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She carefully opened it and pulled out the page staring at his words for what seemed like hours. It was everything she’d ever wanted to hear him say and if she had read it, she would never have left. She reread the last paragraph and knew she had to tell him about Lucca and the fact that there was no other mystery man in her bed. She just didn’t know how to tell him about Lucca without him getting hurt.
She headed into her office and pulled out a stack of photos from the first year she’d been in Seattle. They were ones she kept hidden from her friends sure that if they saw them they’d think Lucca was the reason why she’d never let anyone in, but they were wrong. Jake, her mom, and her father were why. She’d lost all of them and she’d been so sure that she’d never have anyone ever again.
Then she’d met Lucca and they’d bonded. She’d been able to open up with him in a way she’d never been able to with even Jake. That’s what would hurt him the most. That she had trusted Lucca with her secret when she’d never been able to with him. She sighed wondering if he’d be okay with it all. Then again how could he be? She’d kept it from him for too long this time. He’d never believe she and Lucca were just friends.
She went back to the letter and wished she could go back in time, read it that day so none of this had ever happened. Her luck was still black, because she was going to lose Jake by keeping this from him. She heard a noise on the stairs and slid the photos back into the drawer turning the chair to face the window as she held onto the letter.
“Cee, baby what are you doing down here?” Jake asked walking across the room towards her. He saw a picture on the desk, the edge of it hidden by the calendar laying on it, and glanced at it, his gut tightening when he saw her smiling into the face of another man. She’d been down here looking at pictures of another man after agreeing to marry him. That hurt more than he’d ever imagined possible.
“Jake,” she said with a smile turning around with the letter still in her hands. “I couldn’t sleep, sorry.”
“What’s that?” he asked sitting back against the desk as he pulled her up from the chair.
“Your letter, Jake I’m sorry I didn’t read it then. If I had, I wouldn’t have left. I would have went straight to you.”
“It’s okay baby,” he lied wanting to demand answers about the picture. “You’re here with me now and nothing is ever going to come between us right?”
“Right,” she agreed praying it was true. “I love you Jake. I fell in love with you dancing to our song. I loved you while you were winning those college games. I’ve loved you while we were apart; you own the deepest part of my heart.”
“And the mystery man?” he asked.
“There is no mystery man Jake. I lied. I hadn’t been with anyone since you.”
“Cee, don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not Jake. I swear on my mom’s grave. I’ve never been with anyone but you.”
He wanted to believe her but the fact that she’d kept the picture of this other man with her while all of the ones of him were hidden upstairs made it difficult to trust the words. “Then come show me baby, come show me how much you love me.”
“Always Jake,” she sighed putting the letter down on the desk as he pulled her into his arms and stopped their talking for the rest of the night. She’d tell him everything after the carnival. She just didn’t want him trying to hurt Lucca.
Chapter 13
“Stacey, a huge truck just pulled in,” Lizzie said as she looked around the room to make sure they had everything set up. It was the hub of activity for the carnival and she knew it was likely to be chaotic but as long as she knew where things were supposed to be she’d manage to make it through this.
She glanced up with a smile and nodded. “I’ll be right out.”
“Okay,” Lizzie said heading back out.
She took a last glance around and when she was sure the others in there could handle it all she headed outside to see what was here. She saw the sign on the side of the truck and smiled, then it dimmed as she spied the group heading towards her.
“Oh shit,” she muttered under her breath.
“Need some help?” Gary asked glancing at the truck as he, Charlie, Leroy, Jake and a few others made their way around the back of it as a second pulled in.
She spied Emma and Miles watching her and she knew they were wondering what was about to happen. So was she and as the cab to the second truck opened she held her breath.
“Someone call for a carnival?” Lucca asked sending her a smile and she couldn’t stop her reply of one.
“Lucca,” she said moving through the interested parties as he smacked the second man from the first cab on the back cutting between them.
He reached her and wrapped her in a hug that left her breathless. “About time you called me Stace.”
“I can’t believe you’re here,” she replied shaking her head. “I’ve missed you.”
“You too sweetie, so what’s been going on since we talked?” he questioned leaving an arm around her waist as they moved away from the trucks.
“Tons,” she admitted as Emma and Miles reached them. “Lucca this is Miles.”
