I knew I had to see him tomorrow, and I was prepared for that. I’m certainly not prepared for this.
The knots grow tighter when I see his pained expression after spotting me in Michael’s car. I should be celebrating that fact, but it never comes. Despite everything that’s happened and everything he’s done, I still love him. There’s no denying that fact.
“You don’t have to see him if you don’t want to. It’s your choice, not his.”
I turn and face Michael, noticing the deep frown on his face. “It’s okay. I would have had to see him tomorrow anyway.”
Michael stops the car and gets out, but I’m rooted to the seat as Jake storms over to Michael, grabbing hold of his shirt.
“The moment Ana’s out of my house you’re here, thinking you can replace me?! You seriously think you can worm your way in, is that it?”
He thumps him up against the side of his car, and suddenly, my legs will me to move as the anger quickly rises through my veins.
Pulling the handle more forcefully than I should, I stomp out of the car, making my way over to both of them. “Jake, stop it!” I shout, a little louder than I intended. But seriously. This shit is not okay. “How dare you treat Michael this way? You have no right coming here after what you’ve done, and you certainly have no right roughing up the one man who has only ever been kind to me. Take your hands off him! Now!”
He releases his grip, and Michael straightens his shirt out, but Jake still has fury written all over his face. “He has no right being here and daring to take what’s mine.” For full effect, Jake points a finger in Michael’s face.
Shaking with anger, I wedge myself between Michael and Jake, pointing my own finger at Jake’s chest. “You have no right coming here, throwing your weight around like the bull that you are. I may have once been yours, but you lost that right when I came home that night and you completely ignored me!”
Noting my fury and realizing he really doesn’t have a comeback for that, Jake breathes out a little, his face softening. “Okay, I’m sorry. I really am. I came here to talk, and when I saw that you were with him,” he spits, pointing his finger again at Michael, “I saw red.”
He opens his mouth to say more, but when I huff at him, he thankfully keeps his mouth shut. Ignoring him for now, I turn around to see if Michael is okay. I ask if he is, he nods, and I mouth the words, “I’m sorry,” to him. I then turn my attention back to Jake. “He’s one good friend, taking another to the movies. For goodness’ sake, you’re such an asshole at times.”
He opens his mouth to say something again, but again quickly changes his mind. On a defeated sigh, he says, “I’ve missed you.”
The tears threaten to sting, but I stand my ground. I’m not going to let him see me cry.
“Jake, you and my mother…” I begin, but I can’t get the words out as I grip at my chest, trying to ease the pain tearing through my heart. I close my eyes and will myself to look at him. When I do, his face has changed from rage to agony.
“I don’t know how that happened. I swear to you, Ana. During those last few months we never …” He looks at me and then at Michael. He knows this conversation shouldn’t be happening here, so he wisely shuts his mouth. Michael, who is obviously feeling uncomfortable, tries to make his excuses to leave, but I tug on his arm and pull him to my side.
“So are you telling me that this is a miraculous birth? That this is some kind of immaculate conception?” I belt out a laugh as the whole thing sounds farcical.
He places his hands on his face, visibly distressed. “Look, can we have this conversation in private?” he asks, glancing at Michael.
Michael points to the other side of his car and says, “I’ll just be over there if you need me.”
“She won’t,” Jake mutters angrily under his breath. Once he’s out of earshot, Jake runs a hand over his face again. “A few months ago, I found out you were on a date with some guy. I went out and got drunk ... really drunk. I remember Stella putting me to bed