Page 49 of Worthy Now
I give him an incredulous look. “Pretty presumptuous of you to assume my answer would be yes,” I tease. Jake gives me a cocky smirk. “I was fairly confident you wouldn’t put up much of a fight. So, what do you say, fiancé? Are you ready to show off your ring before moving into your new forever home?”
“Does Anna know she’s about to lose her reading nook?”
“Yes, and she told me to let you know she’ll gladly give it up if it means seeing her big brother happy.”
“Then let’s go guzzle that champagne in record time because I also happen to have a surprise for you. One I’d rather not show you in the presence of my parents, if you catch my drift.” Jake’s eyes flare, and his look of adoration turns to one of intense need. Grabbing my hand, he rises to his feet and goes to pull me up but almost drops me on my ass when his expression twists and a pained grunt escapes him.
“I slept in a blanket fort last night,” he says by way of explanation when he notices my concerned frown. A snort explodes from my nose. “Don’t laugh. It’s all your fault.”
I gape at him. “How is this my fault?”
“You’re too perceptive,” he grumbles as he drags me to his waiting truck. “I had a lot of phone calls to make and couldn’t risk youoverhearing. I’d planned on sleeping in Carter and Megan’s guest room, but their evil spawns threatened to expose me if I didn’t join them in their lair. Let’s just say, I discovered that this body isn’t built for camping out on the hard ground, so if my back gives out halfway through our celebratory lovemaking, you know who to blame.”
“Don’t worry,” I say, smiling down at him from the passenger seat of his vehicle. “If your back gives out, I’ll gladly take us to the finish line. We’re a team now. For better or worse, right?” Jake grins up at me like he’s just won the golden ticket.
“I can already tell I’m going to love being your husband.”
Thirty-Two
Jake
Later that night
I’m going to lose my ever-loving mind. Giving a low growl of frustration, I violently yank my tie off my neck and toss it onto the mattress beside me. I’m fuming by the time I snatch my phone off the bedside table and pull up the YouTube app, silently cursing my old man for never teaching me a single useful thing and forcing me to learn this shit through how-to videos.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.After several more failed attempts that have me cussing up a storm, I finally manage to make myself look presentable and quickly shrug on my suit jacket before the perfectionist in me has time to convince myself that my bestisn’t good enough. Thanks to my poor knot tying abilities, we’re going to be late to our own damn engagement party, and Tessa has hollered up the stairs more than once already, urging me to hurry. I allow myself one last cursory glance in the full-length mirror, before I get my ass in gear and jog downstairs to meet my brand-new fiancée.
“Alright, baby. I’m ready. Sorry it took so long, but I almost strangled myself with my own damn tie.” My thumbs fly over the keyboard as I tap out a text to Carter to let him know we’re only a few minutes out. When Tessa’s reply doesn’t come, I lift my gaze off the screen and come to a screeching halt.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, taking in her pale complexion and panic-filled eyes.
“Jake,” she whispers, a slight tremble to her voice, as she stares over my shoulder like she’s seen a ghost. The shuffling sound behind me has me whipping around and my own eyes widen in shock as I take in the sight that greets me. There, in the middle of my living room, stands Jessica Cartwright, pointing a gun at the love of my life. Her face is a twisted mask of anguish, eyes begging. For what, I don’t know yet.
“Jessica,” I say in a calm, even tone, doing my best not to spook her. Her skin is covered in red blotches, making it obvious she’s been crying. There’s a wild glint in her eye, arms shaking as sheadjusts her grip on her weapon. I raise my hands and subtly step sideways, inserting myself between her and my girl.
“So, the rumors are true?” She accuses, looking at me like I’ve betrayed her in the worst possible way. “You’re about to marry that worthless whore? Why, Jake? She abandoned you. All it took was a sprinkling of doubt, and she ran for the hills. I did you a favor. Don’t you see?” she wails as she beseeches me to understand her actions. “I needed you to know she wasn’t worthy of your love. That she wasn’t deserving of your loyalty and devotion. I’ve loved you from the moment I met you. I’d never have left you. How could you let her back into your heart so easily after she discarded you like a piece of trash?”
“Jessica,” I urge, holding her jumpy gaze and silently begging her to stop this madness. “You don’t know what you’re saying. You need help. When was the last time you spoke with your therapist?”
“I don’t need a damn therapist,” she screeches, lifting the gun until the muzzle lines up with my forehead. “I don’t need more treatment. What I need is you. I’ve sat on the sidelines for years, biding my time while I waited for you to come to your senses and realize we belong together. I’ve stood idly by while you picked up women at bars. Watched you fuck them through seedy motel windows.”
Jesus fucking Christ. The mere thought of her peeping through the curtains while I shared what I thought to be a private moment with someone makes my skin crawl. The sensation sends an icy shudder down my spine, but I can’t dwell on it right now.
“I’ve always kept tabs on you, and I was more than patient. But when you started dating Alicia, you really tested my self-restraint. There’s only so much a woman in love can take. I didn’t want to have to hurt her, which is why I was so relieved when you broke things off. I saw her tears when she climbed into her car that night, and I saw you standing on the porch as you watched her drive away. Imagine my shock when I figured out why you sent her packing.” I suck in a harsh breath when she takes a threatening step toward me. My whole body tenses in preparation to make a grab for her firearm, but she stops just out of reach. “I couldn’t believe it when I heard rumors that you and your whore reunited. And when I ran into you the other day and she so brazenly laid claim to you? Taunting me,” she spits, staring past me and pinning Tessa with a venomous look. “I should’ve taken care of your disloyal slut that day, but my grandmother noticed something was off and made arrangements to have me readmitted. That meddling old bitch, always sticking her nose in where it doesn’t belong.” Jessica releases a bone-chilling laugh.
Glancing over my shoulder, I make sure Tessa is still behind me and out of the line of fire. This woman is utterly unhinged, and if she came here intending to do Tessa harm, she’ll have to take me out first.
“But she won’t stand in our way anymore, my love,” Jessica states in such a detached way it makes my blood run cold. “I took care of her once and for all.” My eyes flare at her whispered confession.
“You killed your own grandmother?”
“She tried to keep me from you!” she screams, causing me to recoil. “Said I’m unwell and my obsession with you is unhealthy. She didn’t understand that we’re meant to be. I needed her gone so we could finally be happy. And when I heard about your engagement, I simply couldn’t risk waiting.” She shifts from foot to foot, trying to look around me to get a handle on Tessa’s location. I angle my body, taking a step back to cover her better, before I reach behind me to link my fingers with hers.
“I came here tonight to give you one last chance. There is no way I’ll stand by while you marry that spineless bitch. I won’t allow it. You hear me? Not after all the sacrifices I’ve made for us to be together. I slept with Shane Cooper for crying out loud. Do you have any idea how degrading it was to let that slimy weasel rut into me for months on end when it was you I really wanted? But Ineeded him, so I did what had to be done. I killed my only relative because she was trying to keep us apart. What has she ever done for you? What hasshesacrificed?”
Tessa’s hand shakes in mine, and I give her a reassuring squeeze before I release her, intending to end this once and for all. I won’t let this crazy bitch come into our home and threaten the woman I love. Jessica Cartwright has cost us enough, and she’s not taking anything else from me.
“Put the gun down, Jess,” I demand, meeting her red-rimmed eyes and urging her to do the right thing.
