his ex started calling him, looking for attention. I couldn't deal with it. I'm too insecure to share my man. Even somebody as hot and out-of-my-league as Cody couldn't tame the envious bitch in my mind that wouldn't allow me to trust him. When he was out with friends, I had to keep checking in on him. When he was in the shower, I wanted to read his texts to see who he was talking to.
I made a lot of mistakes in our relationship, and although I will probably always regret them, at least I know what not to do if another love-of-my-life shows up to whisk me away. Unfortunately, that's a pretty big if, and I'm not holding my breath that it'll ever happen.
Chapter Four
Beth
We’re just sitting down with my Chai latte and Isla’s hot cocoa when I see JR pull up in an older BMW. Last time I saw him, he had a slammed Impala with hydraulics. I’m more than a little surprised he gave that up for something so…respectable.
“Isla, baby, there’s someone coming here to meet you.”
She looks around the store. “Who is it?”
God, I don’t want to tell her who he is. But he’s gonna expect her to know when he walks in, so I can’t put it off any longer. “Well, it’s your daddy. He’s here to see you.”
“But you said I don’t have a daddy.”
“I know, baby. Actually, I didn’t explain it the right way. You do have a daddy, but he lives far away. And he’s coming in right now to meet you.”
“He is?” Her eyes are big as she scans the coffee shop. Just then, JR walks in, a pink pony with a rainbow mane in one hand and a dozen roses in the other.
Her attention locks on the stuffed animal then moves up to the light brown eyes I couldn’t stop staring into when I first met him. There was something about his “bad boy” persona that attracted me, even though I knew he was trouble. But one night with a busted condom was all it took to keep us connected to each other forever. I’ll never regret having Isla, but I sometimes wish I had her with someone else. Someone that would never hurt or disappoint her. Someone like Nate, my brother-in-law. His estranged ex dropped her kid at his doorstep two years ago, and he immediately stepped up to the plate.
Then again, maybe I should be a little more open minded with JR. It’s possible he’s grown up and made some positive changes in his life.
He struts over to us, extending the pony to Isla. “Hi, sweetheart. This is for you.”
“For me?” Isla accepts the gift and hugs it to her chest. Then she turns and whispers loudly in my ear. “My daddy gave me a present.”
JR beams at her acknowledgment of his parentage.
“I can see that, baby. And it’s just the kind you love.” I push a stray lock of hair behind her ears. “What do you say to him?”
Her whole body flinches when she realizes what she forgot. “Oh, sorry. Thank you, Daddy.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart. I hope you like it.”
Isla nuzzles her cheek against the soft fur. “I love it. It’s my favorite.”
I can tell by the longing in his eyes that he wants to pick her up. Fortunately, he has the good sense to keep some distance. After all, she was just a few months old when she last saw him. He finally looks at me. “And these are for you.”
I smile and take the bouquet from him. “Thanks, JR. They’re lovely.”
“Like you, babe. You haven’t changed a bit.”
That’s what you think… “Actually, I have. I’m a completely different person now. I’ve grown up.”
He looks me over again and winks. “Yes, you have.”
“I’m Isla.” My sweet girl holds out her hand the way she was taught when meeting new people.
“I know, sweetheart. I was there when you were born. I signed your birth certificate.”
“He was there, Mommy?” She turns to me with an almost accusing tone.
“Yes, he’s your daddy. We lived with him when you were a tiny baby.”
“Why don’t we live with him now?” She looks between me and her father.
JR gives me a
I made a lot of mistakes in our relationship, and although I will probably always regret them, at least I know what not to do if another love-of-my-life shows up to whisk me away. Unfortunately, that's a pretty big if, and I'm not holding my breath that it'll ever happen.
Chapter Four
Beth
We’re just sitting down with my Chai latte and Isla’s hot cocoa when I see JR pull up in an older BMW. Last time I saw him, he had a slammed Impala with hydraulics. I’m more than a little surprised he gave that up for something so…respectable.
“Isla, baby, there’s someone coming here to meet you.”
She looks around the store. “Who is it?”
God, I don’t want to tell her who he is. But he’s gonna expect her to know when he walks in, so I can’t put it off any longer. “Well, it’s your daddy. He’s here to see you.”
“But you said I don’t have a daddy.”
“I know, baby. Actually, I didn’t explain it the right way. You do have a daddy, but he lives far away. And he’s coming in right now to meet you.”
“He is?” Her eyes are big as she scans the coffee shop. Just then, JR walks in, a pink pony with a rainbow mane in one hand and a dozen roses in the other.
Her attention locks on the stuffed animal then moves up to the light brown eyes I couldn’t stop staring into when I first met him. There was something about his “bad boy” persona that attracted me, even though I knew he was trouble. But one night with a busted condom was all it took to keep us connected to each other forever. I’ll never regret having Isla, but I sometimes wish I had her with someone else. Someone that would never hurt or disappoint her. Someone like Nate, my brother-in-law. His estranged ex dropped her kid at his doorstep two years ago, and he immediately stepped up to the plate.
Then again, maybe I should be a little more open minded with JR. It’s possible he’s grown up and made some positive changes in his life.
He struts over to us, extending the pony to Isla. “Hi, sweetheart. This is for you.”
“For me?” Isla accepts the gift and hugs it to her chest. Then she turns and whispers loudly in my ear. “My daddy gave me a present.”
JR beams at her acknowledgment of his parentage.
“I can see that, baby. And it’s just the kind you love.” I push a stray lock of hair behind her ears. “What do you say to him?”
Her whole body flinches when she realizes what she forgot. “Oh, sorry. Thank you, Daddy.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart. I hope you like it.”
Isla nuzzles her cheek against the soft fur. “I love it. It’s my favorite.”
I can tell by the longing in his eyes that he wants to pick her up. Fortunately, he has the good sense to keep some distance. After all, she was just a few months old when she last saw him. He finally looks at me. “And these are for you.”
I smile and take the bouquet from him. “Thanks, JR. They’re lovely.”
“Like you, babe. You haven’t changed a bit.”
That’s what you think… “Actually, I have. I’m a completely different person now. I’ve grown up.”
He looks me over again and winks. “Yes, you have.”
“I’m Isla.” My sweet girl holds out her hand the way she was taught when meeting new people.
“I know, sweetheart. I was there when you were born. I signed your birth certificate.”
“He was there, Mommy?” She turns to me with an almost accusing tone.
“Yes, he’s your daddy. We lived with him when you were a tiny baby.”
“Why don’t we live with him now?” She looks between me and her father.
JR gives me a
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