Page 82 of Unexpectedly You

When are they going to leave me alone?

I tunnel one of my hands into my hair, hoping it’ll give me strength. I don’t need this now that Jay is in danger. How can I prioritise one at the expense of the other?

My eyes meet Jay’s, and he must see the fury I’m barely keeping in check. “They think I’m not stable enough to care for her. That I don’t have the correct lifestyle to raise a child.” I have a job, someone who takes care of her when I’m not here. I own a house. What else should matter?

“Your life is great, and you give Arianna everything she needs,” he says. “You love her, and she’s safe here, and that’s a lot more than some kids get.”

“We both know they’re referring to me being gay, and it has nothing to do with working late.”

I need to call my lawyer, Adam Nolan. He took care of everything when Henry died. I need to keep Jay as safe as Arianna. Fuck, we don’t need any more trouble coming our way.

“There’s going to be an emergency hearing.” I want to scream, fuck them, but Arianna is sleeping and I don’t want to scare her or Jay with my inability to control my emotions. My jaw is tight, my breath sharp on the intake and thunderous on the exhale, while I try to keep everything bottled up. If it opens I’m not sure how I’m going to close it back up, and I can’t lose my shit right now.

“I’m so sorry, babe.” Jay’s voice and presence help me to stay afloat.

“They want to destroy me. Take away what matters to me. They won’t be happy until I’m left with nothing.” I swallow, feeling like a stone has settled in my gut, weighing me down.

“They won’t win.” His tone has a hint of desperation that resembles mine.

I look at the documents, still unable to believe they’re real. I need to call Adam now, and he needs to help me stop this nonsense. I pull my phone out of my pocket and shoot him a message, hoping we can talk today.

Jay takes my other hand, and I wrap my fingers around his.

“I’m sorry this is happening now, while you’re in trouble,” I say, pulling him closer because I need more of his touch.

“Arianna comes first, always.”

“Promise me you’re not going to leave,” I tell him. I can’t handle everything if I’m not sure he’s staying and I have to worry about him disappearing on me.

He takes a while to answer, and I worry he’s going to say no. “I’ll stay.”

I hate that it feels like a “for now,” but it gives me time to convince him that this is the place for him to be.

“I can’t walk away from the messy house, from Arianna, and from your amazing coffee.”

I don’t speak for a long moment, lost in dark thoughts of losing my family. When I gain control, I reach out to him and take his hand in mine. It’s not an intimate gesture, it’s more the need for a vulnerable and honest connection. “We’re both afraid of losing the people we care for, but together we’re stronger.” I move to stand in front of him and take his face in between my palms. “You make me stronger. And you make me believe that I’m good enough.”

His hands join mine, and he squeezes my fingers. “You do the same to me.”

“Then stay.” I hope he hears the forever I leave out.

A simple nod.

It’s enough for me, for now.

I left and went to the studio when my phone pinged with Adam’s message. He was free so he was happy to talk.

My temper was already hanging to the bridge by a finger, and whatever Mr Nolan was going to say might push me over the edge. Handling good news wasn’t the problem, but handling bad news was going to be difficult, especially with everything happening to Jay, so I told him to stay with Arianna, and that I would take care of everything.

Jay wasn’t happy but he was tired enough not to argue.

Through kissing Jay a few times to have my fill of his sweetness and his unwavering strength, going downstairs and then calling Adam, my gut kept telling me if they’d made this move, that meant they knew they had a chance of winning.

I’m not sure what I’m going to do if they win.

“Adam, thank you for taking the time,” I say as soon as he answers.

“No worries. What can I do for you?”