Jake grinned that charming, ruggedly handsome smile at me. “Aww, c’mon, just tell me, honey.”
“I- I can’t.”
His hand touched my chin and tilted my face up. “Hey, I’m not going anywhere, Chelsea. You can tell me anything, and I’m not going any-”
“I’m pregnant.”
The words just fell out of my mouth, and for one horrified second, I was trying to figure out how to take them back, or pretend it was a joke, when suddenly, I didn’t have to.
Because he was kissing me, fiercely; pulling my much smaller, young body against his and wrapping me in his arms.
“You’re not mad?” I whispered.
“Mad?” His whole face glowed as he grinned at me as he peppered my lips with kisses and held me wrapped in his arms. “Honey, that’s the most amazing thing anyone’s ever told me-”
“WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!”
The sound of my father’s voice shattered the stillness of the backyard. And then it was like a dream or something, as I turned in slow motion and watched my enraged looking father come storming down the backstairs towards us. And there was my mother, and Dennis, and Lenore for some reason, all standing on the back porch staring at us in horror.
Oh my God.
And that’s when my dad lunged at Jake, his fist raised.
Chapter 24:
Jake
Holy shit, pregnant. Chelsea was pregnant with my kid? It was like time stopped around me and the world slowed to a standstill as the news sunk in.
Holy shit, she was having our baby.
I could feel my whole heart soar as the news sunk in, and it was so fucking nuts that I almost don’t realize it when Mike lunged at me with his fist raised.
But suddenly the world came rushing back, and suddenly I was very aware that one of my oldest buddies was about to murder me with his bare fucking hands.
“Stop! Dad stop!” Suddenly, Chelsea was between us, one hand and her body pressed against my chest as if shielding me, and the other outstretched to stop her father.
Mike did stop, but his whole face was a mask of fury as he barred his teeth at me. “You keep away from my daughter you fucking piece of-”
“Dad I love him.”
The words were like the breaking of glass in the frozen scene of the backyard; like a collective pause and intake of breath. Mike slowly shook his head, glaring at her. “You don’t. You don’t know what you’re saying, Chelsea.”
“I do, dad!” She suddenly threw her arms around me, hugging me fiercely. It was like instinct as I felt my arms go around her; like the base primal need to protect and comfort my mate or something. I didn’t even care that Mike and Sarah’s faces flinched as they watched me hold their daughter, because the time for secrets was over.
“And he loves me, dad,” Chelsea said softly, and I could feel her heartbeat hammering against my chest.
Mike dragged his eyes back up to mine. “Get away from her, Jake,” he said evenly. “You know I’ve got a gun in the house, and old buddy or not, I’m prepared to use it.”
“Jesus, Mike!” Sarah hissed from the back porch.
“I’m warning you, Jake.” Mike’s face was drawn and haggard looking. “You ever come near her again, or contact her, and I’ll kill you. Understand?”
And right then, I knew it was time to stop all this. Right then, I knew it was time to step up and be the man I knew I was, and the man I knew I could be.
For her.
“Mike, Sarah?” My voice was sharp, and they both looked at me. “I love her,” I said evenly, my arms tightening protectively around Chelsea. “I love her with everything I have, and she love me.”