AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Just as I was starting to get lost in my own thoughts again, Hailey plopped down next to me on the blanket, her sudden appearance making me jump a little.
"Hi," she said, her voice as bright as the bonfire.
"Hey there, sunshine. How's it going?" I asked, bumping my shoulder against hers.
"Good. I'm so ready for summer, though. Aren't you?"
I grinned, nodding enthusiastically. "Oh, you have no idea. Bring on the lazy days and the ice cream for dinner."
Hailey leaned against me, resting her head on my shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world. "You and my dad are so cute together, you realize that?"
I felt my cheeks heat up, and it had nothing to do with the bonfire. "You think so?"
She nodded, her hair tickling my cheek. "Totally. It's like watching a real-life rom-com, but without all the cheesy montages."
I couldn't help but laugh, my heart swelling with affection for this amazing kid. We sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the flames dance and the stars twinkle overhead like a giant disco ball.
"It's a beautiful night," I murmured, more to myself than anyone else.
"It really is," Hailey agreed, her voice soft and content.
When Jake returned with the hot dogs, we dug in like a pack of hungry wolves. The conversation flowed as easily as the ketchup, and for a little while, all my worries faded into the background.
But as we gathered our things and headed back to the car, I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment when Jake didn't invite me over for the weekend. I knew Amy was coming home the next day, and I was excited to see her, but a part of me had hoped for a little more time with just the three of us.
"Well, I'll see you guys tomorrow. Goodnight," I said, trying to keep the disappointment out of my voice.
"Night," Jake replied, giving me a quick hug.
"See ya," Hailey added, waving as she climbed into the car.
As I settled into the driver's seat of my own vehicle, I couldn't shake the sinking feeling in my stomach. Maybe I was just being paranoid, reading too much into things. Maybe we just needed a little breathing room, a chance to recharge our batteries.
But even as I tried to rationalize it, a tiny voice in the back of my head kept whispering that something was off. I didn't know what it was, but I couldn't ignore the nagging sensation that there was more to Jake's sudden distance than met the eye.
24
JAKE
The weekend after the bonfire dragged on, full of conflicting feelings and second-guessing. I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd made a mistake by not inviting Molly over, but at the same time, I didn't want to smother her. We'd been spending so much time together, and as much as I loved having her around, I worried that maybe she needed some space.
It was a constant battle in my head, trying to find that balance between being there for her and giving her room to breathe. I knew I couldn't just assume she wanted to be with me every second of every day, no matter how much I might have wanted that myself.
So, I did the only thing I could think of: I focused on the things I could control. I spent Saturday morning cleaning the house from top to bottom, trying to keep my mind off the fact that Molly wasn't there with me. Hailey helped for a while, but eventually, she got bored and wandered off to her room to read.
It wasn’t that I minded being alone. But it was the uncertainty of it all. Did I have to be alone right now? Or was I enforcing this unnecessarily?
By the time Sunday rolled around, I was feeling a little stir-crazy. I was just about to cave in and call Molly when Amy and Pat got home.
To say they were thrilled about the nursery was an understatement. It was such a relief because while I knew it was helpful, it was impossible to know how people would react. Amy’s belly bulged so much that she looked as if she were pregnant with twins. Though I would never have said that to her.
Amy waddled over to the couch, lowering herself down with a groan. "I swear, this girl thinks she’s going to be a soccer player with all the kicking."
I chuckled, settling in beside her. "Maybe she’s just excited to meet her favorite uncle."
She rolled her eyes, but I could see the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Her only uncle.”
We talked for a while, Amy filling me in on their drive and the highlights I hadn’t already heard about their stint on the coast before she dove into what she really wanted to know. "So, tell me more about you and Molly. How are things going?"
