He shakes his head. “Just texts in the family group chat. They wanna add you when I manage to win you over.”
My heart skips another beat. Part of the Creed family group chat.
“Who’s in that chat?”
“If you’re wondering about Sher, she’s in it but we’re all convinced she’s got it on mute most of the time.”
“I wonder how she’s doing,” I say.
“She’s pregnant. Did a test,” he says.
“Oh,” I whisper, feeling a pang of sadness. A baby born without a father. But it sounds like that baby will be better off without that particular dad. Though, Sherry as a mother?
“She’s not allowed to terminate. Heard earlier today that the coven got word to Cat Savage and the council’s getting involved to make the point. We’re meeting with her tomorrow to let her know. She thinks she’s coming in to talk to Cat about a termination. Bitched Cat out on the phone for not getting her in immediately. Same old Sherry.”
“Oh no,” I whisper. “She’ll be forced to carry a baby that she doesn’t want? That’s just… it’s not good.”
“It’s not. But that baby she’s carrying is an alpha.”
I want to be angry. Because what’s about to happen to Sherry is basically what’s happening to me. I’m being forced to be in a relationship to facilitate the birth of a child that’s been deemed important. A child that doesn’t exist yet. But Sherry’s child already exists. And it’s making me sad. Because she doesn’t want it. It doesn’t have a father. And that baby did nothing to deserve the hate it’s going to get.
What’s she going to do when she gets this news?
“You comparing her situation to ours?” he asks, sounding angry.
“How can I not?” I whisper, staring ahead.
“It’s not the same,” he says aggressively. “And our kids aren’t the only reason we’re fated mates. Our kids are one of the reasons, but not all of them.”
I bite my lip and fight tears.
“I’m not Wyatt Meadows. You’re not Sherry. And we’re fated mates because you’re gonna give me what I failed to realize I needed until now. My reward for being part of the council.”
“Jase, don’t.”
“Hear me. I agree with what you did, petitioning for females to have a choice, because you’re right. That patriarchy bullshit is archaic. It’s not fair to be forced to spend your life with someone you hate, someone who treats you bad. I wish I could’ve spared Sher what she went through with that asshole. I hate that my hands felt so tied that I didn’t stop it from happening, that I didn’t kill that fucker. Me and Grey have talked at length about how the SCC tied our hands as well as something else, something unknown, unseen. It sounds odd but the only thing that makessense is that there was a reason for it. I’ve been hoping it’d change my sister, help her find the good within herself. But there’s none of that, Bay. She’s not good deep down. She’s always been a bitter, spiteful, hateful person. And Meadows was like karma for her. I hate that it’s true, but it is. But now we’re being told that she can’t terminate which is no surprise. Everything around here seems intentional, doesn’t it? So that tells us this child they created must be why she was fated to him. And maybe it’ll all make sense later. I fuckin’ wish I could go back and handle things differently with you, too. And I don’t know why things happened the way they did, but I do know that my eyes are open and it all makes sense now. You’re the one meant to be mine and I’m the one meant to be yours. You just knew it way before I did. And I will spend the rest of my life showing you that you weren’t wrong to want me. I have my work cut out for me now when life came pretty easily to me before, so maybe this, with you, was meant to humble me. And it has, Bay. Fuck, has it…I’ve always thrived on competition and believe me, this fight has been quite the fight.”
“Too much heavy, Jason. We’re going to a carnival,” I say. “Isn’t that supposed to be light and fun?”
He blows out a long exhale and his right hand is suddenly on top of mine, which is on my thigh. His fingertips graze my leg, which makes me clench my thighs (and other clenchable muscles besides…) and hold my breath.
“You’re not pulling your hand away,” he says in a gruff tone. “Good sign. Don’t know how long it’s gonna take before I reach for you without wondering if I’ll get zapped.”
“That’s probably a good sign, too,” I tell him.
“Why’s that?”
“Because you’re still willing to take the risk,” I say before I blow out a hard exhale and stare straight ahead. Because if I turn and face him, I’m pretty sure I’ll jump his bones. And that’d be just crazy. Not to mention the fact that he’s driving a car. Driving a car my dad loves even more than he loves that television he just smashed.
“Baby,” he whispers. “I was not ever, not once willing to give up on this. I know it’s right. I feel it down to my bones.”
“It wasn’t necessary for you to buy Dad a TV,” I blurt, awkwardly, because I have to change the subject. Now. “It’s not your fault he broke it.”
Gosh, I’m so flippin’ awkward.
“I know it wasn’t,” he says, “But I wanted to do it.”
“And Mom is stoked about the spa.”