I managed to drag my sorry ass out of bed, shower, and dress by the time Jace was due to arrive. I actually felt a little bit more human, though I wasn’t thrilled about my skinny jeans feeling unusually uncomfortable. I even made the effort to braid my long hair and was playing with it over my shoulder when Jace knocked on the front door. It opened a moment later and his voice rang out as I gave myself one final pep talk.
The great hulk of a man materialised in front of me, blowing on his frozen hands. “Shit, it’s cold as balls out there.”
I giggled when he tucked his hands into his armpits. “You’re such a pussy.”
“Can’t help it if I feel the cold more than the average person,” he defended himself indignantly. “Oh, hey, I should have asked you yesterday; do you need some of those preggo vitamins I have no idea about?”
Andback to reality. I gulped. “Nope. I’m sorted for those. Got some the same day I found out. Thanks, though.”
And I meant it. He really could be sweet when he wanted.
“I’ve also contacted a midwife but won’t see her until eight weeks along.”
A furrow formed between his eyebrows. “Why eight?”
“Just in case I don’t make it that far,” I said quietly and avoided looking at him. As unexpected as this baby was, I hated thinking about losing it.
I heard him swallow as my confession sank in. “Oh,” he whispered. “Maybe we should hold off telling my parents…”
“No, it’s okay. I want them to know. Even though at the same time I don’t.”
Jace wrapped me in a hug. It wasn’t romantic or forced; it was simply exactly what I needed. Reassurance.
“C’mon, J, let’s go inform Mum and Dad they’re going to be grandparents.”
A pang shot through me, and I had to ask him something before we took another step. “Aren’t you dating now? How was it?”
Jace stopped dead, then adjusted his beanie. “A flop.”
Regret lingered in his gaze, and it filled me with guilt. “Sorry for wrecking your night. I did warn you, though.”
He gave a quick snort. “I managed that all on my own. I should have cancelled, but it was too late in the day. Anna could see I was preoccupied, and if it wasn’t already as awkward as hell, she told me to call her once I’d worked through whatever was on my mind. Turns out, it’s hard to focus on a date when you’ve just been told you’re a baby daddy to another woman.”
I cringed. Put like that, it sounded terrible. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out,” I lied.
Jace shrugged. “Wasn’t meant to be right now. Let’s go.”
The “right now” comment didn’t sit well in my heart. It burned a tiny circle of jealousy within me, which became forgotten as soon as Jace placed his hand on my lower back and guided me down the hallway.
Before climbing into his truck, I paused and turned to face him. “Do you mind if we stop by my parents’ house afterward? I’ve yet to tell Papi and could really use some back up,” I admitted, smiling shyly into his pretty coloured eyes.
“Of course, sweetheart. As long as I’m by the exit so I can make a quick getaway if needed,” he joked while I got seated.
“You and me both.”
ELEVEN
JACE
I glanced over at Jax when I pulled to a stop in Mum and Dad’s driveway to see her lips contorted in a nauseated grimace. She let out a controlled exhale and gripped the passenger seat on either side of her hips.
I set my hand on her knee and squeezed gently. “Ready?”
She gave me a fleeting smile that failed to reach her eyes; those held trepidation that matched my own. “As I’ll ever be. I hope she hasn’t cooked a massive lamb roast or something. I can’t stomach anything remotely fatty right now.”
“I requested chicken soup and homemade bread. Would that be okay?”
Relief flooded through her expression and managed to release some of the tightness in my chest.