“I’m going to head back to Tennessee.”
“You really live in Tennessee now?”
“Yeah. I’ve been working on a horse ranch there. I’ve enjoyed it and I’m not ready to leave just yet. Besides, we both know I need to give you and Jake some space—Lennon too, for that matter. You all need time to build your family and you don’t need to do it with me standing in the wings. I’ve done entirely too much of that in my lifetime.”
Katie sighs. “I’m so sorry, Jeff. I truly never meant to hurt you.”
“I know that, sweetheart. That’s the thing about love. You can’t really control it. It has a will of its own.”
“It does,” she whispers.
“Stop feeling guilty. I don’t want that. Hell, you tried to warn me constantly. I’m just stubborn as a mule and didn’t listen. I do hope my brother will finally realize how lucky he is.”
“I do,” Jake says, coming out of the bedroom. “Lennon wants to talk to his mommy,” he adds, kissing Katie’s forehead.
“But—”
“It’s okay, Katie. We’ve said all there needs to be said between us. Besides, I need to be leaving.”
Seeing them together hurts like hell. There really is no place for me here now. I don’t guess there ever was—no matter how much I tried to create one. This was always Jake’s family. I clear my throat. I need a fucking drink.
“You and I should talk, Jeff. I would do it now, but I need to be with my son. Still, we need to discuss everything. Lennon is right. We’re all family.”
That shocks the hell out of me. It is the last thing I expected to hear from Jake. I’m not sure how I feel about it, but I just nod. “I’ll be at Mom’s. I’m not heading back to Tennessee for a bit. I have some loose ends to tie up first.”
“Tomorrow,” Jake agrees, helping Katie to maneuver her walker as they turn toward the hall and to Lennon’s room.
I watch the woman I love—have always loved—walk away with my brother and the pain burns, but there’s a sense of completion too. This is it. There’s no questions, no uncertainty any longer. My past with Katie is just that…my past.
She looks over her shoulder and I know she can see the sadness on my face. I see some in hers, too. This is our ending.It’s over.I give her a sad smile and she gives me the same. Then, Katie walks away from me.
Forever.
CHAPTER 12
Jake
“You’re quiet tonight, Sunshine,” I murmur, hugging my woman tight.
We’re lying in bed just enjoying the silence. Katie just got done tucking Lennon in. He let me read to him earlier and he hugged me. It’s a simple thing, but it makes me feel as if I won the damn lottery.
“It’s been a busy day,” she finally responds. I breathe out, silently agreeing. “It’s been a good one, though,” she adds, turning so she can look up at me. “Our son finally knows the truth.”
“It’s been a very good day,” I admit. “I think he might even like me now—at least a little.”
“Lennon loves you. He just heard something he shouldn’t have and didn’t know how to process it,” Katie argues. I know she’s right. I don’t know if Lennon loves me, but I finally feel like there’s a chance he could and for now, that is enough.
“We have time. I’ll win him over completely.”
“I have no doubt. I mean, you won his mother over not once but twice,” she jokes while I tilt my head down to kiss her. It’s a kiss that is way too brief. Still, having Katie in my arms andin this bed is a gift that I thought would never be mine.I’m grateful.
“Please don’t fight with Jeff tomorrow,” she pleads. “We need to put the past behind us.”
“Stop worrying, sweetheart. I’m not going to say I completely forgive my brother. I’m not sure that’s possible right now. He did, however, make it easier for Lennon and he asked my son to give me a chance. I also saw the regret on my brother’s face. It doesn’t make everything between us magically go away, but I can’t say I don’t understand.”
“Understand?” she asks, and I force myself to look down at her.
“Baby, if the shoes were reversed, I can’t say that I wouldn’t have done the same thing. I fucked up so epically it’s scary. If I suddenly got the chance to get you back in my arms, I would have taken it. Having your sweetness? I couldn’t willingly give that up, Sunshine. So, how can I blame my brother?”