Page 25 of SEAL's Doorstep Baby
“You’ve known me, like, twenty years, Jacob.”
“It’s not like you had a job when we were growing up—”
“I did, too!” I interrupt. “I worked at the flower shop on Harlow Street.”
Jacob cocks his head. “I thought that was a bagel shop.”
I sigh. “It’sconnectedto a bagel shop.”
Jacob nods. “Good bagels. A little chewy.”
“Do you still work there?”
I narrow my eyes at his tone. “Sometimes,” I say slowly. “When the owners need a bit of help. I’m technically between jobs.”
Jacob raises an eyebrow, his expression turning thoughtful, as if he's finally putting two and two together.
“I knew it!” He croons. “I had a feeling you weren’t working full time, but I figured you would tell me eventually.” Maddie rolls over towards him, her face lighting up with a smile.
“Okay, don’t cheer that I’m unemployed.” I hold a hand up. “I was actually doing a big application push a while ago, but nothing panned out. I…”
“What?” He turns to me, his humor forgotten. His sky blue eyes are earnest now, and I appreciate the five o’clock shadow he’s rocking. And that’s all it is—appreciation.
My eyes dart back to his when I realize they were trailing a bit low.
“I was thinking about starting my own business,” I admit softly.
His brows leap. “Yeah?”
I shrug. “Not really on the cards now.” I gesture.
His expression pulls. “It could be. You know I’ve got enough savings to cover Maddie.”
I shake my head. “New subject. You cooking dinner?”
Jacob freezes. He squints. “Uh… I think… Maddie wanted to hang out.”
“Oh she did?” I reply dryly.
He nods. “She did. Said so.”
“Oh, her first words.” I smirk.
He nods again, faster. “I heard ‘em myself.”
I look towards Maddie. She’s chewing delightfully on a soft book. “Well, if it’s for Maddie,” I say with a sigh. I stand up, and head out immediately so that Jacob doesn’t see my soft smile.
It’s just what I was thinking earlier—some things are getting easier.
Chapter eleven
JACOB
Iam almost home.
Home.I think, with a slight smile on my face. Home has had a lot of different meanings for me. It had meant both my mom and Emily for sixteen years, and right after that, home had become just the two of us.
Losing my mother at sixteen meant that I had to fight for the right to be considered a legal guardian to Emily after we had spent close to two years hiding from social workers.
