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I don’t know why I’m confiding in this woman, but I do. “I know about the ring and the boy who gave it to you. I know you loved him—love him still. I know Jake is not Bill’s son. And I know Jake has no idea, but he should know. He deserves to know.”

Her mouth opens and closes, her eyes wide. “H-how?”

I shrug. “I just know things. And you can trust me. I won’t say anything to anyone. But Jake needs to know. His whole life, he’s felt unloved by your husband, the man he thinks is his father. Jake blames himself for it. And he blames himself for Emily. He’s been carrying this burden for far too long.”

“I-I can’t.”

“You can. And you will. For Jake’s sake, you need to. Bill doesn’t deserve your protection.”

She’s shaking, and the tears are streaming down her face now. “I hoped he would never find out. But then Jake was born with the same eyes as my Ethan.”

“Jake and his father—his real father—deserve to know the truth. Maybe even have a chance at a father-son relationship. It’s not too late.”

She looks at the promise ring on her finger and nods. “Okay. I will. I’ll go see Jake when Bill is away. He likes to go hunting and is gone a week at a time. I’ll go to Jake then. I promise.”

Chapter45

Jake

So much fora day off and spending time alone with Ava. I didn’t mind seeing my mother. It’s him I can’t stand seeing. His every word is an attack, and every look is condescending. My mother should have divorced him years ago. She could have met someone else and been happy. I don’t understand why she stays with him.

Lunch was awkward and would have been a disaster if not for Ava telling stories about her travels and her job. They are gone now, but the heaviness from my father’s presence still lingers. Now that it's past lunchtime, the restaurant is almost empty, and our table is cleared. I move to sit next to Ava and take her hand. “I’m sorry you had to witness . . . I don’t even know what to call it. The disaster that’s my family.”

She squeezes my hand. “It’s not a disaster. Everyone’s family has people who are less than pleasant. I like your mother. She’s a sweet lady.”

I nod. “She is and she liked you, too. She whispered in my ear that I should keep you.”

Ava’s face turns pink, and she smiles. “She did?”

“Sure did. And Mom has never said that about anyone before.”

The waiter paces behind us. “I think that’s our cue to leave.”

“We should go then.”

My gaze lingers on her. What I want and what I should do are two vastly different things. We stand up at the same time, and I walk Ava to her car.

She nibbles on her lower lip. “I’m following you back to your house, right?”

I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “I want to spend the weekend with you. Are you sure you want to stay with me?”

Ava lowers her gaze and then meets my eyes. “Yes, I think you still owe me a dance.”

Her cheeks go red when she says that. “I liked dancing with you very much. I would like to dance a lot more.”

“What’s keeping us from dancing then?”

I can add the word dance to the list of things that will give me automatic hard-ons from now on. “My job and the mess that comes with it. I never imagined it would get this complicated and I don’t want to expose you to that. To a serial killer.”

She lifts a shoulder. “It is what it is.”

“Whoever this guy is, he’s watching.”

“Everyone has already seen us together, Jake. We’ve been seen at the police station a dozen times, at least. And how many times did you come to my apartment? Jogging, the boardwalk, the beach. People have seen us. I have to go back home soon, and I don’t want to waste any more time away from you.”

“It’s risky—”

“Maybe it is and maybe it’s not. But I’m safe when I’m with you.”