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“She’s everything I’ll never be, and I fucked up her life. She deserved more than getting knocked up by a one-night stand.” He sighed. “I’m not father material, but I’ll do my best for that kid, if she’ll let me.”
“I give you a hard time, I know I do, butthe truth is, you’ll probably end up being the best dad in this pack. You love freely, you laugh and play and joke. But you protect the ones you care about too.” Jace rubbed his hand on Axie’s back. “You watch her. Youwatch her every move. You look at her stomach, your baby, constantly.” Jace clinked his glass againstJasper’s. “You three are going to be okay, bro.”
“My wolf, he’s protective over the baby, and he wants the baby, I think. He doesn’t have many feelings about Callie,though.”
He couldn’t not say it. It was the truth and it sucked. Everything would be easier if she was his mate. They could fall in love, bond, and start their family. Age wouldn’t matter. They would have everything they needed.
“She’s not my forever.”
“Not every family looks the same. Weof all people know that to be true.” Jace shrugged. “She’s the mother of your kiddo, and that’s enough for today, okay?”
Jaspernodded in agreement.
One day at a time.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Callahan
Callahanwas lying in bed, trying to calm her nerves and her racing heart. She was in an unfamiliar house surround by virtual strangers. The one person she wanted to cling to, she knew she shouldn’t. Her phone went off from somewhere inside her bag. She sat up, pulling her backpack closer to dig it out.
J:You sure you don’t want me to come lie with you for a bit?
She did. She really and trulywould’vegiven anything to feel Jasper lying beside her. His scent and his heatalways extinguishedthe chill in her bones. She was cold, and scared,and alone. She felt like a small child at her first sleepover. She wanted to call her mom and ask to be picked up.
She rested her hand on her stomach, the realization she was the mother now making her eyes prick with a new round of tears.
She chose not to answer him.
In the morning she’d tell him she fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. Her despair and confusion weren’t his burden to bear. She knew he was going through his ownemotional trauma, dealing with his own reaction to their new reality.
Jasper wasn’t a bad guy. Hewasn’t careless and cruel and shallow. He was nothing like she’d originally thought.
He’d gifted her time and space,andnow she was determined to allow him the same.
He didn’t do this to her, he did this with her.
J:I can feel your sadness oozing through the walls, Callie. Stop acting like you’re sleeping.
She read his message twice, unable to help the soft laugh that left her lips.Itwas utterly impossible. Hersadness wasn’t traveling through the sheetrock to keep him awake. It was funny though. Evenwithout knowing her, he knew her so well.
C:There’s no way that’s true. And I was moments away from a wonderfully peaceful sleep.
“Liar.” Her attention flew to her open bedroom door. “I can see the track of tears on your face.” Jasper was leaning against thedoorframe backlitby the soft hallway light, his arms and ankles crossed, a knowing frown on his cute face.
“No one can see that well in the dark.” She’d placed her phone on thenightstandthemoment hecalled her a liar. She wasn’t sure how long he’d been standing there, but she was sure her borrowed room was huge and it was impossible he could see clear across it in the dark.
He stepped farther into her space, peeling his shirt over his head in that innately sexy way guys had, and tossed it to the bench at the foot of her bed. “Let meliewith you until you’re asleep. New houses are always scary on the first night.” He lifted the covers, settling in beside her.
She took a deep inhale, trying to secretly fill her lungs with his spicy scent.
She appreciated him coming to check on her, she did. However, she refused to let it be more, lethimbe more. She needed to be able to take care of herself,especiallyif she ever wanted to entertain the idea of parenting their child.
For one more night though, she’d bask in what he was offering.
He snuggled under the covers, his warmth seeping into her very soul. She’d noticed that the first time she’d spent the night at his house. How hot he ran. Howhe slept without any covers, even with the fan on high. She held in hercontentedsigh at his nearness.
“I told you earlier I didn’t have an answer for you, that I didn’t know what I would choose if it was up to me.” He cleared his throat, his arm pressed against hers from shoulder to wrist. “But I think I found my answer,if you still want to hear it.”
