AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The door swung open, revealing a disheveled Jake wearing pajama bottoms and a loose t-shirt. His hair was tousled, making him look both vulnerable and irresistibly attractive. Fiona fought the urge to reach out and touch his forearm.
"Hey," he said, rubbing his eyes, "you're here early."
"Sorry, I just couldn't sleep," Fiona admitted, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I wanted to talk to you about the case."
"Of course," Jake replied, stepping aside to let her in. "Come on in. Want some coffee?"
"Please," Fiona murmured, following Jake into the small kitchen. She watched as he busied himself with the coffee maker, the familiar motions grounding her after the whirlwind of recent events. The scent of brewing coffee filled the room, and she breathed it in deeply, feeling her nerves begin to settle.
They sat down at the small kitchen table, steaming mugs of coffee cradled in their hands. Jake took a sip, then looked directly into Fiona's eyes.
"Mark admitted everything," he began, his voice low and steady. "He thought he had gotten away with Matilda's murder, but once we caught him, he cracked. Both he and Mason are murderers, and they're going away for a long time."
Fiona closed her eyes briefly, absorbing the information. A tangled knot of emotions welled up inside her – relief that justice would be served, sadness for the loss of life, and a lingering sense of unease. She opened her eyes and met Jake's intense gaze. "Is it really over?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Both Mark and Mason will pay for their crimes," Jake assured her, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. "But I understand if you still feel uneasy. This case has been… complicated, to say the least."
Fiona stared into her coffee, the steam rising and swirling in intricate patterns as she contemplated the case's resolution. She knew it was twisted, but part of her felt glad for Mason. Even though his actions were abhorrent, she couldn't help but feel sympathy for a man who'd been driven to such lengths by the love for his sister.
"Jake," Fiona began hesitantly, looking up from her cup. "I know this might sound strange, but... I can't help feeling a bit relieved for Mason. He was wrong to kill those people, but he was right about his sister. I... I feel guilty that I didn’t try harder when I was on the case as a student. I had a gut feeling that Mason was right, and I tried to convince the others to listen, but it wasn’t enough. I never give up now, but back then…”
Jake leaned back in his chair, his eyes filled with understanding. "Fiona, you can't blame yourself for that. You were just an entomologist and forensic student then, not an agent or officer. Hindsight is always clearer than foresight. And now, justice will be served, thanks to our work together."
Fiona nodded at Jake's words, but a gnawing curiosity took hold, redirecting her thoughts to something more personal. Taking a deep breath, she mustered up the courage to ask about the text message she'd noticed on Jake's phone yesterday.
"Jake, I... I saw Lauren's text on your phone yesterday. I'm sorry for prying, but I can't stop thinking about it. What did she want?" Fiona asked, her heart pounding in her chest.
Jake sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. His eyes met hers, revealing a vulnerability that both surprised and touched Fiona. "It's okay, Fiona. I was going to tell you, but the case was our priority, and I didn't want to burden you with my personal issues."
"Jake, you can trust me," Fiona reassured him, reaching across the table to place her hand on his. "We've been through a lot together, and I want to be there for you."
"Thank you, Fiona," he said softly, his eyes locked on hers. "I appreciate that more than you know."
Fiona's heart raced as she studied Jake's face, trying to gauge his emotions. The morning light filtering through the blinds cast shadows across the room, emphasizing the lines of worry etched on his forehead.
"Look, Fiona," he sighed, "I didn't want to burden you with this during the case and while you're dealing with everything about Joslyn. But I can see it's weighing on you."
"Jake, you can tell me anything," Fiona said firmly, her eyes steady on his. "I always want you to feel like you can confide in me."
"Thank you," he replied, a small smile appearing on his face. "So, Lauren came to my apartment the other day, unexpected, and she…” He took a breath, his brown eyes avoiding hers. “Red, she’s pregnant. She was even showing.”
Fiona felt her stomach drop at the news, unsure how to process it. Pregnant. Lauren was pregnant. She swallowed hard and asked hesitantly, "Is the child yours?"
"Lauren called me back last night,” Jake began, rubbing the back of his neck. "She admitted that she did sleep with another guy around the time she got pregnant, so there's a chance the child might not be mine. She'll have to submit a paternity test when the time comes."
Fiona exhaled, relief mingling with uncertainty. She tried to imagine Jake as a father, torn between the desire to support him and the fear of what it could mean for their partnership—and relationship. She could sense the turmoil within him as well, as he grappled with the possibility of impending fatherhood and the potential betrayal by Lauren.
"Whatever happens," she offered quietly, "we'll get through it. Together."
"Are you sure?" Jake asked. "Fiona, it's a lot to ask of you to stay by my side while I have a child with another woman. My ex, of all people."
Fiona paused, thinking about it. Of course, it wouldn't be easy. Fiona had always envied Lauren, perhaps even been jealous of her, but…
But what she and Jake had—it was different. Fiona knew that. He was worth fighting for.
“Do you still want to be with Lauren?” Fiona asked.
“No, Fiona. No, I want to be with you.”
