Page 64 of Play For Keeps

He presses a lingering kiss to my lips. “I’m so happy. Like, so happy, baby. I promise you it’s going to be great. And Ev, I’m not going anywhere. I’m in this with the two of you.”

I bite my lower lip, then smile and go up on my toes to kiss him. Jake might be seven years younger than me, but he’s so mature for his age that it’s easy to forget. On paper, we might not seem like a good fit, but I have more in common with him than I ever did with the 34-year-old man that I married. Jake is more of a man than Grant will ever be. He’s supportive, protective, loyal to his family, and I’m not sure I’ve ever been with anyone who has made me this much of a priority.

But I also have to think about Birdie. She will always come first. She needs stability in her life, so I hope I’m not making a giant mistake. Something in the back of my mind is telling me that everything is going to be okay. “Thank you. I hope I won’t disappoint.”

“You have nothing to worry there. You could never disappoint me. Unless you decide you are sick of me.”

A satisfied grin spreads across his face as his hands grip the apples of my ass, squeezing before I wiggle out of his arms and walk towards the ensuite bathroom.

“And Ev?”

“Yeah?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder at him as I slip into the bathroom.

“Can you wear that black skirt you wear at the restaurant when you work for me?”

I shake my head. “You are trouble,” I laugh as I’m shutting the door.

I shower with a smile on my face. I’m ecstatic that I will no longer have to work nights. I can’t wait to not be on my feet for hours. Best of all, I can work while Birdie is in school, which means I’ll be there for her at night. And I have Jake to thank for all of it.

I got dressed as quickly as I could so I could wake up Birdie while Jake made breakfast. When I told her Jake was in the kitchen, she shot out of bed like a rocket to see him. Luckily for me, she didn’t ask when he got here so I didn’t have to explain the fact that he slept over. Eventually, if Jake staying over becomes a reoccurring thing, I’m going to have to talk to her about it, for now I have another difficult discussion to tackle. I need to tell my manager at Catch 21 that I’m leaving. Even harder, though, will be telling Owen and Violet.

As I’m packing Birdie’s lunch for school, I watch her with Jake in the living room. The two of them are sitting side by side on the couch, playing a quick game of Mario Kart. Jake agreed to play one game if she got dressed and brushed her teeth after breakfast. I’ve never seen her move so fast. Now, they’re laughing and hollering at the TV. They’ve already become so cute together. Sometimes it feels like it’s me against the two of them.

I’m just slicing the last of a handful of strawberries when I overhear Birdie ask, “Are you my mommy’s boyfriend?”

My eyes shoot to Jake, just in time to see his expression change from playful to visibly anxious. He puts down his game controller.

“How would you feel about it if I was?” he asks thoughtfully.

Birdie smiles, turning on the couch to face him. “I would love it. Can I tell you a secret? And you promise not to tell Mommy.”

“Of course,” Jake says, holding his pinky finger out. “Pinky promise.”

Birdie wraps her pinky around Jake’s, and I smile, my heart expanding in my chest. She leans closer, thinking she’s whispering but in actuality I can hear the whole thing from across the room.

“Mommy likes you. She’s always smiling when she’s with you. She talks about you a lot.”

Jake grins at Birdie and then reaches over to lift her onto his lap. I melt. There is something about a big, broody-looking guy who is a softie for my daughter. “Can I tell you a secret?”

Birdie nods solemnly.

“I like your mom a lot too. She’s pretty special to me.”

“So, you are her boyfriend.”

“Yeah, Birdie-girl, she is my girlfriend.”

Birdie wiggles with a little squeal. “I’m the luckiest girl in the whole world. I love you, Jake!”

The knife in my hand slices the tip of my finger and I yelp, dropping it to the cutting board. “Ouch…” I say, breaking the sweet moment between them. Jake sets Birdie on the couch and then comes over to check on me.

“You okay?” he asks, gently taking my hand in his to get a look at the damage. My heart is beating like a drum in my chest, but it’s not from the cut. I can barely even feel that. Birdie just told Jake that she loves him. I take a deep breath and try to play it off like Birdie’s confession isn’t an absolutely huge fucking deal. Jake goes with it, but I can tell he’s shaken by it too.

“Where’s the first aid kit?” he asks.

“Under the bathroom sink.”

Jake returns to the kitchen and after applying Polysporin and a Band-Aid, I hurry to get dressed for work. I’m now behind schedule thanks to the unexpected injury, so I’m running around my bedroom trying to find my clothes when Jake walks into the room. He wraps his arms around me from behind and kisses my neck. I tilt my neck to the side, silently encouraging him to keep going even though I don’t have time.

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