Page 14 of Wedding Whitney
Jake looks like he’s going to deck the guy, but I drag him out of the office, into the elevator, and then outside, where we both just stand there in the bright sunlight, as if a little confused about what to do next.
This is turning into the most disastrous week of our relationship, and I’m not sure how to salvage it.
“Babe?” I speak softly, gazing at him worriedly.
He doesn’t reply, but merely wraps his hand around mine.
“Jake, you’re scaring me. Please talk to me.”
“I’m all right. I’m just sorry.”
“What are you sorry for? None of this is your fault.”
“If you’d fallen in love with almost anyone else, this wouldn’t be happening.”
“Stop it.” I pull away and put my hands on my hips. “I don’t care about a biological child. I’ve told you this. I’m fine with it, no matter what the results are.”
“I don’t want this for you.”
“What? A wonderful life with the man I love? Jake, please don’t say things like that…”
This can’t be happening, not so close to the wedding.
Somehow, I have to make him see I don’t care what the stupid tests say. I come from a family of womanizers, alcoholics, and heart issues—I’m more than okay not having a biological child.
“How could they have lost your results?” he demands, throwing up his hands in frustration.
“I know. I’m annoyed too.” I turn to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Look, this isn’t ideal. I know that. I wanted definitive answers too. But when it’s all said and done, I just want you. Our friends are all having kids, so we’re around them constantly. We have a dog that’s so spoiled he might as well be human, and when we get ready for babies, there are millions of kids in foster care. We will become parents, one way or another. And I’m okay with however it happens.”
He looks down into my eyes. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. Now, can we please go shopping? I need a new bikini before the honeymoon.”
His eyes darken slightly. “We’re going bikini shopping?”
“We are.”
“I’m in.”
“Are you sure?” I tease.
“I’m very, very, totally, positively sure.”
Chapter 9
Jake
When the doctor’s office doesn’t call back with any results right away, the first inklings of doubt creep in. Whitney and I gave the office permission to leave her a message since we don’t have time to go back in person, yet we haven’t heard anything, which tells me there’s a good chance it’s bad news.
The idea of breaking things off with Whitney is inconceivable, yet I’ve actually considered it once or twice in the last couple of days.
The truth is—I’m scared.
Whether it’s of getting married again, the idea that we might go through something similar to what I went through with Addy, or something else entirely, I’m not sure. Whatever’s wrong with me has to be settled before I can go through with the wedding, though, and I don’t know what to do.
Aaron Ferrar, my best friend and best man, is arriving in the morning, so the plan is to get up early and get out of the house before Whitney or her grandmother are awake.
Maybe I’m a coward, but it’s more about giving myself one day to get my head out of my ass. With most of my teammates and their dates arriving soon to prepare for the wedding, I have to do some serious soul-searching.
