Page 60 of Meant to Be

“Yeah…”

I open the door and pull him in behind me, calling out.

“Daaad, I’m home.” Anna pops her head around the door smiling.

“Hey, sweetie…” Her gaze falls on Jax behind me. “Hi.” She walks towards us holding out her hand.

“Jax this is my step mum, Anna.”

With a nervous smile, he shakes Anna's hand. “Hey, I’m Jax.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Oh Jesus, that can’t be good.”

“Relax, it’s fine.” Smiles Anna.

I pull him through to the living room, we sit down and wait for Dad to come home.

“Where’s my girls at then?” A voice calls from the hallway as the door shuts a few minutes later. Jax looks wide-eyed when he realises Dad is home. I see Anna run down the hall to greet him and I know she's forewarning him that Jax is here.

They walk in the room together, Anna smiling and dad with a frown.

“Hello there, I take it you’re Jax…” Dad stands before us with a stern look to his face.

“Erm, yeah.”

“Dad. Stop it. Jax brought me home in a taxi, and I asked him to come and meet you. Let’s be honest, you can’t be any worse than mother.” I look to Jax, but I can tell he doesn't know how to react to that little comment. “Just so you know, Jax and I are giving it another go.

“Is the feeling mutual or are you only doing this for the sake of the baby?” Dad asks gently.

“No. We want to be together.” I answer as Jax tightens his hold on my hand to the point of squeezing. I wiggle my fingers to let him know he needs to loosen his hand up. We explain there was misunderstandings from both sides and we both jumped to conclusions

“Okay. Well, you’re obviously mature enough to know what you want. A word of advice though... don’t stay together for the sake of a child, it doesn’t work.”

“Okay, dad.”

Jax nods nervously. Seeing him like this makes me snigger. He’s big, muscly, don’t give a crap, bad boy... at least he was when I first met him - now not so much.

We’ve talked with dad and Anna, they were quite understanding, if not a little shocked, but Jax finally acted more like himself by the end of the little meeting, Anna even cooked for us all, but now he has to go back. I want him to stay longer so badly, but he can’t.

“I have to go, babe.” He tells me looking at his watch. It’s already seven forty-five. “I wish I could stay longer, but it won't be forever, I promise.”

“I know.” Tears fill my eyes; wiping them away, he quickly kisses me.

“See you tomorrow?”

“You better.” I smile looking into his eyes, his intense stare rooting me to the spot.

“Wild horses wouldn’t keep me away now.”

“Come on lad, I’ll take you back.” Dad cuts in...

“It’s okay. Thanks though, I’ll get the bus. I don’t want to put you out.”

Dad jangles his keys in front of him. “There’s a car outside... let’s go.”

He kisses me once more and gives me one last hug before leaving through the front door. Feeling sad, I wave, and Anna shuts the door. She puts her arm around me; leading me into the living room, we sit down.

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