He’s not wrong. I do love kids. I love his daughter. I love Miles. Hell, I love kid fans, but none of them are my responsibility. None of them will have ties to my family name, and none of them could cause me to lose the woman I’m quickly falling for.
“Look, I’m really trying to hold it together for Mia, so please be helpful. Don’t make me regret this.”
Jett holds his hands up. “Okay, I’ll do my best.”
I nod, then take them over to the elevator. Jett tugs Wyla closer to him, and I suppose that should’ve been a clue to what he was about to say. “So, before we get up there, I’m gonna need to know what specifically is worrying you.”
“Jett,” Wyla whispers a warning as I tilt my head back, looking to the ceiling.
“I feel like that’s an obvious answer, asshole.”
“No, it’s not. Yes, this is big news. It’s scary news, but I know you. You’ve been my best friend for years. I know what kind of man you are. I know what you would do for the people you care about, so tell me what’s actually bothering you.”
Hell, this fucker. “I regret this now.”
“No, you don’t. If mypregnantwife wasn’t with me, I’d stop this elevator until you told me, so I’m going to need you to just get over it and let it out.”
“Fuck you.” I run my hand over my face. There’s no way he’ll let this go, and I can’t have him pressing in front of Mia.
“Okay, every time I think about the baby and being a dad, my father’s face flashes in my mind. It’s fucking terrifying. I swore I had forgotten what he looked like—that’s how little thought I gave him, but now he’s at the very front of my brain. If I try to switch and think about Mia and how happy she makes me, I immediately jump to the worst-case scenario, losing her while we try to figure this out because none of this was something she wanted right now.”
The elevator dings and I have to step out first because it’s starting to feel too damn small. I try to breathe, but now I’m fucking worked up.
“Look, I know I’m not him, but despite how serious I felt about Mia right away, we’re still so new. She doesn’t even know the reasons why I don’t speak to my parents. Now we’re in a situation where we have to make big fucking decisions, and I don’t want to fuck this up. Callie kept telling me that moving here felt like a second chance at having a happy life, and I really thought she was right, but what if?—”
“She’s right,” Jett’s words initially cut me off, but it’s the hug he gives me that causes me to actually take a real breath. “Feel a little better after letting that out?”
“Yeah, actually, I do.”
Jett steps back then wraps Wyla—who’s now softly crying— up in his arms. “I blame my hormones, but shit—” She wipes her face. “I swear, I’m going to pull myself together real quick.”
I huff out a weak laugh. “I don’t want to put this pressure on Mia, at least not right now. She said she’s leaning toward having this baby, and when we land on this being the final decision, I’ll talk to her, but not yet. I really don’t want to mess this up.”
Jett nods. “I understand that, but keeping it all in sucks the life out of you, so either call us or trust that Mia’s strong enough to hear you out, too. Now, come on, we’ve been gone for an awkward amount of time.”
“Fuck.” Starting down the hall, they follow close behind. “When did you get so fucking observant?”
“I became a dad,” Jett quips.
Grabbing hold of Mia’s door with a tighter grip than necessary, I tilt my head back with a sigh. “Great, thanks for that.”
Walking in her apartment, I can tell that awkward timing thing had some merit because I catch Mia mid-pace as she chews on her thumbnail.
“Hi, sorry?—”
“No, you’re fine. I definitely wasn’t looking out my peephole for the past few minutes.”
Yeah, my nosy girl has no patience—I find it absolutely adorable, but I should’ve remembered that. I like seeing her get worked up, but I don’t like being the cause of it.
Pulling her close, I press a quick kiss to her temple. “Mia, you remember Wyla and Jett.”
“Right, hi. Thank you for coming over.” Mia shuffles on her feet as she wraps her arms around herself. “Sorry, all morning I’ve been trying to be positive, but now I’m insanely nervous and I don’t usually get that way.”
Wyla laughs. “You’re fine, Mia. Trust me, I know the anxious feeling very well.”
The tension leaves Mia’s face, but not her shoulders yet. “Great, okay. I can’t promise I’m going to keep it hidden well, but I swore I was done crying today.”
Wyla places a hand on her stomach. “I made no such deal with myself. I cried because my bagel had too much cream cheese this morning.”
