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My brother, sister-in-law, parents, Bea, Shira, even Marina. They had all pushed me to move on. To reach for happiness with both hands.
“Yes. A whole team of people.”
“Good for you, girl.” She nudged me with her shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’m going to push his stubborn ass. Obviously, his team hasn’t been after him enough. I’m on it now.”
“Does anyone say no to you?” I asked.
She grinned. “Not if I can help it.”
When we got back to my house, I put Nellie down for a nap and joined Jake on the deck, his feet kicked up on the rail, his hands clasped at his middle. I tucked myself beside him on the padded bench, resting my head on his shoulder.
“Do you know I love Carly?”
He let out a startled chuckle. “Do you? Why’s that?”
“She’s just so blunt yet peppy. She reminds me of Saoirse.”
His eyes narrowed on me. “What were the two of you talking about?”
“You.”
He took my chin between his fingers. “Don’t know if I like you teaming up with her. It could be dangerous.”
“Considering I only see her at random, I don’t think you have to worry about us forming a team. We’d have to see each other far more often for that.”
His eyes swept over me like he was looking for something. Up and down, left and right, he examined me.
“You want to see Carly more?”
“It’s not that.” I pressed my lips together. “I think…I would like to be let in to your world a little more. Only having every other week with you is becoming more and more difficult for me.”
His eyes darted with what I feared was panic, so I hurried to amend and backpedal.
“I’m not asking for a massive change, and I would never want to interfere with your time with Sage. I know how important that is to you. But maybe, when you’re comfortable, we could have a dinner or two together, the four of us. Or maybe Nellie and I could come to one of her games. I want to know that part of you and not feel like you’re living a completely separate life I’m not privy to.”
His jaw rippled with tension, but he kept his hand on my face, cupping it with tenderness.
“I know things have to shift.” He nodded like he was agreeing with himself. “And as glad as I am to have my girl with me during her weeks, I miss the hell out of you and Nellie.”
“We miss you too,” I said softly.
“Something was up with Sage today, seeing us like that. I need to talk to her and think this over.” His lips grazed mine with a sweet little kiss. “Is that enough for you?”
“Yes.” If I pushed him too hard, he’d retreat. “I’m not going anywhere, Jake, whether you like it or not.”
Groaning, he hauled me onto his lap and buried his face in my neck. “Oh, I like it, mama, and you’re right. You’re absolutely not going anywhere, not unless I’m with you.”
I wrapped my arms around him, melting into his embrace. There was a twinge in my chest that took me a moment to identify.
Hope.
It might take time, but maybe this was going to work out after all.
Chapter Thirty-four
Jake
Sage was back with me the day after the farmers’ market. She went about her normal business, but she did it quietly. Sure, she still had stories about what Cleo and Dex had gotten into over the past week, but she wasn’t bursting to release every word. There was something pensive about her, which was unusual. That wasn’t to say Sage wasn’t a thinker. My girl just did most of her thinking out loud.
