6. Jace
JACE
“ D ammit, Missy,” I call out to her. But I’m practically out of breath by the time I catch up with her. She’s booking it in those heels. If I weren’t so pissed off over the way she just ended things, I’d be impressed.
“Most days, I’m the first to admit I have no damn clue what I’m doing when it comes to women,” I say, voice low, hands open at my sides. “But you’re gonna have to help me out here, sweetheart.”
Missy’s standing stiff in front of me, arms folded across her chest like a shield.
Her jaw is clenched so tight, I swear I can see the muscle twitch.
Her eyes blaze with something just beneath anger.
Is it fear? Or maybe it’s hurt. But that doesn’t make any sense.
I’m the one who got unceremoniously rejected when I thought we were in love.
“Jace, stop. This is already so hard.” She holds up a hand like a traffic cop.
I swear there is a tear in her eye, and it hits me square in the gut.
“You can’t just casually make and break plans where kids are concerned.
I know it isn’t anything to you to offer to come to a game and then change plans.
But it’s everything to him. That isn’t your fault.
You aren’t his dad, and you didn’t know he existed, which was so stupid. ”
Her voice cracks on the word, and something cold settles in my chest.
“I’m not upset that you have a son. I’m surprised, but it feels like a bonus. I don’t know why that’s a bad thing.”
She shakes her head and pulls her shoulders back. “I know this isn’t your fault. You’re not his dad. I’m not expecting you to be. But I am his mother. That means I’m the one who has to pick up the pieces when people walk away.”
“Then don’t make me go.” I shrug. “I don’t understand what’s happening here. I’m all in with you, that means I’m in for Ethan too.”
Her eyes meet mine, and they’re glassy but unflinching. “I can’t let you come into our lives, into his life, only to leave. He can’t take any more losses. And neither can I.”
I open my mouth. Shut it. Run a hand through my hair, tugging at the back of my neck because everything feels too tight. “Then I won’t leave,” I say finally, voice steady even though my pulse is all over the place.
Her whole body goes still. Like I flipped a switch.
“Stop it, you have a whole life Jace. I’m sorry I let this get so out of control.
Let’s cut our losses before we get any deeper.
” She steps back, just one small, quiet step, but it might as well be a mile.
She looks like she’s already preparing herself for the goodbye. It knocks the air right out of me.
“I won’t—” But she cuts me off.
“Jace, go help your brother at the timber yard. Check in on him. This break will give us a chance to get our footing. When you get back, we can work on being friends.”
“Okay then.” My heart stutters in my chest. “That’s what I’ll do.”
But even as I say the words, I know it’s a lie. Missy is the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. There is no chance that I’m going to keep my distance. As she walks away, the plan stretches out in front of me. All of a sudden, I know exactly what I need to do.
I walk back toward the field and pull out my phone. My brother answers on the first ring.
“James, there’s been a change in plan…”