Melanie chews on her lower lip. “You’re nervous.” I don’t reply. “The only time I’ve seen you like this was when you had to tell us about Dad.”
“It’s nothing like that, Mel.”
“I didn’t think it was. I’m sure it’s that you plan to tell us about you and Jacob, as though we didn’t already know.”
“How could you know something that didn’t happen?” I counter.
“Please, Mom. Jennifer’s mom told her how she saw you guys kissing at the carnival. Then your lipstick was gone after you went out to the barn a few weeks ago.”
My cheeks burn, and I turn away. “That’s enough.”
Her voice goes a little higher, and she pokes my side. “You’re dating Jacob, and you’re afraid to tell us.”
I let out a deep breath and then face her. “Yes. I’m dating Jacob. Officially. Now. And, of course, I was nervous about telling you.”
Mel smiles. “We like him, and we sort of figured this was coming.”
“And that’s what makes me nervous, babe. He’s, like, a big star and this uber famous man. If we break up, who do you think this town and the people in it will turn on?”
My daughter, who is far too wise for her age, just shrugs. “Then they’re not people we want in our lives.”
“How did you get to be so smart?”
“Dad.”
I burst out laughing and pull her in for a hug. “I love you, Mel.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
There’s a knock at the door, and we break apart, both smiling. “Come on, let me go introduce you to my . . . boyfriend.”
We walk hand in hand to the door where Jacob stands with a bouquet of flowers in front of him.
“These are for you.” My heart flutters, and I go to grab them, but he takes them back. “Not you.” He then extends them to Melanie. “But you.”
Melanie takes the flowers, her smile wide as she giggles. “Thank you, Jacob. These are beautiful.”
He winks at me and then focuses on Melanie. “It’s my pleasure.”
Melanie leans in and kisses his cheek. “I’m glad you’re dating my mother.”
Jacob’s eyes widen, and his gaze darts to me. “You told her?”
“She guessed.”
“The whole town knows,” Mel says with exasperation.
“Apparently, everyone knew before we did.”
Jacob shakes his head with a laugh. “And this is reason four hundred and thirty-three as to why I hate small towns.”
“What’s number four hundred and thirty-two?” I ask with bemusement.
“Cows.”
Melanie snorts, and I roll my eyes. “Come on in, you ridiculous man. We still have one more kid to talk to.”
Sebastian took it exactly as I expected. He was overjoyed. Jacob won my son’s heart the day he showed up at the door, so the mere idea of getting to be a part of his life is beyond Sebastian’s wildest dreams.
The paranoid and overanalytical part of me is screaming to proceed with caution. It won’t just be one broken heart in this house if things don’t work out. The other part of me is saying to stop assuming it will end in failure and just enjoy the journey.
Not sure which side is going to win out.
However, the kids are in their rooms since they have to be up early for school, and Jacob and I are on the couch with a movie on that neither of us is really watching. Instead, I’m just enjoying this. The normal little bubble we have where I’m allowed to rest in the arms of the man I am falling in love with.
“So, how do you think we did?” he asks.
“I think it was good.”
“Me too. It’ll make it easier for me to be here more often now that they know.”
I smile at that sentiment. “I’m going to like you being around more.”
He kisses the top of my head. “Remember you said that after you find out I ate all your ice cream.”
I think I’ll say that always, ice cream or not. Here, it’s just Brenna and Jacob. There’re no fears of people finding out about us or wondering if what we’re doing is right or wrong. We’re us. We’re content. We’ve had a good meal, laughter, and we’re winding down together.
“Are you hiding some flaw that will make me immune to your charm?”
“Don’t you wish you knew?”
“Are you going to answer the question?”
Jacob chuckles. “Are we playing the who answers the question with a question game again?”
I tilt my head so I can look at him. “I don’t know, are we?”
We both laugh softly, and he adjusts us so I’m now lying on his leg. “It’s just that we went from casually hooking up with no expectations to dating in a world where there are cameras and intrusive people. The fact that I haven’t had a girlfriend in over ten years is going to be a big deal. Add in that you’re a single mom in a small town, and it’s going to be an even bigger story.”
“Did you talk to your publicist?”
Jacob nods and brushes my hair back. “I did. Catherine is going to work up a press release so that we control the narrative. She wants to release a statement and photos of us together in town after the play.”
“What photos?”
He clears his throat. “I probably should’ve mentioned it first. She wants us to have a photographer she trusts come and do a very informal shoot.”
I’m not sure how I feel about someone doing a photo shoot because we’re dating.
“I know it’s uncomfortable,” he says quickly. “I hate that it’s this way for me, but if we can make the story less like we were hiding it, it should be better, and maybe they’ll give me some space. Catherine knows how I feel about it. She knows most of your story, and agrees that the kids should be shielded as much as possible. She’s a mom, too, and understands that the kids come first.”
I’m touched that he feels this way. Also, I know nothing about this world. If I want a life or even a chance at one with Jacob, then I have to be willing to take the bad along with the good. “Okay, we’ll do what she says is best.”
Catherine knows the world of paparazzi, journalists, and media. I do not. I can get through other situations, but I’m lost here, so I will defer to the professional.
“I have to warn you”—Jacob’s voice is low—“it’s still going to be bad, Brenna. The press will want to find a story, true or not doesn’t really matter to them, and I won’t be able to protect you. I wish I could, and the fact that it will be out of my control is going to fucking kill me.”
I sit up, crossing my legs and facing him. “Part of the deal when we decided to go forward was knowing there’d be challenges.”
“Yeah, but this isn’t just a challenge, it’s almost like a new life. The things we’ve enjoyed here, they’re not like that there.” He runs his hand through his hair.
“I’m not naïve, Jacob. I’m aware that this isn’t going to be easy, but you’re worth it.”
The way his eyes flash makes me wonder if that’s the first time he’s ever heard anything like that. He looks slightly scared and more than a little stunned.