CHAPTER 72: TOMORROW

Bella exhaled shakily, pushing herself off the door and moving toward the living room. The sofa welcomed her, but she couldn’t sit still. She paced, running a hand through her hair.

What was I thinking? Letting him get that close again? Letting him touch me like that?

And yet... she hadn’t stopped him. Even when she told him to stop, her voice had been too weak, too breathless. She hadn’t meant it. Deep down, she had wanted it. There was no denying that.

The sound of soft footsteps startled her. Bella turned, her chest tightening, only to see Chloe emerging from the hallway, her hair slightly mussed as if she had been lying down but couldn’t quite sleep.

"Hey," Chloe whispered, her eyes narrowing as she studied Bella’s flushed face. "You just got back?"

Bella forced a smile, though it was unconvincing. "Yeah. I thought you were asleep and didn’t wanna wake you."

"Then why are you here looking all shy? What happened?" Chloe asked suspiciously.

Bella, flushed asked, "What happened? Nothing!"

Chloe stepped into the living room and tilted her head, arms folded loosely over her chest. "Are you sure because I’m hundred percent certain something happened. Did you and Jake make out?"

Bella’s cheeks flamed. "Chloe," she warned softly.

But Chloe only grinned, lowering herself onto the sofa. "Don’t bother denying it. I can see your lips all red and swollen. So..." She patted the seat beside her. "Spill."

For a moment, Bella hesitated. She wanted to deny it, to brush it off. But she couldn’t. Somehow, her defenses were too thin. Slowly, she sank down onto the couch beside her best friend, her hands twisting in her lap.

"Well, you’re right. He kissed me," Bella admitted finally, her voice almost a whisper. "And I kissed him back."

Chloe’s eyes widened before a teasing smile tugged at her lips. "Well, finally. Took you two long enough."

Bella shot her a glare, though her lips trembled with the effort of holding back a nervous smile. "This isn’t funny, Chloe."

"Who said I was joking?" Chloe leaned forward, her tone softening. "You’ve been fighting this for years, Bella. But today... you saw it. You said it yourself when you texted me. He was good with Timmy. Really good. And you.... we all know that beneath that anger you felt for him, you liked him. So, now that you’re sure he likes Timmy even though he doesn’t even know he’s the father, why not?"

Bella swallowed hard. Her throat felt tight. "That’s just it. He said he wants me. That he wished we were..." She paused, her voice breaking slightly. "he wished we were a family."

Chloe reached out and squeezed her hand. "So what’s the problem?"

Bella stared down at her lap, blinking rapidly against the sting in her eyes. "The problem is, he doesn’t know. He doesn’t know Timothy is his. And I keep wondering—would he still be this kind, this good, if he knew? Or would he hate me for hiding it all these years?"

Chloe was quiet for a long moment, her thumb rubbing comfortingly over Bella’s knuckles. "There’s only one way to find out and I already told you," she said gently.

Bella looked up, sighing. "You mean—"

"Yes, girl. You really have to tell him. In fact, I think now’s the time to tell him," Chloe said firmly. "You’ve carried this secret for too long, Bella. And today proved something. You still care about him. He clearly cares about you. And Timothy deserves the truth, too."

Bella’s chest ached. Chloe was right. The weight of the lie had grown heavier, especially after seeing Jake with their son.

"I know I had said I’d tell him but still haven’t. But now, I really think I should," Bella admitted softly. "I want to tell him. I’ll tell him tomorrow. I’ll set up a meeting myself and tell him everything. After that, we’ll know where we’re headed with all of this."

Chloe’s eyes softened with pride. "That’s my girl."

Bella let out a shaky laugh, leaning back against the sofa. "I’m terrified, though. What if he hates me? What if he takes Timothy away?"

"Stop," Chloe said, squeezing her hand tighter. "You’re not alone in this. Whatever happens, I’ll be right here. Rachel too. And honestly, Bella? I don’t think Jake will hate you. Not after today. I saw how he looked at Timothy like..." She trailed off, smiling knowingly. "Like a father already. You could literally see it in the pictures you sent me."

Bella pressed her lips together, overwhelmed by a mixture of fear and fragile hope. She imagined Jake finally playing a father role to Timothy and being her lover for real.

The thought made her chest ache, but it also made her heart beat a little faster with anticipation.

Chloe yawned and stood, stretching. "Okay, I’ve played therapist enough for tonight. You should go to bed before you drive yourself crazy overthinking."

Bella nodded, standing as well. "Thanks, Chloe."

"Always," Chloe said, giving her a playful wink before heading toward her room.

Bella lingered in the living room for a moment longer, her mind swirling with everything she had just admitted. Then she drew in a deep breath, gathered her courage, and headed to her room.

Inside, the quiet felt heavier, but she was resolved. She picked up her phone, her fingers trembling as she opened her messages. For a long moment, she stared at Jake’s name in her contacts. Her thumb hovered.

Then finally, she typed.

[Can we meet tomorrow? There’s something I want to tell you. It’s really important we see tomorrow. I’ll send the address after you get back to me.]

Her heart pounded as she hit send. The message whooshed out into the night, and she collapsed onto her bed, burying her face in the pillow.

Bella wasn’t just thinking about the past between her and Jake. She was thinking about tomorrow and what may be. She hoped for her sake and that of her son that Jake wouldn’t blame her.