Page 23 of You’re Mine

Closing my eyes, I inhale and exhale, trying to relax. After seven years, Jace has appeared out of nowhere to say hello? What’s going on? Am I dreaming? Going insane? Can this be real?

“I’m not going to break down, I’m not going to break down,” I mumble to myself. “Everything is going to be okay. I’m going to be okay. It’s all okay.” He probably thinks I’m a lunatic for talking to myself. Right. I have to prove I’m okay without him. That I’ve moved on.

I open my eyes and focus back on Jace before nodding firmly. There’s no need to have a panic attack. It’s just my ex-boyfriend whom I loved with all my heart, and he’s back after not talking to me for seven years. Not to mention, our son is running around behind me completely unaware that his father’s here and – oh shit!

“Um hi, I just – I’m surprised to see you. It’s been so long.” The words coming out of mouth are garbled and going at light speed, but I don’t know what to do.

Jace narrows his eyes at me which makes me nervous because that’s what he used to do when he knew I was trying to deflect.

“Haley, what’s going on?” he asks evenly. In the background, Jamie’s doing cartwheels and totally oblivious to the fact that this handsome man is his dad. His biological father.

“Not a whole lot is going on,” I say brightly. “As you can see, I’m still in Lenville, living with my parents.”

“Haley.” Jace’s stern voice shuts me right up. I stand up straight, almost vibrating with manic energy. “You need to calm down, but first tell me: Who. Is. That. Boy?”

My hands mash into one another. How do I tell him? Should I just blurt out the truth? Is that the right way to do it? Doesn’t Jace deserve something more… I don’t know, softer?

“Haley.” Now, those blue eyes are blazing, demanding answers. I let go of my reservations. There’s no sense in lying when the truth is so obvious.

“Yes, Jamie is your son,” I manage in a quiet voice. “We conceived him that time we made love in the back of your truck.”

Pressing my lips together, I anxiously wait for the man to respond, but he doesn’t do or say anything. Instead, there’s a grim look on his face as those blue eyes take in the boy who looks just like him. Do I say something else? Give him time to process? I’d stopped thinking this was ever going to happen and, now that is has, it’s like my worst nightmare and favorite dream rolled into one.

“I was going to tell you,” I say hurriedly, but suddenly my words are cut off because there’s a tugging at my hand. Jamie’s small fingers wrap around my palm.

“Mommy, are you okay? Who is this?” His sweet, light voice floats up to me, and I force myself not to tremble. But there’s still a tremor in my voice when I speak.

“Jamie, sweetheart, well, this man, he’s … he’s your father.”

Oh god. I just bungled it. But my son doesn’t realize that.

“Oh,” is all Jamie says, his blue eyes peering up at Jace innocently. This is definitely not the way to introduce a child to a parent they’ve never met, but my son doesn’t know that fortunately.

Jamie lets go of my hand and walks up to Jace. He stands directly in front of the huge man and looks him up and down before extending one small hand.

“Hi, I’m Jamie.”

Immediately, the handsome man crouches so that he’s eye to eye with his son. He takes Jamie’s hand, carefully shaking it.

“Hi Jamie, I’m Jace. Nice to meet you.” The two of them finish shaking hands and look at me. Jamie’s gaze is filled with innocence and Jace’s? Well, there’s something blazing in there, and I don’t want to dissect what it is at the moment. So I smile cheerily like nothing’s wrong, but before I can say anything, my ex interrupts.

“Haley, we need to go,” Jace growls. “Now.”

I kneel down and turn Jamie towards me, “Sweetie, go play over there for a little bit. I need to talk with … with your father.” That’s going to take some getting used to saying.

Jamie scampers off, but not too far. I’m not sure what Jace is about to say, but I don’t want Jamie to overhear.

“What do you mean, we have to go? What are you talking about? Go where?” I ask.

His air is menacing, although I don’t feel afraid. Somehow, I know he’s angry at someone, but it’s not me.

“You and Jamie are coming with me to New York. Now.”

I gasp. Is it true? Is Jace here to claim my son as his? My heart beats fast, and I try to make sense of the entire situation. How is this happening, after so long apart? Even more, can I resist this handsome man after everything that’s passed between us?”

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