Chapter 18 - Jude
JUDE
“How long do you think I can hide out here?” Arden asks over the melty grilled cheese on her plate. Her hair is a mess but her eyes are brighter than when she got here, and that eases some of the ache in my chest.
“As long as you want.”
“You say that now,” she teases, giving me a shy smile, and it’s all I can do not to reach across the counter and kiss her. Letting the intrusive thought win, I take a step when my phone rings, my brother’s name lighting up the screen.
“Hello?”
“I got some guy at Arden’s house lookin’ in the windows.”
“What?” I ask, my blood running cold.
“Who are you?” my brother barks, but the response is too muffled to make out.
“Evan Mills. Says he’s her father. He was here when I came by to take care of the other thing,” Deacon says, the other thing being I asked him to make sure Arden’s mother wasn’t camped out at her house. She had a dozen messages on her phone that I made sure to leave in the kitchen while we napped.
Napped.
I can’t remember the last time I took a nap, but I know I’ll definitely remember that one.
Glancing at Arden as she happily eats her sandwich, I run the probability of her being pissed and decide I’ll take my chances.
Because I’m done with her being wrecked mentally and emotionally by telling people she’s having a baby.
“Bring him here,” I tell him and listen to the next several seconds of silence before Deacon laughs.
“You got it, brother. See you soon.”
With a twitch of my lips, I end the call and drop my phone next to my plate.
“What’s that look for?” Arden asks with narrowed eyes.
“Hmm?” I don my best innocent expression and take a massive bite of my own grilled cheese.
“You’re up to something.”
“Yeah.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll find out in a couple of minutes.”
A couple of minutes turns into ten, Deacon’s footsteps heavy across the porch as he pushes open the door.
“Special delivery,” he calls and I watch as shock spreads across Arden’s face as her father walks through the door. I’ve seen him over the years with her sister, Ellison, and he gulps when his eyes meet mine before returning to his daughter’s.
“Dad? What are you doing here?” she asks, sitting up straight, but I notice that she doesn’t move to greet him.
Shuffling from foot to foot, he shoves his hands in the front pockets of his slacks. “Your mother called and said you were upset. Didn’t say why—just asked me to go over and check on you.” His gaze drifts to Deacon before returning to Arden. “Your security is better than I remember.”
“And you were there because…” Arden asks Deacon, who lifts one massive shoulder and lets it drop.
“Making sure no one was messing around while you weren’t there.”
Opening her mouth, she frowns and then closes it before turning to look at me. “What’s happening?”
“I thought we could talk to your father together.”
“Do you want me to leave?” Deacon asks but Arden shakes her head. He nods and moves off to the side and props himself against the doorframe.
I watch as a myriad of emotions crosses her face. She’s tired but resolved, and when she takes a breath, I move around the counter to stand by her side.
“I’m dating Jude,” she starts and my heart squeezes in my chest, “and we just found out I’m pregnant.”
Evan’s mouth drops open as he looks from Arden to me and back, pure joy radiating from him as a smile stretches across his face.
“You’re pregnant? Oh my gosh.” He takes a step forward and stops. “Can I hug you?” he asks her, his body vibrating with excitement, like a little kid about to open presents on Christmas.
“Sure,” she says, getting off the chair and closing the distance between them.
“Congratulations, this is wonderful news.” He holds her tight before pulling back and wiping a tear from under one eye. “And congratulations to you,” he says, holding out his hand to me.
I shake it, relieved. “Thank you. We’re”—I slide my gaze to Arden—“figuring things out.”
“And happy,” she adds and I nod.
“And happy,” I agree.
“You told your mom today?” Evan asks carefully, his face falling along with Arden’s.
“She…” Arden’s voice trails off and I place my hands on her shoulders and gently knead the muscles.
“She didn’t have the reaction we hoped for,” I say diplomatically. I expect Evan to recoil, maybe be defensive, but instead, he reaches for his daughter’s hand and she lets him.
“You deserve to have your news be met with all the excitement and enthusiasm imaginable. I also know that I am part of your mother’s problem and for that I am truly sorry.
I don’t want to come between you and your mother.
Our history is complicated and I can’t change that.
But I want to be a part of your future.” He pauses and meets my eyes.
“I want to be a part of the family you create, however that looks.”
“We want that,” Arden says, her voice shaky as she looks up at me and then back at her father. I squeeze her shoulders and release her when Arden pulls her father in for a hug. “I just can’t promise it’s going to be easy—that I’m going to be easy.”
“As long as you’re willing to give this a chance, we’ll be all right,” Evan says, the sentiment echoing my own from a couple of days ago.
Arden sighs and leans back into me. “Seems like we’re all about chances these days.”
And thank God for that.