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“So, if your mom would’ve waited…”

I shook my head. “I don’t think it would have worked out the same way. Years ago, Dad took off on a cross-country bike trip. He stopped in a town in California that he said felt like home. So he moved and opened the bar. He wouldn’t have taken the trip, made the move, or followed his dream if he and my mom were together.”

“Him movin’ must’ve sucked for you.”

“They knew I’d have more stability here. It was hard, but it made the times I visited him better. I still saw him a ton. Once the bar was up and running, he flew out foreverything. Graduation, prom, stuff like that. Even little things. Like when I did a few baking competitions, he’d come watch. They weren’t any of the major ones, but he was always there, cheering me on like I was in the Olympics.”

As I spoke, I saw an expression I couldn’t figure out cross Jake’s face. Before I could ask about it, he continued, stating, “So it worked out.”

“Yeah. Mom and Dad might’ve lasted a while longer, but I think they still would’ve split eventually. And by then they may have missed out on Thomas and Nat. Timing can change your life like that.”

“Don’t I fuckin’ know it.”

“How so?”

Jake’s gaze heated as he looked at me. “Wasn’t supposed to work but had shit to do.”

My brows lowered in confusion. “What?”

“Planned on just stayin’ in the office but couldn’t find some papers. Went out to the lobby and saw this woman. Fuckin’ gorgeous. Fuckin’ classy. Fuckin’perfect. If I’d stuck with the plan? Even an hour later, and my life would be completely different.”

That he felt that and told me? I didn’t just love it.

I freakin’lovedit.

I closed my eyes and let the warmth seep in. Opening them, I reached across the table and grabbed his hand. My lips tipped up. “Glad something awesome came out of your crappy organization system.”

“And thank fuck for that. Excited about tomorrow?”

“Eh. It’s just a day. Birthdays have never really been a big thing for me.”

“But tomorrow you’ll be twenty-one. You gonna wanna be with me now that you won’t need me to get you booze?”

“Are you gonna wanna be with me now that I’ll be so old?” I shot back.

“Oh, good point.” Jake made an exaggerated thoughtful face as he stroked his jaw.

I threw the rest of my dinner roll at him, laughing as he caught it easily and popped it into his mouth. “You know I’m crazy about you, right?”

“Makes me the luckiest man in the fuckin’ world. Do you wanna do anythin’ tonight?”

“Today was insanely long. I kinda just wanna chill. Are you cool with going home and watching a movie?”

“Let’s go.” Jake stood and dropped cash on the table before guiding me to his bike.

*******

“Couch or bedroom?” Jake asked as he punched in the code for his security system.

“Bedroom.”

“Okay. Pick a movie. I’m gonna grab a shower real quick, yeah?”

I started browsing through his collection, pulling some DVDs out to look at the descriptions on the backs. As I went to return one, I noticed a few other movies hidden behind the rest. I pulled out his small stash of porn and looked them over.

Good to know my man likes it wild but not too crazy. I like kink, but it would’ve seriously sucked to find a stash of leather unicorn fetish videos.

Or worse.