Chapter Eighty-Eight
Emily
The hallway light from the restroom fades as I push back into the bar, the noise of Callahan’s rushing in around me.
Laughter. Glasses clinking. Music is low and steady.
I scan the room. Jake’s at the bar, already watching me. Something in me settles, and I go to him.
“Emily?”
I stop. Spencer. Of course. My stomach tightens. I’ve teased Jake about Spencer, but that's because he wasn't around. The last thing I want is trouble between us now that things are finally right.
“Hey,” he says, easy as ever. “You’re as beautiful as I remember.”
I give him a small, polite smile. “Hi, Spencer.”
No teasing. No flirting. Just kindness. He never mattered. Jake was always all I saw.
“How’ve you been?”
“Good. Busy.” A beat passes. Then another. There’s nothing else to say.
I glance past him. Jake is still there, watching. For a split second, I brace for it.... The interruption, the anger, the same distrust again.
But he doesn’t move. He just stands there, waiting. Letting me decide.
Something in me cracks open, fluttery, sharp, and raw. I don’t hesitate. I wave him over.
Jake’s gaze flicks to my lifted hand, then back to my face. He straightens and steps away from the bar, his movements steady and unhurried as he walks toward me.
Like he’s not afraid of what he’ll find when he gets here.
Spencer glances between us, something like understanding settling in his expression. “Well, this is already a better setup than last time.”
Jake stops beside me, close but not crowding. “That wasn’t on you. I handled that situation wrong.”
Spencer studies him for a second, then nods once.
“For what it’s worth,” he says, glancing at me before looking back at Jake. “Nothing ever happened. I took her home. She was completely hung up on you.”
“I know.” Jake tips his head toward Spencer. No hesitation. No edge. Just truth.
Spencer huffs a quiet laugh. “Good.” He straightens. “Glad you two figured it out.”
And then he’s gone. Just like that. No explosion. No wreckage left behind. Just gone.
I turn to Jake. He’s already looking at me, his eyes studying my face. He’s searching for something in my expression but not questioning me.
I step close to him, feeling his warmth and steady breath.
My hands come up before I think about it, settling against his jaw. “Thank you.”
His brows pull together. “For what?”
“For not doing that control thing again.”
Understanding settles in his expression, slow and certain.
“I almost did,” he admits. “Habit.” He takes a steadying breath, his eyes searching mine.
“I used to think I had to control everything around you to keep you safe. But seeing you here, choosing me, I realized I don’t have to hold on so tight.
Besides….” He winks. “I’ve already saved you from the bad guy, and we have a beautiful baby waiting at home for us.
He doesn’t stand a chance going up against me now. ”
My lips draw upward. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” His hand comes up, covering mine where it rests against his face. Warm. Solid. His thumb brushes along my skin, sending a shiver along my spine.
“I’m done with not trusting you. In believing I’m not good enough for you.” His expression is serious.
I believe him. That’s the difference. “He was never part of this.”
Jake’s thumb brushes lightly against my wrist. “I know.”
I lean in, letting my forehead rest against his, closing my eyes to hold on to the contentment I feel at realizing how far we’ve come together. I shouldn’t have worried about his reaction when I saw Spencer.
I know he trusts me. I know he believes in me. I know exactly how much he wants me.
For a second, the noise of the bar fades out completely, and I sigh.
“You’re still here,” he murmurs as his lips graze my temple.
I laugh. “Yeah.” Like that was ever a question.
His grip tightens slightly around my hand. “Good.”
I lace my fingers through his, grounding myself in the feel of him. "I’m not going anywhere."
Jake’s gaze holds mine. “I know. I love you, Pretty Girl. How about I take you home and show you how much you mean to me?”
“Do you happen to have any of Jolie’s Triple Chocolate Cake?”
He winks. “I just might.”
“Then, I think I’d like that.” I stand on my tiptoes and kiss his lips. “I love you, too.” I say against his mouth.
Spencer is long forgotten. And this time, there’s nothing left to misunderstand.