Page 111 of Stay for Me
I love how open she is. Every reaction is pure. I never have to worry about what she feels because it’s plain as day on her face. It’s refreshing, and I hope we never grow tired of this.
After another minute, she looks up at me. “Why are you so nervous, Jacob? You’re doing wonderful things with the kids. You’re putting so much effort into it, and it’s coming along great.”
I release a deep sigh. All of that is true, but there’s a world that Brenna doesn’t see, and it’s not a kind one. “I’m just worried that the press will get wind of the play and people will see I’m a laughing stock.”
“Of a children’s musical. Keep the perspective, babe. This was never going to earn you an Oscar nomination. Besides, don’t you think the press will be more excited to talk about how selfless you are? You’re a superhero who is living out his part. I’m sure that Catherine and your team is prepared for whatever press the play gets.”
She’s right, but I don’t care about that right now. The only perspective I’m seeing right now is how I feel about her. Her happiness is what matters.
“You look beautiful,” I say as I push the hair back behind her ear, no longer caring about the play. “You always do, and I don’t tell you enough.”
“You’re very charming.”
“Only for you.”
She grins. “Four months ago, if someone had told me that I’d be in the woods with you because we were going to announce our relationship, I’d have laughed.”
“And if anyone told me I’d be in a relationship with someone from Sugarloaf, I would have had them committed.”
“And, yet, here we are.”
I look into those blue eyes and get lost. “Here we are.”
She presses onto her toes to brush her lips to mine. When she goes back to the ground, I cup her face and say words I never thought I’d say. “I love you, Brenna.”
“Jacob . . .”
“I know it’s soon. I know we haven’t been together for long, but I love you, and I didn’t want to wait to say it any longer. I wanted to say it on our date, but I wasn’t sure you were ready to hear it.”
Tears well in her eyes, and she ducks her head into my chest. After a few seconds, she looks back up. “I love you too. I’m not just saying it because you did either. I can’t explain it, but—”
I break off whatever she was going to say by kissing her. We stand here, uncaring of anyone or anything else around us. I love her, and I don’t know how the hell we’re going to make this work, but there’s no other option than to do everything I can to figure it out. Even if it means staying in Sugarloaf.
Chapter Thirty-One
Brenna
“Are you going to find out what you’re having?” I ask Devney.
The older Arrowood kids are all watching a movie inside the house and the babies are asleep while the adults are relaxing outside around a bonfire.
My two kids are with their grandparents for the night since they haven’t had a lot of time with them the last few weeks. Rehearsals, school, and they’ve been busy with their friends has caused a bit of pulling back, which I’m not complaining about.
She looks to Sean and smiles. He rolls his eyes and then answers, “I don’t want to know.”
Declan rolls his eyes. “You? Mr. Impatient. You don’t want to know?”
Sean shakes his head. “Nope. I don’t want to.”
“I would want it to be a surprise too,” Jacob adds on.
“Really?” I ask, my voice going a bit higher.
He nods. “There aren’t many things in life that surprise us, I think part of the fun is the doctor holding up the baby and telling you.”
I never pictured him as the type of guy who would want to be surprised. “Interesting.”
“Well, I for one couldn’t wait to find out,” Syd says. “Of course, my gender appointment was much more dramatic than any of us cared for.”
