AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Call me old-fashioned, honey, but I think it’s important that a man be able to take care of his wife and kids.”
“Wife?” I squeak out the word. What the hell? “How did we jump from first introductions to finances to talking about marriage and traditional gender roles?”
Dad ignores my interruption. “Your mother is more than capable of supporting herself if she wants to go back to work, but it’s important to me that she knows she doesn’t have to, even if something were to happen to me. I want you to have the same kind of security. Now, your college fund will take care of your tuition and housing for the next four years, if not more, but with two kids to support”—he gestures to Lainey nodding off against his shoulder and Grayson yawning on my lap—“you and James are already starting off your relationship at a different stage than most. The stakes are higher, and there are greater financial pressures. And from what your mother has told me about your sleeping habits”—at this, his gaze darkens a bit on James—“there might be more in the near future to support, am I right?”
“Oh, dear god.” I’m sure my cheeks are blazing red, and Mom narrows her eyes in suspicion. “We’re not…”
“You sure about that?” Mom asks, calling my bluff and dipping her eyes to where James has had his hand resting on my jean-clad upper thigh since we sat down on the couch to have this conversation. James’s face pales, and he swallows audibly under their critical gazes.
“Mom…” I plead with her again, but she dismisses it by leaning back against the couch with her legs crossed and her foot swinging, which I know means she’s getting worked up.
She raises an eyebrow. “What if you get into Texas Tech and move away at the end of summer? I know you have savings to pay for Lainey’s childcare while you’re in class, but that’s not going to last forever, especially if you have doctor visits and hospital bills to pay for if you have another baby—”
“I’m not—”
Mom holds up her hand to stop me. “Then you’ll have a newborn and double the childcare expenses. Since you won’t be working for James once you move, you’ll eventually have to get a new job.”
“But I’m not—”
“Yet,” she stresses. “But there’s always a chance, even if you’re being careful. You know that. So, if you do get pregnant, how will that work? Is James going to step up? Send you money so you don’t have to work while recovering from giving birth and caring for a newborn and a toddler while also trying to keep up with school full-time? Can he even afford to step up?”
“Oh sweet Jesus, this is not how I thought this night was going to go.” I drag my palm down my face and turn to James for help, but his face is drawn tight, and my breath stutters as my blood freezes in my veins. We haven’t talked about my plans for college yet, not beyond the fact that I will be going somewhere after I graduate, and I can tell he’s unhappy about being taken off guard. “James…”
Dad clears his throat. “This is what I mean. Look, I know you two are serious about each other. But you have to think of the bigger picture, think of your futures—the kid’s futures, too, and have these conversations before you get in any deeper.” He sighs and gestures to James. “We can dig into your finances later, just the two of us, once you and Shayla have talked.” He checks his watch, and I know we’re approaching when my parents usually turn in for the night. “But answer me this before you go—do you have the inclination and ability to care for my daughter and granddaughter?”
Some of the ice thaws when James looks him square in the eye and says, “I do, and I plan to. Always.”
Dad cracks a smile, and Mom reaches over to pat Dad’s hand. “Well, we’ll settle for that for now. But let’s make an appointment for you to come into my office soon to get into the nitty-gritty.”
James agrees, though I would never expect him to. Mom doesn’t protest when I pack an overnight bag for me and Lainey, then follow James across the street to his house.
My breath turns choppy as panic starts to edge its way in as we do our nightly routine with the babies and put them to bed in their nursery. Never in my wildest imagination did I expect this night to turn out so heavy-hearted, and there are some things I have to fess up to now.
I anxiously tiptoe into James’s bedroom, where he’s waiting for me, seated on the edge of the bed facing the door. He’s already changed into red pajama bottoms, and without his T-shirt on, I’m momentarily distracted by his tight abs.
James clears his throat, and my gaze snaps to his handsome, guarded face. His brows are dipped down, and his lips are pressed together in a hard line.
I hang by the doorway, too scared to move any closer. I’m not worried about my physical safety, of course, because I know James would never hurt me. But I am afraid of how this night might end.
What if he gets so mad about what I’ve been hiding or is so offended by Dad’s questions that he puts the brakes on our relationship? Devastated would be an understatement.
“Angel, come here.” He holds his hand out and motions for me to come closer.
I take a hesitant step toward him. “Please don’t be mad.”
James motions again, and when I’m close enough, he grips my hips and pulls me to stand between his legs. He rubs his hands up and down my sides, draws me a little closer, and says, “I’m not mad, angel. I’m upset that you’ve been keeping something this big from me. I thought we were in this together.”
“We are,” I cry.
“Then why didn’t you tell me you applied to Texas Tech? That’s not a school you can commute to from here, and it fucking terrified me hearing I might be blindsided by you up and moving to Lubbock when I didn’t even know that school was on your radar.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper as a tear falls from the corner of my eye. James pulls me down sideways onto his lap. “I didn’t tell you about applying because I only did it on impulse right before their extended deadline ended after you started teaching me how to code. I just wanted to see if I was good enough to get into their computer science program.”
“You will, angel, I know you will. You’re so smart, and you’ve worked hard to keep your grades up despite all the bullshit you’ve put up with from Tyler and Mr. Heart and all the other assholes you go to school with. And you picked up coding lightning quick—way faster than when I first started. They would be lucky to have you.”
I scoot up his lap and slide my hand through the back of his hair, pulling on it gently to tip his head back. I need to look him right in the eye when I say this next part. “The thought of moving away from you, of not sleeping next to you every night, of not seeing and holding Grayson every day makes me sick to my stomach. That’s why I didn’t tell you I applied—because it doesn’t matter if I get in or not.”
At that confession, his expression takes on a hard edge, and I have to suck in a deep breath to calm my racing heart. “Texas Tech is a great school, and I won’t let you pass on this opportunity. You’re going to be accepted, and you’re going to take it.”
