And I was the very last person to see it coming.I toss this Sunday’s edition of the paper down on the table in front of me and look up into the eyes of the man I love. Jake is laughing at something Chloe says as he leans against the dessert case at Grey Street Coffee, but his eyes are on me.
He looks the best he’s ever looked—of course—and I know this time, it’s because I know he’s mine.
I pick up my coffee cup and take a sip while he and Chloe wait for our brownies, and I think about everything that’s changed for the better in the last week and a half.
For one, I’m not stuck in an office between Fritz and Gianna anymore, and I know for a fact that I won’t ever have to run another dating contest for the Tribune ever again. Some might view my move to beat reporter as a demotion, but to be honest, it feels like a victory. After getting out and chasing stories for the last week, I realize that’s what I should have been doing all along. The only person I won’t admit that to is Gloria—I’m pretty sure she’ll move me again if she doesn’t feel like I’m suffering some kind of punishment.
Still, at the end of the day, I’m happy, and that’s all that really matters.
In other news, I have a lot more senders of messages than my dad, and I never have time to feel alone. Jake and Chloe have my schedule of free time all booked up, and by God, it’s been fun.
Jake and Chloe finally make their way back from the counter, brownies in hand and smiles on their faces, so I scoot the discarded paper out of the way and move my phone so they can take their seats.
It’s only when Jake sits down across from me and pulls up his sleeve that I notice the fresh ink at the bottom of his tattoo sleeve.
“What’s that?” I ask, pushing his hand out of the way and tracing the new design.
It’s a doodled heart. One I recognize all too well. My heart picks up to the speed of a jackhammer, pounding in my chest.
“What?” Jake deflects, so obviously pretending not to know what I’m talking about, it’s obnoxious.
“That,” I say, reaching out to touch it with my finger.
“Oh,” he says, a smile settling onto his face and lighting up his eyes. “That’s for you. I had more to add to my story.”
I almost hyperventilate, but somehow, manage to keep it together enough to speak. “It’s just like the one from the paper.”
He nods, a teasing light coming into his eyes as I take a sip of coffee. “It should be. I had your dog do it.”
I sputter and spew coffee everywhere.
Jesus. He remembers. He remembers me making a fool of myself that very first day, all the way down to the insane excuse I gave for the doodle around his ad. “My dog did that.”
Chloe shakes her head like we’re crazy, but I lean across the table and touch my lips to his.
Yep. Never been happier.Four weeks later…
HolleyCheryl smiles at me as she walks into the examining room, dons a pair of gloves, and dips a test strip into my cup of pee.
I shake nervously as I see her lay the strip on the side of sink and watch as it develops. It’s been about six weeks since Jake and I slept together the first time and about five since I realized I could be pregnant, and it has been the longest time of my life. Mostly because I’ve been carrying the possibility around like a secret, waiting to get real confirmation before bringing Jake into the loop. Chloe, though, having been there for my initial breakdown, has been silently supportive and celebratory ever since.
I’ve managed to talk myself into being happy with either result, but the truth is, I’ve kind of gotten attached to the possibility of growing our family a little. Because that’s what Jake and Chloe are to me—my family.
Cheryl freezes as the test strip develops, and everything inside me shatters into a million happy pieces. Her smile is huge as she turns to face me and holds the strip up in explanation.
“I guess you changed your minds?” she asks, obviously remembering my last appointment when Jake put on a whole pretend show for the office staff and told them we were together.
Now, though, it’s no longer pretend.
Thank everything for that.
I smile. “I guess we did.”
The truth is, I can’t believe how far we’ve come in such a short time. But more than that, I can’t believe how believable it feels. Right. Like the best thing that’s ever happened to me by a long shot.
“Have you told Jake yet?”
I smile and laugh at the fact that she remembers our previous interaction well enough to remember his name, and I shake my head. I guess he just leaves that kind of impression on people. Hell, I couldn’t have forgotten anything about him after the first time I met him if I tried.