Page 52 of SEAL's Doorstep Baby
I feel lost.
I tiptoe out of Maddie’s bedroom. In the hallway, I can hear Jacob talking.
“You know that you’ll always be my first love, don’t you?” Jacob says.
I hear Naomi’s sharp inhale.
I flee as fast as I can. By the time I make it to my bedroom, tears are falling.
Jacob’s made his choice.
My eyes turn to the computer, a once-in-a-lifetime dream waiting for me.
It’s time that I make mine.
Chapter nineteen
JACOB
Walking Naomi to the door feels like closing a chapter of a book I am not going back to again. She turns to look at me, and I know that she can tell what I’m thinking.
“When we were together, it was good, right?”
“It was the best, and I’m not just saying that to make you feel better. It truly was one of the best times of my life.”
She nods,and I can see the weight of her words before she speaks. “Then why can’t we have that again? I really want to be with you, Jacob. And I know it sounds selfish, but I think we can make this work.”
It feels like I am breaking her heart all over again, but that time has passed and I can’t ever feel the same way about her again. Even if I decide to get back together with her, at best I would spend more time reminiscing about the time we had in the past than the present, all while pining for a certain green-eyed woman.
“You know that you’ll always be my first love,” I say meaningfully. “Don’t you?
It’s nothing any of us can change. I am not even the same person you were with. I have new experiences, new scars, and new responsibilities. We wouldn’t be happy because it would only be the same face, but behind it would be a stranger.”
She nods one last time before stepping forward to place a light kiss on my cheek. “I’m glad you’ve found love again.”
My eyebrow shoots towards my hairline but she just shushes me. “I know. And it’s okay. I will see you one last time before I go home, so take care of yourself, Jakey.” She teases me with the nickname she knows I hate, smiling before she steps outside, gets into her car and drives away.
I watch her until her car is out of sight, and then I turn back to head inside my home.
Where my family is waiting.
I check on Maddie first, just out of habit and instinct. She’s snoring and my heart soars.
“Al?” I call, checking the kitchen first before going to the bedroom. “Allie?”
When I find her, she looks at me for all of one second before darting into the bathroom. It’s not fast enough, though, because I can see the tears in her eyes.
“Allie?” I gasp. I rush to the door, pushing at it, but Allie’s locked the door.
“Go away,” she cries.
I feel bewildered. I press my ear to the door. “Allie, please, talk with me.”
“Not right now, Jacob.” Her voice is barely a whisper, but I hear it.
My heart hurts just thinking of her in there all alone, feeling awful. My gut sinks, and I sigh. Is she still upset that Naomi came over?
“I told her to leave, Allie,” I say softly. “I didn’t—she’s just a friend.”
