Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55375 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55375 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Cabin vibes. I’m probably giving off some cabin vibes of my own right now.
“Mom,” I say.
She looks up. “Yes?”
“I… I might need to tell you something.”
“Anything.”
Under the bar, I squeeze my hand into a tight fist, trying not to think of all the ways this could go wrong. She’s only ever known Jacob as the enigmatic friend of Dad. She didn’t see him at the cabin, the things he did for me.
“I just need to say it,” I tell her. “Just let me get it out.”
She folds her arms and leans back. “That’s fine…”
“Jacob Jennings and I are in a relationship.”
“Oh… my… gosh!” Mom springs up from the chair in a wild, theatrical way. She walks over to the window like she’s auditioning for a role in a play. “Are you kidding?”
“Uh, Mom. Did you already know?”
She glances at me and gives a slight nod. “I told your father I wouldn’t say anything.”
“When did Dad tell you?”
And how much? I want to add, but I can’t risk talking about the Cartel and all the bloodshed. If Mom doesn’t know anything about that, I want to keep it away from her.
“When we divorced, we made a pact. Whatever happened between us, we’d do what was best for you. A few days ago, your father called me. He told me you and Jacob had been seeing each other. It was serious, and Jacob was taking it very seriously. It’s not some fling, is it, Emma?”
“No,” I say without hesitation, my heart fluttering. “It’s the real thing, Mom. I don’t know how to explain it. I just…” I’ve always known. “… know he’s the man for me. I know we’re going to …” Spend the rest of our lives together.
“… make it. I know we are.”
“I believe you,” Mom says, walking over and pulling me into her arms. “You took time off to find out what to do with your life. Well, isn’t this the start of an adventure?”
“That’s how I see it, too,” I say, almost sobbing. “I thought you’d be mad. I thought you’d tell me I’m throwing my life away.”
“What? Why?”
“It’s what… it’s what moms say in situations like this.”
“But this isn’t just another situation,” she says fiercely. “This is something unique. I can see how much you’ve changed since returning from Maine. I can see how much happier and more confident you are. The only thing is…”
“Mom?”
“Are you certain?” she says, holding me tightly. “Certain he feels the same?”
“One thousand percent,” I tell her. “I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for him, and he feels the same.”
“Then I’m happy for you.”
Mom holds me tightly. I finally give in to the tears, thinking about calling Jacob and hearing the relief in his voice. Nothing is stopping us now. We don’t have to wish we were trapped in the blizzard anymore. We’ll never be trapped again as long as we have each other, and we will. Forever.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
JACOB
“Thank you, Vanessa,” I say, standing up from the dining table, smiling at her and then Xavier, feeling like my heart is floating in my chest. I’ve just asked for her blessing. This morning, my woman told me about her conversation with her mom. Now, it’s time to do the right thing—the only thing—and make the best choice of my life.
I leave her house, Rusty panting at me from the driver’s seat, his head hanging out the window. His tag hangs proudly from his collar, glinting and silver. As usual, my woman was right when she said I’d keep him. I can’t let the little guy go.
After scratching him on the head with a big smile on my face, I start the engine. Maybe it means there’s still some darkness in me, the fact I can smile so widely after murdering four people within a few days, but I had my reasons. Since taking Rafael out, chaos has spread throughout his operations. We’re saving more innocents every single day.
However, now, a question burns in my heart. A ring box presses through my pocket, burning against my leg. There were long, lonely years when I thought I’d never feel this level of commitment. I thought a man like me was too broken, but my woman healed me. She made it possible for me to reconnect with my mom and even contemplate retiring and saving what’s left of my body and mind. She’s shown me a path forward I never could’ve imagined before.
“Today’s going to be a good day, boy,” I tell Rusty.
I drive to the suburbs, pulling up outside a six-bedroom house with a Sold sign in the yard. That was a risky move, but the look on my woman’s face tells me everything I need to know. She’s wearing casual clothes, a shirt with her sleeves tied up in knots, faded jeans, her hair tied up and artistically sexy. “Uh, Jacob?”