Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
“I know this is strange, but I meant it when I promised Luke I’d take care of his family. I never planned on feeling this way. I didn’t plan any of this, but that’s exactly what I intend to do… support Zoey. Be there for her, always. Never leave her side. Provide her with the life she deserves.”
“Luke always said you were the best person he’d ever had the good fortune of knowing,” Mallory says. “He said that, whatever you did, it was always with the best intentions.”
“I try,” I say cautiously, not allowing my hopes to flare.
“Even when you had every reason to tell Zoey what happened between us, you didn’t,” she goes on. “That means a lot to me. You really are a man of your word.”
“What did happen?” Zoey asks. “I can’t not know. I understand it will be awkward for both of you, but you said you hate yourself, Mom. Why?”
“Nothing romantic has ever happened between Jaxson and me.”
I let out a long breath. Immediately, a weight lifts from my being. All the tension at being unable to tell the truth drains away.
“Thank God,” Zoey whispers. “Oh, that’s good to hear. Then why did you send him away? Why did he stop coming by?”
Mallory buries her face in her hands for a moment, groaning. She looks more determined when she drops her hands, ready to face the revelation.
“I got drunk one night—way, way too drunk. Every time I think about it, I cringe. I hate that past version of myself. Our dryer broke, and, as usual, Jaxson was more than happy to help, but I was feeling emotional, confused, and I…”
She groans again.
“It’s okay, Mom.” Zoey stands and walks over to Mallory, sitting beside her and taking her hand. “Whatever it is, it’s in the past.”
“I tried to kiss him,” Mallory says, shaking her head as if she wishes she could push it away. “It was just a stupid, drunken mistake. The second I woke up, I couldn’t even figure out why I’d done it. I’ve never been attracted to Jaxson… no offense.”
I laugh gruffly. “None taken. I’d worry if you were.”
“I was just confused,” Mallory goes on. “Drunk and stupid. I regretted it right away. Jaxson was a gentleman, of course, putting me to bed. He never tried to make me feel bad about it, but I couldn’t stand to be around him after that.”
“Even if you knew you didn’t mean it? You didn’t actually want it?”
This is a serious point for Zoey. I can tell. She says it forcefully, knowing it has to be true. We can’t exist in a place where her mother is attracted to me.
“I never wanted it,” Mallory says, “but after that, every time I saw him, it reminded me of my mistake. My betrayal. So I asked him to stay away, and, like Jaxson always does, he did the right thing.”
I wonder if that last part is a subtle dig. Is it the right thing to seduce her daughter? Then I read the message in her eyes, and I know she’s being sincere.
“It would’ve been so simple for you to tell her,” Mallory says, “especially when you started… dating? Is that the right word?”
“Obsessing might be better,” I mutter. “I never believed in fate or love at first sight until I met Zoey. Well, not met her. Met the adult version of her.”
Zoey gasps, gaping at me. I realize what I’ve said. Love at first sight. It’s true, and I don’t take it back.
“I never believed in it either,” she murmurs, “but I do now.”
“I can’t pretend to be able to explain this,” I go on. “We haven’t been with each other for a long time, but we don’t need to be.”
“No,” Zoey says firmly. “I know, deep down, how I feel about you, Jax. I know we’re going to be together forever. I know we’ll have a family, a future, a home… unless you ask us to stop, Mom.”
“Could you?” Mallory asks bluntly.
“No,” I say, causing my woman to flinch. I shrug and press on. “I think we’d give it our best shot. Recently, we did just that—a week of no contact. It was the most miserable week of my life.”
“Mine too,” Zoey whispers, “but I’d be miserable if I betrayed you, Mom. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”
“Promise me you’ll always put her first,” Mallory says, staring hard at me, suddenly a mother bear.
It fills me with odd pride, almost like I’m borrowing from the future. It’s a preview of what Zoey will look like when we have our family, the same protective mother-bear energy she’ll bring to the role.
“I swear,” I say. “Making her happy is my only goal. Protecting her. Caring for her.”
“And you, Zoey. Do you understand what you’re getting yourself involved with here? I can tell Jaxson is serious. This is forever. You’re so young.”