mind, I couldn’t ignore the truth anymore. Avoiding it wasn’t solving anything. It was only making the distance between us grow wider, harder to bridge.
Jacob was right. If I wanted a place in Austin’s life, I’d have to fight for it. Fight for us. Fight for me. But first, I’d have to stop running.
I blinked, breaking the heavy moment. “Why do you know all this stuff? You’re always working. Shouldn’t you be buried in spreadsheets or something?”
Jacob laughed. “I work because I want more than just a big paycheck, Charlie. I want a family one day—a real one. I don’t want to work for nothing. I want a wife, kids, the whole deal. I’m just telling you what I hope you’d tell me one day if I ever needed it.”
I playfully slapped his shoulder and laughed. “I promise I will. You’re stuck with me, remember?”
He grinned.
I yawned and stretched out in my seat. “I think I’m ready to call it a night,” I said, the exhaustion finally winning out.
Jacob nodded, his tone softening. “Get some rest, Charlie. Tomorrow’s a new day to figure it all out.”
I stood, the heaviness of everything we’d talked about settling deep in my chest, but for the first time in a while, it didn’t feel unbearable. As I walked toward the guest room, Jacob’s words played on a loop in my mind.
Show up.
I closed the door behind me and leaned against it for a moment, taking in the dimly lit room. The bed looked just as inviting as before, but this time, it wasn’t just exhaustion pulling me toward it—it was something else. I’d been running long enough. Tomorrow, I’d figure out what showing up really meant.
Pulling the blanket over me, I sank into the mattress. The weight of the day slowly faded as I closed my eyes, letting uneasy resolve carry me into the night.
42
austin
After I parked in the parking lot, I texted Charlie. I hadn’t heard from her since our phone call.
Going to meet Scarlette. Maybe we can chat later today.
