Straight Up Love (Boys of Jackson Harbor 2)

Maybe Molly was being honest with Jake, and the baby’s not his. While I don’t want to be the woman who can’t get over her jealousy, I know Molly and Jake’s night together will never be easy to swallow. But worse, I’ve realized I’d resigned myself to a life without teaching drama classes or helping kids find themselves through theater. I’d subconsciously begun making plans to pick up more hours at Jackson Brews so I wouldn’t have to leave Jake.

When I realized that, I called Penelope and told her I wanted to schedule an interview for what appears to be my dream job. She was thrilled, but before we got off the phone, I blurted, “I might be pregnant.”

Once the words were out there, I couldn’t take them back. There was a long moment of silence, and my stomach was lodged in my throat while I waited for her to respond. Did I want her to rescind her offer? Or did I want her permission to have my cake and eat it too?

“Well, congratulations,” Penelope finally said. To her credit, she didn’t ask about the father. “We have a fantastic benefits package, and you’d have twelve weeks of maternity leave. Normally, you’d have to be with us twelve months for that benefit to apply, but perhaps that’s something we could negotiate with your contract.”

“It wouldn’t interfere with my ability to launch the summer theater program for next season,” I said, hearing the question in her voice.

“That’s wonderful to hear. We can talk more about some flextime perks when you come down, but please don’t think that we value working mothers less than any other employees.”

And just like that, all my excuses for pushing my plans to the side fizzled away.

“Let me know what you decide,” Colton says now. “If you move down there, maybe Ellie and I can do it at the same time and make it easier on all of us.”

“Colton, that’s crazy. You can’t just up and leave your team so I don’t have to move alone.”

He chuckles and refills his coffee. “It’s cute that you think I’d be doing it for you. The only reason I ever moved back here was because Dad would only pay my tuition if he could keep tabs on me. Then when I started training with Levi, it didn’t make sense to leave.” He shrugs. “I’m ready to go back to Florida. It’s cold as balls here in the winter, and I’m so over it.”

“It might not be Florida,” I admit. “I’m applying for jobs all over. I’m applying for anything that’s mostly drama and theater.”

“Good for you, sis.” He nods. “I’m really proud of you.”

“Thanks.” I look down at the list of supplies I’ve been making for summer theater and shake my head. Everything seems so hard right now, but I remember how debilitated I felt after Harrison left me. If I just take it one day at a time, I’ll be okay.

Ellie’s heels click in the hall at the front of the house. “Anybody home?”

“We’re in the kitchen,” I call.

She comes around the corner and grins when she sees Colt. “Hey, you.”

He looks her over slowly—from the roots of her dark hair down to her three-inch black heels—and grins. “Damn, girl.”

She practically glows under his appraisal, but she waves him off and turns to me. “You hear from Jake yet?”

I nod. “He’s called a couple of times. Texted a couple more.” I grab my phone off the counter and hand it to her, so she can read the messages for herself. Not that there’s much to read. I could probably recite our profound exchanges if I needed to.

Jake: You home?

Me: No.

Jake: When can we talk?

Me: Give me space.

“He’s sure about this?” Ellie asks, eyebrow raised. “Like, totally positive?”

I frown at her. “Sure about what?”

She turns the phone so I can see it, and I see that I’ve missed the latest text.

Jake: Noah isn’t mine. I went to NYC to find out for myself. Please call me.

“Who’s Noah?” Colton asks.

“Don’t read people’s private messages over their shoulders,” Ellie says.

My chest is a tangled mixture of r