Chapter 27

“I don’t want her; I didn’t want her. It was a stupid drunken mistake. I’ll be there for the baby, but she means nothing as far as she and I are concerned. It’s you. It will always be you.” His fingertip traces my eyebrow gently, then smooths back a strand of my hair that’s fallen forward. I see only the truth in his eyes, which pushes me to find the courage to go on.

“How do you feel about the baby?” I ask. He frowns, wondering where I’m going with this, but he’s my Jake now, and I get to ask him this because he loves me. That thought gives me confidence and power, opening parts of me that I never knew I had. I want to know everything that’s ravaged my mind for weeks.

“I’d be lying if I said I was happy; I’m not. But I did this, and I need to take responsibility. I hadn’t ever thought about having kids, so this is all pretty overwhelming.” He screws his face up cutely, looking far too appealing.

“Don’t walk away from your child,” I state. I know better than anyone