The Truest Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 4)

He didn’t have those words.

Bailey had suggested he write a letter.

But Jack realized that even if he did, Emery wasn’t in a place to believe him.

Yeah, he knew his girl was a romantic, but there was something

deeper here. He knew it went back to her family. To something that happened to her as a kid. Maybe even with a boy. Em hadn’t been a virgin when they’d slept together. Someone else might have broken her heart before he ever unintentionally broke it too.

No. For the first time in her life, his romantic Emery didn’t need words.

She needed actions.

And they were having a baby together, which meant he had a legitimate excuse to monopolize her time.

In fact, Jack had about seven months.

Seven months to prove through action that he could deserve her. That he loved her beyond reason or doubt. That he would lay down his life for her and his kid.

That he wasn’t going anywhere.

No more prioritizing his family over her. She was right. He’d done what he could for them. Now Emery and the baby growing in her belly were his family.

“Okay.”

Her wet eyes flew to his in shock. “Okay?”

She’d been expecting a fight.

He wouldn’t do that.

His fight for her heart would be the stealthy kind.

“This isn’t about me or what I want. This is about you and our kid.” He sighed heavily. “You don’t want to be in a relationship, then fine. But I will be involved like any father would be. I’m talking doctor’s appointments, picking out shit for the nursery, answering my cell at two in the morning because you can’t sleep or you have a craving for pickles and mint chocolate chip ice cream.”

She opened her mouth, looking ready to protest.

He cut her off. “I mean it, Em. This is my kid too. I want to be there for all of that.”

Jack waited anxiously for her to agree. She had to agree.

Finally, she nodded. “Okay.”

He tried not to look too relieved. “Can I get you anything now?”

“No, I’m fine. I … uh … I’m tired, actually.”

“Then I’ll leave you be. But I’ll be back, Em. I’m not going anywhere.”

28

Emery

It came as no surprise that Iris was the first person at my door the next day. The store was closed on Sundays, so I thankfully didn’t have to face the gossips just yet. I had missed calls from my friends, which I intended to return.

Especially when I saw Iris on my porch.

I knew the girls (excluding Bailey who was probably already at the airport on the way to her honeymoon) would be worried enough to descend on my house in Iris’s wake.