The Mrs. Degree (Accidentally in Love 2)

I cringe.

But it’s true, she did.

“You know she’s going to be asking about him nonstop now. What do you plan on doing? Like what’s the next step?” He watches us intently, always keeping it real, pushing the envelope, and wanting to be honest.

It’s now or never.

I have to tell him the plan, tentative or not. “Well.” I clear my throat, uncomfortable.

Jack puts his hand on my lower back. “We’ve been talking about moving in together. Or at least, for this football season or after it. Sooner than later, though we don’t have firm details.”

Davis stills, then nods slowly. “Makes sense.”

I wish I could read his mind.

“It’s only been days since the subject was brought up,” I say hastily, wanting to ease the hurt he’s probably feeling. “It just feels like the right thing to do, especially now that she knows. She’s growing attached, and I want their bond to be strong. I…”

Owe it to him.

Of course, I don’t say those four words out loud. To my brother, they might sound self-deprecating. To my brother, he might say I don’t owe Jack shit.

“No, man, it makes sense. Penelope, I get it. I would do the same thing. If I found out Juliet and I had a child, I would want to be there for her, and I understand that Jack’s life is in Colorado—not that his is any more important than yours, but it’s not as if he can pack up and move at the start of an NFL football season. And I understand how you wouldn’t want to wait five months.”

Five months isn’t that long when I think about it.

“We have a few options.” Jack scratches his chin. “I can buy this house from you so this can be home in the off-season—or we can go house hunting and get something different, although I realize you might take an aversion to that.”

Davis looks at me, and I feel a blush creeping onto my cheeks. This isn’t at all how I’d planned to discuss this with him. I’d planned to sit him down quietly, maybe over dinner, just the two of us, and break the news.

No time like the present, they say.

And Jack dives right in.

The thing with my brother? He’s always been supportive even when my decisions have been stupid and foolish and irresponsible, and I can see him thinking through Jack’s words.

“I think keeping the house is a great option for now. It will buy you time to figure out what you really want to do and where you want to be. It’s big enough for the three of you, plus another one—ha-ha.” He laughs. “We’ll just operate business as usual until you have a plan, yeah?”

We all nod, but I feel sick to my stomach.

Why is being an adult so hard?

Why do I feel like I’m disappointing my brother in the process of making my partner and daughter happy?

This sucks.

“Penn,” Davis says. “Look at me.”

I look at him.

“This is what I want for you. Stop feeling guilty. This isn’t about me, do you hear me? It’s time you did what’s right for you. The only thing you’ve done for seven years is do what’s right for Skipper, and the right thing for her now is her dad.” He nods toward Jack, who has his hand on my shoulder. “I’m not going to be pissed if the house is empty for a few months. I can come to see you in Colorado. It’s not the end of the world.”

I break away from Jack and go to my brother, hugging him as if our lives depended on it.

“You’ve always been here for me. When am I going to be there for you?”

He squeezes me hard. “What are you talking about? When Mom died, you were all I had. When I broke up with Willa, who was there for me? You were. I love you, sis. It’s time to be a little selfish and do something for you for once.”

The tears stream down my face and onto his polo shirt. “I love you.”

Another pair of arms go around me as Jack makes the hug a sandwich, squishing my brother and me.

“I want a hug.”

“Dude,” my brother eeks out. “You’re making this weird.”

“Dude, get used to it.”

Epilogue

Jack

Four months later…ish

It’s been years since I’ve been to an actual Super Bowl Party at the stadium, typically choosing to stay in the comfort of my own home if my team isn’t playing.

But this year is different. This year, I have Penelope and Skipper. And this year? I want to show her off to my friends.

So we flew to Detroit for the occasion, which is where the game is being played, and I’m so glad we did. The party has been a blast; food, booze, swag. Elias hasn’t missed a beat, throwing together a table for the women of donated cosmetics, apparel, and jewelry in lacquered black gift bags Penelope was giddy over.