Chapter 21

ANNA

~Why? Why did I let this happen? Damn it, Anna, you’re such an idiot. He’s only been back in your life for a week, and you’re already sleeping with him again~...~ How could you be so foolish?

~

“Quit overthinking,” James advises me. He moves closer, a washcloth in his hands. He begins to clean me up, like he always does.

“I’m not,” I reply.

“Yes, you are. I know the main reason you’re hesitant about us... Olivia.”

My mouth falls open. “You knew?”

He nods. “Of course. I know you. But this was inevitable, A. Even if you kept rejecting me, pushing me away for years, it would have happened eventually.”

I roll my eyes at his comment.

~Aren’t we confident?

~

“It was inevitable, because I love you,” he declares. My eyes meet his as he gently lifts my face toward him.

“And I know you love me too. I know I hurt you without realizing it, and for that, I’m so damn sorry. But understand this: I won’t abandon you or Olivia. We’re in this together,” he says, sighing.

He takes my hands in his and gazes deeply into my eyes.

“I promise.” And just like that, the weight on my shoulders vanishes.

Everything he said was enough to erase any doubts I ever had. I could be happy if I let him in. I could finally be happy, and maybe I could sleep in his arms again.

“You won’t let our issues interfere with you and Liv?” I ask him, hoping he’ll respond the way I want.

“Absolutely not,” he exclaims, shocked. I’m sure the entire hospital wing heard his surprised tone.

“So I was right? You were willing to be unhappy so I could have a relationship with her?” he asks, his eyes wide.

I nod. “I’d do anything for her.”

“You deserve to be happy too,” he says, kissing my lips. I kiss him back.

“I do love you,” I admit to him.

“I know,” he says, smirking.

~So full of himself.~

~

He does know me so well. How could I even think that I didn’t love him anymore? I’ve always loved him. I was just being stubborn.

“Nothing will go wrong this time,” he assures me.

“How can you be sure?” I can’t help but ask. We can’t always control these things.

“Because I won’t let it. I won’t repeat the same mistake,” he assures me. I wrap my arms around his neck, a thrilled smile on my face.

Those green eyes look into mine, those eyes that I can get lost in. Those eyes that tell me all I need—that this man loves me endlessly. The love we once shared never faded, I can see that now.

I stand on my toes and pull him close so his lips touch mine, kissing him.

I pull back before things get heated again. My eyes meet his once more when it hits me.

“Oh God,” I gasp. “Becca and Jack.”

He laughs, and his laughter fills the bathroom. “I did try to shut you up,” he says, putting his arms in front of him in defense.

I turn around and open the door. I try to step out, but my eyes land on a pale-looking Jack.

“Shit,” I hiss. I close the door and turn back around.

“What?”

“They’re here,” I tell him, pointing to the room behind me.

“They can probably still hear you.” My eyes widen in shock.

“Fuck.”

James pushes past me with a knowing smirk on his face.

~What on ~Earth ~is happening? What should I do now? Do I confront them, or act like nothing happened? Probably the latter…

~

I take a deep breath and walk out with my head held high. I sit on a chair opposite the others, the one closer to the window.

It’s a typical hospital room, but with more colors than an adult hospital room. It has a large window, the one I’m currently sitting at, that overlooks the town I once loved.

I could see the school, city hall, and the mall from here, as well as the trees that surround our little town. I’ve always loved this town, but ever since my “parents” kicked me out it just didn’t feel like home.

Seattle has become more of a home to me than this place has ever been.

~And that’s just a really sad thought, isn’t it?~

~

“So what happened to ‘we’re not together’?” Becca asks, addressing the elephant in the room right away. James starts laughing—full-bellied laughing.

“If I told you it just happened, would you let it go?” I ask her with a big smile, but she shakes her head

“Nope. Details,” she demands cheekily.

I smile at her, the redhead that I had despised before today.

That was before I knew the reason she had been so mean to me. The pain took over every time she saw me. It was just too much and she got angry—I get it.

I can’t even imagine seeing my baby girl all the time but not having the chance to build a relationship with her or give her advice when she needed it.

I know now that she must have seen me suffer, but my parents wouldn’t listen to her. She couldn’t interfere.

God, my parents. I still love them, no matter what has happened. How could I not, they raised me. But now everything makes sense.

“It would’ve happened either way,” James says, shrugging proudly.

Jack and Becca tilt their heads toward him. The question marks are clear on their faces. They’re wondering what the hell he meant by that.

Meanwhile, I’m rolling my eyes because he’s probably right.

~But let’s not say that too loud.~

~

“She’s always had feelings for me. She just didn’t want to act on them because of Olivia. She didn’t want to be the reason we fought.”

Jack gives a nod, showing he understands.

“That’s all?” Becca asks, turning to me. She seems a bit let down.

I nod, but she gives me a look that says, “No, there’s more to it.” She stares at me in a way that makes me want to spill my guts. I press my lips together, but her motherly gaze eventually gets to me.

“Is it because I’m stressed out and haven’t had sex in four years? Is that what you want to hear?” I ask, throwing my hands up in frustration.

She starts laughing, but Jack turns even paler.

“That’s the answer I was waiting for. Wow, Anna. Four years? It must’ve been good—well, from what I heard, it was really good,” she says, turning me into a blushing mess.

“No more details, please! I know you’re an adult, and I know how babies are made, but I just heard my daughter having sex. I don’t need to know more,” Jack pleads.

I can’t help but join in the laughter.

“Well, now you’ve had that parenting experience as a dad,” I tell him, laughing at his discomfort.

“Yeah, the only one,” he mutters. He looks down at his hands, sounding sad—almost disappointed.

I watch Becca as she looks at him and swallows hard.

“That’s not true,” I finally say. I stand up and walk over to him. I take his hands in mine and crouch down so I can look him in the eye.

“Look at me.” He does as I ask.

“You’re the dad who has stood by me—no questions asked. You’re the dad who has made me feel like I matter. That I’m more than just some kind of whore.

“I learned my worth from James, and I can see it in your eyes. I’m your world, I’m worth everything you have and more, just like Olivia is to me.

“You’ve known me for one day and you’ve been there for me more than my ‘father’ has been my entire fucking life.

“So never, ever think that this was the only parenting thing you’ll ever do because it couldn’t be further from the truth,” I tell him.

As the words leave my mouth, tears fall from my eyes. Jack pulls me closer to him, onto his lap, and wraps his arms around me in a hug.

“I do love you. I don’t know how, but I have since the moment you told me you’re my daughter. If I didn’t already know the moment you walked into my classroom.”

I rest my head against his chest. “I know that feeling,” I admit.

A few minutes later, I hear soft sniffling beside me. I turn my head, trying to figure out where the sound is coming from.

Becca is crying quietly. I smile at her, but it makes her cry harder.

“It’s okay,” I tell her, reaching for her hand.

I stand up, pulling away from Jack’s embrace. I don’t let go of Becca’s hand, instead I pull her into a hug.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispers into my ear through her sobs, just loud enough for me to hear.

“It’s okay. You did what you thought was best for me. All is forgiven—just don’t kick me out again,” I joke.

She pulls me even closer, almost crushing me.

“Never,” she promises.