Shit.I almost told her today.
Standing in my bakery at five in the morning, with Chloe looking at me like I hung the moon, I almost said the words that have been building in my chest for weeks.
I’m falling for you.
But the timer saved me. Or ruined everything. I’m really not sure which.
Now it’s noon, and I’m at the house for lunch —something I rarely do and made the guys at the bakery suspicious— because I couldn’t stay away. Couldn’t stop thinking about the look on her face when I said she made me feel like I was enough.
I find her in the backyard with the twins. They’re making snow angels from a couple inches of dusting overnight, and Chloe’s laughing, her cheeks pink from the cold. She looks younger like this. Happier. Like maybe Valentine isn’t the prison she thought it was.
“Daddy!” Ava spots me first, scrambling up and running over. “Look at my angel! It’s the biggest one!”
“It’s beautiful, sweetheart.” I crouch down to inspect her handiwork, very aware of Chloe watching me.
“Mine’s better,” Mia announces, and just like that, they’re arguing again.
Chloe catches my eye and grins. “They’ve been at it all morning. I’m starting to think competition is their love language.”
“It’s amazing, Mia.” I stand, brushing snow off Ava’s jacket. “Girls, why don’t you go inside and ask Grandma for hot chocolate? Chloe and I need to talk.”
Both twins look between us with identical suspicious expressions.
“Are we in trouble?” Mia asks.
“No, baby. Just grown-up stuff.” I kiss the top of her head. “Go on.”
They trudge toward the house, and Chloe watches them go before turning to me. “Grown-up stuff?”
“We didn’t finish our conversation this morning.”
“No,” she agrees quietly. “We didn’t.”
I shove my hands in my pockets to keep from reaching for her. “I meant what I said. About you making me feel like I’m enough.”
“Jonah—”
“Let me finish. Please.” I take a breath. “When Rachel left, she made me believe that choosing my life here—my bakery, this town, stability for the twins—made me selfish. Small. Not enough.” I force myself to meet Chloe’s eyes. “And then you showed up, and you didn’t look at me like I was broken or pathetic. You looked at me like I was doing something right.”
“Because you are,” she says fiercely. “You’re an incredible father. An incredible person.”
“And you’re leaving in less than five months now.” The words taste bitter. “For a teaching job. For the life you actually want.”
Something flickers across her face. “What if I don’t know what I want anymore?”
My heart stops. “What?”
“I came here thinking this was temporary. Thinking I was just marking time until my real life started.” She takes a step closer, and I can see her breath in the cold air. “But what if this is my real life? What if what I thought I wanted isn’t what I actually need?”
“Chloe, you can’t give up your dreams because?—”
“I’m not.” She cuts me off. “I’m just… reconsidering what my dreams look like. Valentine has schools. Good schools. And I’m already here, and the twins are amazing, and—” She stops, her cheeks flushing. “And you’re here.”
“I can’t be the reason you give up your plans.”
“Why not? You let Rachel make you feel guilty for not giving up yours.”
The truth of it hits me hard. “That’s different.”
