Straight Up Love (Boys of Jackson Harbor 2)

“Jake! I’m so sorry I couldn’t talk this weekend. How are you?”

I drag a hand through my hair and pace my apartment, not sure if I can honestly answer that question. On the one hand, I spent the weekend with Ava and have never been better. On the other hand, I’m on the phone with Ava’s stepsister so I can ask her if she had my child four years ago. The idea is so insane that I laugh. “I’m good, I think.”

“You think? You’re helping the love of your life get pregnant. You should be grand.” Molly grunts, obviously unamused by the idea. “So, what’s up?”

“Listen . . .” I clear my throat, unsure where to start. “We were going over your health insurance enrollment and saw that you claimed a dependent.”

“What?” I hear the shock in her voice and know immediately that she understands the reason for my call. “I filled that out on the insurance company’s website. I thought that was confidential.”

“No. It doesn’t work like that.” Fuck. I pace across my living room and back, letting the silence grow between us and waiting for her to explain. “Molly?”

“Is there a problem with me being a mother? Does this mean I can’t work for Jackson Brews?”

I close my eyes and sink into my chair. “You know that’s not why I’m calling.” Another beat. She’s silent. “Ava was there when Brayden asked me about your kid. Even your stepsister didn’t know about him. What the hell is going on?”

“You told Ava? Jesus, is it unreasonable for me to expect that the information I put on confidential forms remains confidential?” She blows

out a hard breath. “What a disaster.”

“You could have told me you ended up pregnant. You don’t keep that from—”

“It’s not your business. This is private.”

“Isn’t it? We were together in August.” I shake my head and tug on a fistful of hair. I’ve been telling myself all weekend that it’s ridiculous to assume that a child born four years ago to a woman I slept with once is mine, but it was easy to tell myself that when I was sure she’d jump right in to name the father. “His birthday is May second.” She is quiet too long. “What am I supposed to do with this information?” I sound as desperate and panicked as I feel.

“Ignore it? Forget it? Never bring it up again?”

“Is he mine?”

She sighs heavily. “He’s my child, Jake. Not yours, and not anyone else’s.”

“How can I believe he’s not mine?” Please give me a fucking reason to believe.

“Noah is mine. I’m his parent, so please don’t ask me any more questions and please don’t talk about it.” She’s silent for a few beats, sighing as if the fight’s gone out of her. When she speaks again, her tone softens. “Can you tell Ava it was a mistake? That I screwed up the form or something?”

“I can’t lie to her about this.” I won’t. I’ve already fucked up enough.

“Why not? You went years without telling her how you feel and then years without mentioning our drunken mistake.”

“Things are different now. Ava and I—”

“I don’t want to know, Jake. Please. You live your life. You enjoy it, but don’t make me listen to details about how special the two of you are together. Just don’t.” Her voice cracks, and I feel it in my chest. I know that ache she’s feeling and wish I’d never done anything to make it worse.

“You can’t keep a child a secret. The father has a right to know.”

“You’re full of assumptions, and I’m done with this conversation. I’m asking you as politely as I know how to forget about this. If I need to find another job, I will.”

And leave her alone and jobless to raise the child? “I didn’t say that. You have to admit that, given the timing, I have a right to ask questions.”

There’s a scrape in the lock. The door swings open and Ava walks in, her face drawn tight. She was so happy when she left here this morning. So was I.

She looks at me and then the phone in my hand.

Molly exhales heavily. “I need to go. I’m not going to talk about this anymore.”

I open my mouth to object, but the call ends before I can say a word. I take the phone from my ear and stare at it.

“Who was that?” Ava asks.