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I nodded.
She shook her head. “I want to be angry with him for this, but then”—she looked back down at Jagger—“we wouldn’t have this sweet little baby now, would we?”
I couldn’t agree more.
I heard the knob turn before the door swung open. Kye had already seen whatever vehicle his mother had driven here in and knew she was inside. His gaze went from me, then swung to his mother and Jagger.
“Mom,” he said.
She turned and glanced over her shoulder at him. “Hello, son,” she replied happily. “I’m just bonding with my grandson here while finding out the details from Genesis that you didn’t think to call and tell me.”
His eyes shifted back to me, and I shrugged. What had he expected me to do? It wasn’t like I could hide Jagger from her.
“Uh, yeah, I was going to tell you as soon as you got back from Greece.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Were you now?” she replied.
“Yes. We’ve just had a lot going on,” he explained, walking around the sofa to sit on the coffee table across from her.
Jagger heard him, and he let go of the nipple to look at his dad. The way his little face seemed to light up with excitement was all it took for Chloe to tear up again.
“Hey, little man,” Kye said, reaching over to take his hand.
“I want to be mad at you and hug you and burst into tears, all at the same time,” Chloe admitted and sniffled.
He grinned at his mom. “You can do all three if you need to, Mom.”
I stood up to get her a tissue.
“Genesis assured me you’re not giving my grandson away,” she said in a tone that clearly meant she would not allow it.
“Definitely not,” Kye replied.
I handed her the tissue, and she thanked me, then dabbed at her eyes and nose.
“Good. Now, tell me how you plan to raise a baby in the life you live. I can move back here. Whatever you need. Just tell me what to do,” she said, looking at Kye.
He shook his head. “No need to move back here, Mom. We’ve got it under control.”
Chloe glanced at me. “We, as in you and Genesis?”
“Yes. We, as in me and Genesis,” he confirmed.
I watched her shoulders rise and fall with a heavy sigh.
“I’m aware the two of you are grown, but I can’t just sit here quietly while Genesis changes her life for you and Jagger. Her engagement is already off because of all she has done for you.” She turned to me. “I know you love Kye, but, sweetheart, you can’t always be the one to save him. You have to live your life. Finish college. Fall in love. Have your own family.”
“She wants to be here with us, Mom,” Kye interrupted her.
Chloe shifted her gaze to Kye. “Sure she does. This is your son, and she would do anything for you. I have no doubt she loves this baby as much as I do. He’s yours. But that can’t keep her from having her own life. Staying here to help raise her best friend’s child isn’t having a life. She needs more than that. A woman needs to be fulfilled—”
“Mom,” Kye cut her off. “She’s good.”
“But—” she began again.
“Mom, Genesis has all her needs taken care of. She wants to be with me. With us. I wouldn’t let her do this if I didn’t know without a doubt that this was what she wanted. When have I ever not put her happiness first?”
Chloe reached out and grabbed her son’s forearm and squeezed. “Listen to me. You are scared. This is all new, and Genesis is giving you comfort. She has always made you sane and kept you centered. It’s one of the most special things about your friendship. But she is a woman, and she has needs that go beyond friendship.”
“I know about a woman’s needs, Mom,” Kye bit out as his eyes swung over to lock with mine.
I was staying silent. I didn’t know how to explain this without telling Chloe the truth. Every explanation I’d gone over in my head seemed unrealistic. She’d see right through it.
“Are you …” Chloe asked slowly, and I felt my face warm as she looked from me to Kye. Her eyes narrowed as Kye shifted uncomfortably. “You are,” she said as a smile stretched across her face.
Jagger finished the bottle, and she lifted him to her shoulder to burp him as she continued to smile at Kye.
He groaned and rubbed his hand over his face. “Mom, let this go, please.”
“Let what go, son?” The amusement in her voice was obvious.
He dropped his hand to his lap and gave her a stern look. “You know what.”
She shrugged. “Not sure I do.”
Kye looked over at me, and I dropped my gaze to my lap. I wasn’t saying a word.
