“How does she know you’re here? What does she want?”
I sigh again and drop my arm from around Aria as Jacob squirms to be put down. Lowering him to the floor, I slide my eyes to Aria. She has her head down and is gently stroking Annie’s cheek with her finger.
“She called me out of the blue a couple of days ago. She wanted to see Jacob. I told her she couldn’t as I’m here. Next thing I know, she’s at the ranch.”
“God, the nerve of that woman! Has she said where she’s been for the last nine months?” I can hear the anger in Libby’s voice, and I shake my head. “She flew all the way here to see Jacob, when she walked out on you both and didn’t bother for months?”
“She said she’s made a mistake, that she wants a second chance—”
“You aren’t going to give her another chance, are you?” she asks, interrupting me. Her eyes are wide again, and they flick from me to Aria, then back to me.
“Emma, do you think you could take Annie? I need to use the restroom,” Aria says quietly before I can answer. She crosses the room and passes Annie to my mum before slipping silently out of the room.
“Oh God! I meant another chance with Jacob!” Libby cries.
“I know what you meant,” I assure her. “There is no way I want any sort of relationship with Zara.”
“Does Aria know that? You did speak to her, didn’t you? You did tell her you love her?” I shake my head.
“I never got the chance.”
“Go and find her! God knows what she’s thinking.”
The door opens and Mason walks in, two disposable coffee cups in his hands. Smiling, he hands one to Libby before dropping a kiss on her head. “Hey, Jack. Is Aria okay? I just saw her, and she looked upset.”
“Shit!” I drag my hand through my hair and make for the door. “Can you keep an eye on Jacob?”
“Yes, just go and find her!” Libby exclaims.
“What did I miss?” Mason asks as I swing the door open and rush into the hallway. There’s no sign of her as I look up and down the corridor, and I head for the lift, wondering if she’s gone outside for some air.
As the lift doors open on the ground floor, I catch sight of her outside the main entrance. She’s sitting on a bench, her head back and her eyes closed. Walking outside, I silently sit next to her.
“Aria,” I whisper, my hand resting on the bare skin of her leg. Her head flies up and she jumps.
“Shit, Jack. You scared me.”
“I’m sorry, baby.” Her eyes are swimming with tears, and my heart twists as I realize I put them there.
“Aria,” I whisper again, and she drops her eyes and shakes her head.
“It’s okay. I understand.”
“Understand what?”
“That you have to try again with Zara. For Jacob.”
“Look at me.”
She takes a deep breath before her eyes meet mine. “That’s not what I want.”
“It isn’t?” Her voice is barely above a whisper, and I turn to face her, taking her hand in mine.
“No. Zara showing up doesn’t change what’s happening with us.”
She raises her eyebrows. “It doesn’t? I can’t see how it won’t. You have a shot at being a family again, Jack. I don’t want to be the reason that doesn’t happen.”
“You don’t get it, do you?”