Thatwas the difference between him and Nick. I loved the idea of Nick and the relationship I wanted us to have. But I was falling in love with Jeremiah.
“Then maybe don’t give up on him just yet,” said Erica with a gentle nudge.
“Things aren’t so black and white anymore,” said Gabriella. “There’s a baby in the picture now.Yourbaby.Hisbaby, too. He deserves to know his child.”
If he even wanted to.
“I would never keep him away,” I said softly. “I just don’t know if he will ever take the role of being a father wholeheartedly. And because of that, I don’t know if we can continue our relationship. Or whatever we are.”
I got quiet for a moment and looked out across the park. I watched as a set of parents watched their baby girl crawl through the grass, chasing a butterfly. They held hands as their loving gaze followed her every move. My heart ached at how much I wanted that to be Jeremiah and me.
“I think I want more than he can give,” I said, still watching the family. “And I think he wants more than I am willing to give. The pressure to be what he wants is too much. Maybe I’m just not his person…”
The thought broke my heart.
“You have to tell him that,” said Erica softly, putting her hand on my shoulder.
“Just talk things out, okay?” said Gabriella.
I nodded and took another sip of lemonade. I let out a long breath and plastered a smile on my face.
“Enough about me,” I said with a shake of my head. “What’s going on with you, Gabby?”
A slow smile spread across her lips as she looked at me and Erica.
“What?” asked Erica suspiciously.
“I may have some news…” she teased.
My heart did a flip, wondering what it could be. Gabriella stayed quiet, the smile still on her lips. She was enjoying taunting us.
“What?” I asked loudly, wanting to shake it out of her through the phone.
“I’m moving to the Big Apple, baby!” she yelled.
Erica and I squealed loudly and clung to each other as we celebrated the news. We would all be together soon. It was the silver lining to my life on this cloudless day.
Chapter 44
Jeremiah
The office was empty, which wasn’t surprising because it was just before 7 a.m. and the employees had grown a little more lax since the rumors about Sadie and me had been swirling around the office. It was as if no one was quite as intimidated as before with what they held over me. It pissed me off. My whole thing was having power through fear and intimidation, and it seemed as if that power was dwindling.
But today, I would let it slide that no one was here two hours early, trying to impress me. Because I had a meeting with John, the private investigator I had hired last week. He had called late last night saying he had news. He must be good to have dug something up in just a couple of days.
I had left the apartment without saying goodbye to Sadie. She was still sleeping and looked so peaceful when I checked on her this morning. I didn’t want to disturb her. After the week we hadhad, between our own fight, to the brawl with Anderson in the park, to spending the rest of the weekend having makeup sex, it was probably best for her and the baby to get some sleep.
Plus, I knew me hiring a private investigator was a touchy subject. She just couldn’t understand my need for answers. I wished she understood I was doing this for her, too. Someone was out to take me down, and she was simply a casualty in the mess.
I stepped into my office and took a seat at my desk, my insides screaming for the coffee I didn’t have time to make this morning. As I waited for John to arrive, I drummed my fingers on the glossy, wooden surface of my desk, scanning the empty office past my window. I tried to figure out who would be behind these rumors, but it was impossible. Everyone had a motive. That was what it was like when you were rich and in power. People did just about anything to either have a taste of it or take you down.
A knock against the doorframe brought me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see John carrying his briefcase and wearing a tight-lipped smile.
“John. Thank you for meeting me so early,” I said, standing up to shake his hand, which he took firmly in his.
“Not a problem. I’m up early. I do my best work in the morning.”
I nodded, gesturing for him to take the seat across from me.
