Page 34 of Unofficial

"I'm good," Jess calls back. "Just catching my breath."

He knocks on the door, and she opens it. Both stand completely naked, and he cups her face. "Was that okay? Was it too much too soon?"

The sex or the confession? "No, it was good. I guess you could say I got a little overwhelmed, but it wasn't too soon."

His lips find hers, and he guides her back to the bedroom. "We can take a step back if you need."

Pushing him gently to sit on the edge of the bed, she places her hands on her hips and sees him come to life again. "Really? We're both naked and ready to go for round two, and you want to take a step back?"

Instead of kissing her and guiding her onto him again, he surprises her by taking her hands from her hips and interlocking his fingers with hers. "I'm not going anywhere, Jess. I'm here. I'm all in."

The words hit her, and she feels the tears she refuses to let fall. "I don't want to take a step back. I think I may have just needed to hear you say that."

"That I'm not going anywhere?"

She smiles and wraps her arms around his neck, her chest pressed beneath his chin. "Yes."

He kisses her, and she reaches for a foil packet from her bedside drawer for him. Slipping it on, she climbs onto his lap, letting his words wash over her. They're words she's been longing to hear, but she can't help feeling that they're coming from the wrong man.

Chapter Thirteen

Kade stares at his phone, hoping it will somehow magically tell him what to do. Three calls, and Jess didn't pick up a single one. He starts to worry. Jess has never ignored more than one or two calls outside of the night she ran away from the bar. Does he worry? Is he allowed to worry?

Flipping through his contacts, he calls his cousin, Drew.

"Dude, it's eight-thirty," Drew answers.

"What're you, ninety? Isn't it a little early for your bedtime?"

"It's the kids' bedtime. You know that."

Shit. He does know that. "Sorry. Do you want me to call you back?"

"Give me like ten minutes. Is everything okay?"

"I think so. Maybe. I don't know."

"I'll call you back."

Kade taps his fingers on the back of his phone as he waits for his cousin. Drew may be his cousin by blood, but he's his brother in his heart. Drew's parents took Kade in when he was only eight after his dad murdered his mom and went to prison.

Until he moved in with the Olsen's, Kade had been an only child. Drew was the youngest of three and only six months older than Kade. He was there for Kade when it felt like the entire world was against him. Drew gave him space when he needed it, and he knew to be there during the difficult times, forcing his way in if Kade wouldn't open up. Most of the time, he'd just be there, no words being shared, letting Kade know he wasn't alone. The only other person who ever made him feel calm just by being present was Jess.

Drew is only six months older than Kade, but he's always felt years older. The man has always had his shit together, and he was the person Kade wanted to be one day. He wanted to have the life Drew did. Married to an amazing woman with kids who adore him. He was on that path until he got run over by a damned bulldozer.

"Come on, man," Kade says and flips his phones in his hands. "You always have the answers, and I really need some goddamned answers."

His cousin's name finally appears on the screen, and he answers in less than a second. "Hey."

"Who's pregnant?"

Kade can't help but laugh, but an image of Jessica carrying his child pops into his mind. It's not an unwelcome thought, which only adds to his panic. "No one. Well, I'm sure someone in the world is, but it ain't mine."

"Keep that story until the DNA proves otherwise."

"Shut up."

"You had your freaked out voice when you called, and I haven't seen you much outside of work lately. What's going on?"

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