Page 103 of Inevitable

“This is… Wow,” I whispered, emotions bubbling up inside me, threatening to spill out through my tears. “It’s beautiful. I can see you’ve really given it a lot of thought.”

“Yes, but it’s just an initial draft. I left space for you to add your goals, your dreams, your definition of success. You have a voice,” he added. “You always have. And I’m listening. I promise I won’t make decisions for you or us without talking to you first.”

I folded the paper and handed it back to him.

“Please. Give me a chance. Giveusa chance,” he pleaded, his blue eyes filled with conflicting emotions—hope, fear, love, sincerity.

“I have a few conditions.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” He smiled, then winced.

“What have we done?” I said, mostly to myself, reality sinking in. Even as upset as I was with my dad, I knew I’d hurt him too. “That was a disaster.”

My dad’s shock had registered first, followed quickly by disgust, betrayal, disappointment.

“Hopefully, he’ll come around.”

“And if he doesn’t?” Jonathan didn’t have an answer for that. Neither of us did. I sighed. “I’m worried that you’ll come to resent me. That you’ll regret this.”

“Baby, look at me.”

I shook my head, fighting back tears. He lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “I could never regret being with you. I love you, Sumner.”

“I love you too,” I said, though it didn’t come with the sense of joy I’d hoped it would. It was tinged with sadness and fear, regret and longing. And I worried that neither Jonathan’s nor my relationship with my dad would ever be the same.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Two Months Later

Sumner sat at the kitchen table, books littering the surface. Her eyes were glued to her laptop, and when she let out a deep sigh, dragging her hands through her hair, I knew I’d let her be long enough.

“Maybe it’s time to take a break from studying,” I suggested, grabbing a drink from the fridge. She jolted, quickly typing something on her keyboard.

“There’s that new Thai place down the street,” I said, dropping a kiss on her head. “We could grab some dinner.”

“I don’t have time to take a break.” Her eyes never left the computer. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a loose bun, strands falling around her face. She’d never looked more beautiful. “Everyone knows this professor is evil, and I need a good grade in his class.”

“Come on.” I placed my hands on her shoulders, hoping the massage would soften her, relax her. “Just a little break. I want to show you something.Please,” I added.

“Mm. That feels good,” she moaned, body going limp.

I grinned but kept kneading her shoulders, smoothing away the knots beneath the surface, wishing I could just as easily relieve all her cares. As happy as we were together in our new life, there was a sense of loss over what had happened with Ian and Lea. It was this ever-present shadow that hung over us. Whether we talked about them or we didn’t, I knew they were often on Sumner’s mind.

She let her head drop forward, and I leaned down to kiss her neck. She shivered when I ran my nose along the column of skin. I stilled, my eyes catching on one of the browser windows.

“What’s that?” I asked, pointing at the tab.

“Oh, um. Nothing.” She slammed the laptop shut and stood quickly.

“Ooh. Was it porn?” I teased, though I already suspected the answer was no.

“What would you do if I said yes?”

I lifted a shoulder. “Ask if we could watch it together?”

She rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t hide the way her pupils darkened, breath quickening.Interesting.I stored that little tidbit away in my memory bank.

“What did you want to show me?” she asked.