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“You there, Drake?”
“I’m here,” I rasped.
“I need to get going, and I promise I won’t say anything, but if I had to bet her entire fortune, I would say she already knows.”
“What?” I straightened, frowning across the gym.
“She was hawk-eyed over you both the morning we left New York. I could hear her mind working as she studied your every move while we ate brunch. She might have been distracted the night before, but sleep had returned her mind to its usual observant sharpness.”
“But she hasn’t said anything to you? At all?” I doubled-checked.
“No. She likes to figure shit out in her brain before making a plan of action. Our whirlwind romance and fast marriage was definitely out of the ordinary for her, but usually she’s very calculated in her thought process.
“Lately,” Dad continued, “she’s been self-reflecting. Figuring out the rest of her life and what it looks like—who she is—outside the office. She’s changing and definitely for the best. Yesterday, we were on the beach and passed two gay couples walking hand-in-hand, and Jacqueline didn’t say a word. She didn’t even scowl at them or mutter under her breath like she’d have done months ago. I think if you’re patient enough, she’ll eventually come around.”
Patience. Something I fucking struggled with when it came to Preston.
“Did she tell you about the conversation she had with Preston on Friday?” I asked.
“I was in another room with the doors open between us and heard every word since she had him on speaker.”
I shook my head, surprised by all Preston had told me. “I never expected her to get her head out of her ass and apologize for being a shitty mom.”
“Like I said, she’s doing a lot of reflection practices. Journaling. Recognizing her faults and admitting to them. That’s the first step toward change, Drake. That’s why I’m telling you to hang in there.”
What else could I do?
The selfish part of me didn’t want to wait to claim Preston publicly, but doing so might still cause waves when he and Jacqueline were rebuilding a relationship torn apart by hurt and bitterness.
Love came with the greatest of emotions yet the worst pain a man could ever experience.
Worth the risk, Dad had said.
I chose to believe him.
“Love you, Dad,” I rasped.
“Love you too, little buddy.”
Chapter 29
Preston
Drake stood outside my door on Wednesday night, his focus on the peephole I stared through.
My stomach fluttered, and I told myself not to answer, but my hand didn’t listen. It’d been much too long since I’d seen Drake, and I couldn’t help myself.
“Hey,” he greeted me, his smile a little hesitant as I swung the door inward. “Can I come in?”
At least he didn’t barrel inside like he’d done last time he’d shown up at my condo.
I stepped back, all of my senses going on high alert as he moved past me. God, he smelled good. Like soap, dryer sheets, and the love of my life. A shiver licked down my spine, and I swallowed hard, locking us in together.
Not exactly close proximity compared to what we’d experienced in that elevator but enough my skin tingled from his nearness.
I stayed close by the door, keeping distance between us. Unsure as to why he’d shown up unannounced and uninvited, I gave him a quick once-over. He’d styled his hair, wore a blue T-shirt the same color as his bright eyes and dark jeans that hugged his thick thighs to perfection.
My mouth watered, and I tore my focus off his lower half for his face.
