Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Zac
“What do you think?” I ask, looking at the large open space where my bedroom sits. An area large enough for several rooms only surrounded by iron railings. “This could all be closed off, into three different spaces. Maybe dark industrial looking barn doors or something like that used as bedroom doors. Even keep the long narrow windows across the top of the walls, in order to allow the light to continue to flow through.”
“You want to close this all off?” Jace asks, looking around the space.
Maybe not initially, I loved the idea of my bedroom being upstairs on the large landing above. Almost like I was floating above the rest of the house. Now, things feel different.
“I’m just thinking ahead,” I say, plans for change floating around in my mind. “I don’t want to live here by myself forever.”
“Are you thinking of Presley and Grayson?”
“And the baby,” I add, still feeling a little floored by the idea of being a father.
“Wow, I didn’t know the two of you were there yet.”
“We’re not.” I lean back against the railing, crossing my arms over my chest. “But we could get there.” If her stubborn ass would give into the idea.
“Even if I’m crazy and they never fully move in, I hope I’ll at least have them staying here when the baby does. It’s nice having them here.” More than nice, actually but I keep that part to myself. “I just thought I could close off the room a bit, while still keeping it decent a size. Then I can add two bedrooms, smaller of course, but also private. Then Grayson could have one and the baby the other.”
“What about Presley’s room?” he asks with a smirk and I ignore him. “What’s going on with you two anyway?” I should have known he wouldn’t let it go. Jace isn’t one to stop pushing.
“We’re just hanging out.”
“Yeah, just hanging out.” He chuckles. “From what the girls say, the two of you are hooking up and shit like that tends to get messy fast. Plus, there are kids mixed up in this situation, so that’s like adding fuel to a fire. Shit’s going to ignite and fucking blow.”
“Thanks for the words of encouragement, dick.”
I start for the stairs and he follows right after me. “Are you telling me that everything is kosher and you two are getting along like bees and honey?”
“More like oil and water,” I say more to myself but he hears me and chuckles.
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“She’s fucking stubborn, even more so than Ror and I’ll be honest I never thought I’d meet a woman more stubborn than yours.” Aurora and Jace were a mess from the start, one that she didn’t make any easier by constantly fighting him at every turn. But then he did the same so it was like two fucking bulls ramming and fighting each other. But in the end they found their way and I’d never tell Jace because it would go to his head, but they give me hope.
“I’m pacing myself,” I decide to continue before he could add his two cents. “She’ll come around, I just have to make her see that not every guy is like her ex, or her father. She hasn’t really had a good track record with the guys in her life.”
“From what Aurora has said she’s never really had a guy treat her right. Her father was a prick, and then she got wrapped up with Grant. No wonder she is so sure everything will go wrong. She’s never had it go right.”
I grab two beers out of the refrigerator and pass one to him.
“Can you answer one question, and I promise it’s the one and only time I will ever ask it?”
“Okay,” I say, taking a sip of my beer, preparing myself for whatever it is he may ask.
“Is this really what you want? Presley and Grayson here with you, is that real? Or is it because she’s pregnant and you being the guy that you are, is it more about feeling like it’s the right thing to do?”
I hold his stare, feeling my pulse quicken.
“If you’d asked me several weeks ago I’d probably say it was solely because of the baby. I may not have planned for it but I don’t want my kid being raised without me around. I want to be involved and not just a few days a week. I want to be the kind of father mine was before I lost him.” It practically kills me to know that neither of my parents will be here to know my kid.
“But lately I’ve been spending a lot of time with Presley and Grayson. We hang out, watch movies, and make breakfast together. It’s all the shit I used to do with my parents, and I realize I’ve fought against the idea of ever having what I did when I was young. I gave up the idea of ever having a family outside of you guys and your girls. I’d be the cool uncle, and the best friend.” I clear my throat, feeling my emotions get the best of me. “But something shifted, the night Grayson stayed over and we sat up watching TV. I crawled into his tent the next morning and we laid there for hours watching old cartoons and laughing. It was the strangest feeling, like I was reliving my years with my father only this time I was the dad. I know Grayson isn't my son, but you got to admit the kid is pretty kick ass. That is Presley, she raised him to be the little man he is now. The same woman that raised him is going to be the mother of my child and that fact, it’s altered what I want in life. All those ideas of being fine with being alone, it’s made me realize that will never be good enough. I want it all, I want the life I had before those bastards stole my childhood. I want to be the man my father was, the husband he was. Damn it Jace I want a house full of laughter and wild chaos. I want barbecues and morning cartoons. So to answer your question, yes I want the three of them, right here, under this roof with me.”
“You know she’s going to fight you on this?”
“I’ve already prepared myself to fight right back. Nothing worth fighting for is ever easy. But this fight isn’t one I’m willing to lose.”