Chapter 12 - Jade #2
I nodded as I pulled the bacon off the griddle and started placing another packet onto the griddle. Brandon watched me as he took a sip of his coffee.
Before I could say anything, footsteps came down the stairs. We both looked up as Ilsa stepped off the landing. She was rubbing her eyes, her hair was everywhere, and her pajamas were crinkled. I could instantly tell she had slept hard and was probably still clinging to sleep.
“Morning, sweetie,” I spoke softly as she walked toward us, yawning as she did.
Brandon smiled at her, and I could see love in his eyes. I knew it ate him up seeing her and not being able to tell her the truth.
“Morning, Ilsa. You look like you slept well.”
She nodded. “I did.” Brandon offered her a hand up as she crawled into a chair. She sat down with a huff, and I grabbed a plate to start preparing her breakfast.
“We don’t have daycare for a while. You could have slept a little more, sweetie. It’s only a little before six.”
Ilsa shook her head. “I could smell it.”
I nodded as I slid her the plate. Ilsa instantly took a bite of the bacon and smiled. “It’s good.”
“Is it?” Brandon asked, before reaching over and grabbing a piece. My hand moved, and I smacked his hand, but I wasn’t quick enough. Brandon smirked as he popped the piece into his mouth. “It is,” he said, giving Ilsa a nod.
Ilsa giggled, taking another bite.
My stomach twisted up. It all felt so real, too much like an actual family. I knew that was the point, but suddenly it sickened me. Of course, it would confuse Brandon into thinking I wanted more because we were like this. A real family.
“You okay?” Brandon asked, giving me a concerned expression.
I quickly nodded, forcing a smile into place. I stuffed the worry down, knowing I needed to. I couldn’t let Ilsa catch on to my worry.
After we finished eating, Ilsa and I got ready to go. We were out of the house and at the daycare a few minutes after it opened. I kissed Ilsa on the top of her head before she ran over to play in the art corner.
I was leaving and glanced at my watch, knowing I still had time before work. I pulled my phone up and called Nora instead. It rang a few times before she answered.
“Jesus, you’re up early.”
I smirked. “Do you have time before work? I could meet you at the park near your work.”
Nora was quiet for a moment before she spoke. “Did something happen?”
“Not really,” I said softly, knowing I was probably just making a big problem out of nothing. “I just have time.”
“Okay, sure. I can meet you there in twenty.”
I nodded, hung up, and started driving over to the park. Twenty minutes later, sitting on the bench, I spotted Nora. She waved as she walked, looking like a breath of fresh air.
“Morning,” she said as she popped herself onto the bench. “So, why are we here so bloody early in the morning?”
I smirked, knowing she knew that something was wrong. We had always been able to sense that with each other.
“We kissed.”
Her eyes widened. “You and Brandon? I thought you hated him!?”
“I do. Well…I did.”
She waved a hand. “So wait, are you just doing it?”
“No, it was a one-time thing. It was just a kiss.”
Nora snorted. “Oh, that’s a load of shit.”
“It was,” I said and sighed. “We…we can’t screw this up for Ilsa.”
Nora’s face fell. “Do you want something to happen?”
I shook my head, but Nora simply raised an eyebrow at me. “Your face says otherwise.”
I looked away from her. “I don’t know. It’s simpler when we’re just living in the same house. But once you add emotions and feelings into the mix, it just…muddies everything.”
Nora tilted her head. “But you guys aren’t just living together, Jade. You guys have a child together. You guys are mates as well, so you’re trying to fight something that was not meant to be fought against.”
“You’re supposed to agree with me on this,” I grumbled.
Nora smirked. “I’m only stating the facts here.”
I huffed, and she tilted her head. “You know you’re getting all flustered over a kiss. If it was just a kiss, I don’t see the problem.”
I chewed on my lip. “Well…”
Her eyebrows went up, and she held a smug expression. “It wasn’t just a kiss, was it?”
I felt my face grow hot. “It may or may not have been…a moment.”
“Like you guys almost had sex?”
Would I have allowed it? I wasn’t sure. It all happened so fast. One moment, I was enjoying the way he held me, the way his lips pressed against mine, and then suddenly, I was aware of just how bad it was.
“I don’t know.”
Nora looked surprised. “Wow. Okay. Uhh, so I don’t know Brandon well besides what I’ve heard, but why don’t you go for it? I know you said Ilsa, but…you guys clearly get along.”
“And what if he decides to leave again?” I whispered softly.
“He left me once. He is enjoying this now, but I have no idea why he’s back.
I doubt it was just to take over as Alpha.
I don’t know what’s going on in the big picture, and how can I give him something like that when I don’t know the outcome?
” I twisted my fingers together. “I can’t allow anything to happen when it’s not just my heart I have to think about. ”
Nora gave me a soft, sympathetic expression. “Have you spoken to him about this?”
“I doubt he would be honest,” I said with a sigh. “And honestly, I’d rather live in la-la-land for a while, then think about the truth that he might leave.” And that was the big pill I couldn’t swallow.