Page 68 of An Unexpected Turn
I’d watched Jake be a great father for months, and it was one of the things I loved the most about him. An unexpected but overpowering yearning washed over me at the sight of him holding a small child. I loved kids and always planned for them in the far-off future, but the picture on my phone was too wonderful not to want in the present.
But first, I had to come clean about being with Jake to family and friends before I dreamed of having his babies.
“Who is Peyton, Unca Jake?” She scrunched her nose as she craned her neck toward Jake.
“She’s someone I like. A lot.” He grinned, holding my eyes. “And I think she likes me too,” he told her in a loud whisper.
“Can she come to play with me? She’s pretty.”
Jake laughed, his deep chuckle squeezing what was left of my heart.
“She isverypretty. I told Grandma all about her, and she wants to meet her too.”
“You did?” I asked, gulping down the surge of emotion that had grown over the last twenty minutes.
“Well, she’s met you. But you were only this size.” Emma giggled as Jake tickled under her arm. “She wants to get to know you, if that’s okay.”
“It’s very okay.” My voice cracked as my chest flooded with both love and frustration. I took a few long inhales through my nostrils as I finally arrived at my breaking point.
“Jake, enough. I’m getting this over with and telling my uncle now.”
“No. Together, and I don’t want you to ruin today with any fights when I’m not there. I want this out as much as you do. One more day won’t make a difference.”
One more day maybe wouldn’t do any more harm, but when one more day became a week and then a month until it became a lie of omission too big to run from—then it made a big difference.
I jumped at a knock behind my head.
“Peyton.” Aiden’s voice drifted through the door. “Aunt Donna said we need to put all the food on the table, and you’re taking too long.”
I groaned, my head falling back against the door with a thud.
“I better go. Call me tonight.”
“Of course. I forgot to ask how you’re feeling today.”
“Okay, better than I should. Sorry I was a sloppy drunk last night.”
“You were an adorable drunk. Happy birthday, sweetheart.”
He pressed two fingers to his mouth and blew me a kiss. My ovaries exploded when Emma did the same.
“Happy Thanksgiving, babe.”
I ended the call and took one more glimpse at the note inside my present.
Love, J
Love ... I’d told him I loved him last night. My blood iced over in my veins as my foggy brain finally cleared. Did he say it back? He seemed fine on the phone, unbothered and even mentioning how he wanted me to get to know his mother, but what had he said after I’d blurted out I love you? As if I didn’t have anything else to worry about today.
I let my head drop between my knees, taking a few deep breaths before I had to pretend this was a normal Thanksgiving and birthday.
I did love Jake. Deeply and completely. Maybe that was why I woke up lighter and not as mopey as I’d been after everyone left last night. It was fast and would look odd to some, but it didn’t have to make sense to anyone else but us. Telling Jake I loved him, even if it took me a bit to remember that I had, gave me amazing and innate relief.
Now, I just needed to tell everyone else.
TWENTY-EIGHT
PEYTON
