Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Becca
Staring at the entrance, and waiting for Jacob to open my car door, I take a deep breath, attempting to calm the organ that’s attempting to break its way out of my ribcage. I didn’t realize how anxious I would feel showing up to the fundraiser with someone, only a year after Caleb passed.
It’s not like it’s just anyone, it’s Jacob—my high school boyfriend. But it doesn’t matter. I’m still walking in with another man I’m clearly interested in dating.
“Becs?” Jacob’s holding the door, watching me. Concern fills his gaze as he holds his hand out. “You know we can just walk in with each other, and not act like we’re together.”
Placing my cold hand in his warm one, I let his warmth seep through me. “It’s okay. It’s not—”
“It’s a big deal IF it’s a big deal to you.” Gently tipping my chin up with his thumb, he pins me with his gaze. Empathy, understanding, and love shine back at me. “Like I said the other night. This is a big step, and we can go as slow as you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
His espresso brown eyes look like melted chocolate chips on a double chocolate brownie, and my pulse slows. He’s right. We don’t have to rush, but more importantly, I’m not doing anything wrong. Caleb would want me to be happy.
Entwining his fingers with mine, a lopsided smile pulls at my lips. “Thank you.”
He leans in and places his lips on my forehead. “You’re welcome.”
Standing there for a moment, I take a deep breath, inhaling the worn leather smell of him, letting it wrap around me.
“Are you ready?” He asks softly, pushing a strand of loose hair behind my ear.
“Ready.”
I take a step forward just as he pulls back on my hand. “Wait. I have to grab something.”
Dropping my hand, he walks over to the driver’s side and opens the rear door. When he pulls out a long plastic bag from the back, my brows furrow. “What’s that?”
“It’s a surprise.” Jacob reaches out his hand to me, his eyes gleaming with mischief. Interlocking his fingers with mine again, he lifts my hand up to his mouth and presses his lips against the back, never taking his gaze from mine.
Butterflies gently flap their wings and shoot tiny shivers through the rest of my body.
“Have I told you how stunning you look tonight?”
“Maybe. But feel free to tell me as many times as you’d like.
” Pulling open the door, we walk inside Morretti’s and head to the backroom that’s used for special events.
Looking around I see Duncan and his wife, Ava, are already here in the back with Duncan’s brother, David, Scarlett’s dad, and his wife, Cat.
Steven and Scarlett are in between off to the side in an animated conversation when Steven notices me. Leaning over to Scarlett, he whispers something before heading over to Jacob and me.
Scarlett turns and waves before moving to join her dad and stepmom.
“Hey, Mom.” Steven steps up, kissing my cheek, before reaching out his hand to clasp Jacob’s. “Coach.”
“I’ll be right back,” Jacob excuses himself and walks over to Duncan, lifting the bag in his hand. Duncan leads him over to the table for auction items, and it’s then that I see what Jacob brought with him.
“He didn’t!” Steven’s eyes are wide and his mouth is agape as he watches Jacob pull out a signed hockey stick. “How much do you think that will go for?”
“Anywhere from four to twenty-five thousand.” Shock makes my voice husky, and I watch as Duncan says something to him, pulling a full-body laugh from Jacob. A silly grin tugs the corners of my mouth.
“I hate it when she’s right!”
“When who’s right?” I ask, just as Jacob turns toward me, but before he makes his way back, John rests his hand on Jacob’s shoulder and tips his head, then throws his thumb over his shoulder.
My eyebrows pull together, and I pull my bottom lip between my teeth, watching them.
“Scarlett,” my son responds.
“What was she right about?” I ask without looking away from the two men that I care dearly about. When John catches my eye and winks at me, the breath I was holding releases.
“This matchmaking thing.”
“Matchmaking, what?” My head veers toward Steven, eyes narrowed.
“Scarlett says she’s a matchmaker, and I’m constantly telling her she’s crazy, but she’s not. She really does know people.”
Pressing my lips together to keep a laugh in. Steven’s expression is confused, frustrated, and full of awe. I wonder if my son knows how he feels about his ‘best friend’.
“She told me the day Jacob got here that there was something between the two of you. I laughed at her, but she was right.”
“Hmmm…”
“Wyatt and Miles are here!” Steven points at the entrance. Just before he heads over to them, I grab his arm.
“Steven?” He turns back to me with his brows furrowed, and I swallow against the lump that just lodged itself in my throat. “How do you feel about Jacob and me?”
A bright smile spreads across his face. “I like him, Mom. And Dad would too,” he says softly before kissing my cheek and heading over to his brothers, who have both made a beeline for Jacob.
“I hope this goes better than it did the other night,” I grumble, watching John and my three sons surround him.
Jacob looks over at me, his eyes wide, and gives me a shaky smile.
And unless I’m mistaken, there may just be a tiny bit of fear reflected in them.
I lift my hand and wave my fingers at him, a grin on my face.
“Or he might just have to get used to this for a while.”
Jacob
“Miles called me after I saw you and Becca at The Bleacher Bean.” John says. My stomach rolls as I think about dinner the other night. I can only imagine what he said to his uncle. “Why didn’t you tell me that you were struggling your first few years on the Panthers?”
My stomach flips, and I wish he had asked me about Becca instead. Pushing my hand through my hair, I huff out a breath. “Because I was embarrassed. And maybe a little bit ashamed. It felt like if anyone knew the truth, I’d be letting them down.”
“Jake.” John rests his hand on my shoulder. “You were just a kid who lost his mom, and basically his dad. Not to mention you were across the country with no one. Not a single person would’ve been surprised.”
When I raise my gaze, it’s to find him shaking his head and grinning at me. “Knowing that part of your story, I’m even more impressed by everything you’ve accomplished.”
“Thanks, John. That means a lot coming from you.”
He grasps my shoulder just as Miles and Wyatt step over to us.
“As far as Becca goes,” John’s eyes get a bit hard, and I look around to see four sets of narrowed eyes staring at me. “I know you love her, but if you hurt her, you’ll have to contend with all of us.”
I gulp, trying to steady myself. I turn to Becca and give her a shaky smile, only to have her give me a finger wave. I’m surrounded by her brother and three boys, who are either taller than me or the same height, and she gives me a finger wave. A finger wave?
After feeling a little disappointed at her lack of empathy, I snort. That’s my girl.
“I understand,” I say, not taking my eyes off Becca before smacking John on the arm. “But I’m not going anywhere, as long as she wants me. If she ever decides, at another point in time, that I’m not the man for her, I’ll let her be.”
Glancing over at all of their confused expressions. I turn and walk to the woman I’m lucky to have another opportunity with, but stop and look back at them all. “I hope she knows how fortunate she is to have you all in her corner.”
Becca covers her mouth and giggles as she looks past me at her brother and sons. “What are they doing?”
“They’re all staring at you,” she says, the corners of her eyes crinkling, and she steps close enough to place her hands on my arms.
“And?” Raising my arms to her waist, and resting my hands there, I pull her closer, kissing the tip of her nose.
She raises her hazel eyes and pins me with her gaze. “Their mouths are hanging open. No, don’t look.” She laughs as she tugs on my chin to keep me from turning around.
“Well, what would you have me do?” She slides her hands up my shoulders and then over my back before playing with some hair hanging over my collar.
“Maybe you should kiss me.” Her eyes drop to my lips, and my chest starts to pound.
“Are you sure?” My voice is husky, and my hand tightens on her waist at the same time she applies pressure to the back of my neck, drawing me closer.
When our lips are a hair’s breadth from touching, she whispers, “Yes. Just make sure to keep it PG.”
My head unexpectedly pulls back, and a snort of laughter sneaks out. Glancing down at her eyes, I catch them sparkling. Lifting my hand to her cheek, I rub my thumb softly against her jawline, brushing her lips. “I love you, Becs.”
She wraps my hair in her hand and pulls me close before whispering words I’ve been aching to hear from her since the moment I left her standing on the street, watching me drive away.
“I love you too, Jacob.”
Becca softly presses her lips against mine, and the feeling of being home wraps around me.
Coming back to Maple Ridge was the last thing I ever intended, and yet it’s exactly where home was waiting for me.