“I’ll feed Edward and stay with him until you get back.”
“Jackson, you don’t have to do that.”
He takes his eyes off the road to flash me one of his megawatt smiles.
“What if I want to?”
“You’ve already done a lot today. I’m sure the last thing you want to do . . .”
I don’t finish the sentence. I can’t. Because I’m starting to believe Jackson is exactly where he wants to be. I’m not a burden to him, and neither is my son. The realization renders me speechless.
He sneaks another glance my way. “You don’t get it yet, do you?” His eyes return to the road.
“Get what?” I whisper.
“I want to be everything you and Edward need.”
“Jackson, I—” I need to tell him about my date with Clint.
“It’s okay,” he interrupts before I find the right words. “You take as much time as you need. I’ve got the rest of my life.”
For the second time today, I’m at a loss for words.
The sign welcoming us back to Wilder Valley sits on the side of the highway. We pass it, and I realize we’re out of time. I want to have this conversation with Jackson, but not when we’re rushed or whenmy son might wake up and overhear. As terrifying as it is, I’m ready to be honest about my feelings and lay everything on the line.
“If I drop you at Sarah’s, can someone bring you home?” Jackson asks, interrupting my thoughts. “That way you won’t be too late.” The digital clock on the dashboard already reads ten past five.
“Let me ask.” I pull out my phone and fire off a text to the group chat. Within minutes I’m rewarded with several offers. “Ride home secured. But don’t feel like you have to. I can help you unload all of this first.”
“Don’t be silly,” he says, nodding ahead to the exit for Sarah and Aiden’s neighborhood. “We’re driving right past it.”
“Thanks.” It’s an unfamiliar role, playing the passenger princess. I’m used to making all the decisions, and doing all the work. It feels good to let someone else drive. To let someone else take care of us.
It’s not until we turn onto Sarah’s street that I realize everyone is going to recognize Jackson’s truck. “Right here is fine,” I instruct, panic fueling my demand.
“Here?” His brows knit with confusion.
“Right here,” I demand. “Stop.”
Jackson pulls to the side of the road, but doesn’t put the vehicle in park.
“Rosalie, I’m not gonna make you hike down the road.” His expression is full of questioning. But I don’t have to explain; he reaches the answer on his own. “Oh.” The dejection in his tone causes me physical pain.
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t want anyone to see that it’s me dropping you off.”
“It’s not that,” I quickly reply.
“It’s not?”
“Okay, it is a little.” I sigh, glancing back to make sure Edward is still sleeping soundly. “Everyone will be up in our business. You don’t get how overwhelming our group chat can be.”
“Half of them are in my family group chat.”
“So, you get it, then. How much they’ll insert their opinions?” I’mnot explaining this right, but I try to make him understand. “These last few weeks, I’ve seen a side of you that I want to know more, but if we let everyone in, that changes.”
“Yeah.” He nods, but the hurt on his face is still there.Dammit.
