CHAPTER 75: I’LL DO IT

The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the curtains of Bella’s room, painting soft golden streaks across the walls. The clock on the dresser ticked quietly, its steady rhythm a reminder that the minutes were slipping away. It was already past four-thirty, and Bella was sitting at the edge of her bed, staring at her reflection in the mirror opposite.

Her thick curly jet black hair was let down, falling over her shoulders, and she wore a pale blouse tucked neatly into her jeans. Simple, nothing too loud, but enough to show she’d put thought into this meeting. Her hands, however, betrayed her nerves; they kept twisting together in her lap, restless and unsure.

A gentle knock sounded at her door before it opened slightly. Chloe leaned in, her head poking through with a grin. "So... are you ready?"

Bella glanced at her through the mirror, giving a small, wobbly smile. "I think I am."

Chloe pushed the door wider and stepped in, closing it behind her. She crossed the room, her footsteps soft against the rug, and came to stand by the dresser. Folding her arms, she studied Bella’s reflection. "You look good. Nervous, but good."

Bella let out a soft laugh, almost a sigh. "That’s because I am nervous. I don’t know how this evening will go."

Chloe tilted her head. "Well, I hope it goes well. You deserve that much."

Bella’s smile softened. Chloe’s unwavering support had been her anchor more times than she could count. She shifted on the bed, her gaze dropping. "Chloe..." she started, her voice hesitant. "There’s something I keep wondering about."

Chloe raised a brow. "What? I hope this is not you trying to look for an excuse to back off, again?" she asked suspiciously.

"No. Not this time. I’m going to tell him," Bella said with a sigh.

"Then what is it?" Chloe asked, her brows still up.

"It’s Jake," Bella said slowly. "He... he keeps saying he can’t have children and...."

Chloe blinked, taken aback. "You’re still thinking about that?" she said, looking Bella over.

Bella lifted her head, her brow furrowing. "Of course I am. It’s making me nervous. Why does he keep saying it like it’s so important? He said five years ago and then when....."

"Bella," Chloe cut in gently, moving to sit beside her on the bed, "that was over five years ago. Maybe he said it once, but you don’t need to keep—"

"No," Bella interrupted, shaking her head. "He said it again. Yesterday. When Timothy asked him if he had a child. Jake told him no... and then he added, almost like a reminder, that he can’t have children."

Chloe frowned. "He actually said that again?"

"Yes," Bella murmured, her voice heavy with unease. "And it didn’t feel casual. It was deliberate. Like he wanted me to hear it. I just sort of think he’s not just saying it. It’s something I need to know."

Chloe leaned back slightly, crossing one leg over the other. "Okay, then why didn’t you ask him what he meant right there and then?"

Bella looked away, her fingers clutching at the hem of her blouse. "I didn’t know if it was the right time. Timothy was there. And honestly... I wasn’t sure if I was ready to hear the answer. But right now, I don’t know but I honestly think it’s what I should know before telling him about Tim."

Chloe studied her for a long moment, then sighed, shaking her head. "Bella, listen. If it’s bothering you this much, don’t carry it around in silence. Ask him. Straightforward, no beating around the bush. But no matter what his answer is, make sure you still tell him about Timmy, please?"

Bella squeezed Chloe’s hand back, her chest tightening with emotion. "Fine. I’ll try." Bella said after a moment.

"Don’t just try, Bella. You really have to. For Timmy. Imagine how happy he’d be if he found out Jake is his daddy," she said seriously.

Bella sighed. "You’re right. He’s going to be overjoyed," she said with a nod.

"Of course I am right," Chloe said with a teasing smile. "When am I ever wrong?"

Bella let out a soft laugh, easing a little of the heaviness in her chest. "Let me think... well, sometimes," she said with a shrug, her expression playful.

Chloe widened her eyes in mock offense. "Excuse me? Only sometimes? I should be charging you for all the wisdom I’ve handed out these past few weeks."

Bella laughed again, this time with more warmth, but the nervous edge didn’t fully leave her. She rose to her feet and crossed to the mirror, brushing at her blouse again, trying to still her trembling fingers.

Her reflection looked back at her, calm on the surface but storming underneath. She thought of Jake’s smile, the way he’d carried Timothy so gently the previous night, the tenderness in his eyes that made her chest ache.

Chloe watched her quietly for a moment before standing too. "Bella?"

"Yes?" she replied almost immediately.

"Do you... like him?"

Bella’s heart gave a painful thud. She turned her head slightly, meeting Chloe’s gaze in the mirror. For a moment she wanted to deny it, to push the truth aside the way she had been for so long. But the memory of last night’s kiss was still fresh on her lips, still burning in her skin.

"Yes," she whispered finally. "I think I do."

Chloe’s expression softened, her voice low and knowing. "Then you need to stop second-guessing yourself. If you like him, and he clearly likes you, don’t let fear stop you. Just... be honest with him. That’s all you can do."

Bella turned away from the mirror, facing Chloe fully now. Her eyes shimmered with uncertainty, but also with determination. "I will. Tonight, I’ll tell him everything."

Chloe gave her a small, encouraging smile. "That’s my girl."

The two stood in quiet for a moment, the air between them filled with the weight of what was coming. The evening felt like a turning point, one Bella couldn’t back away from. She drew in a deep breath, steadying herself, and nodded firmly.

"I’ll do it," she said, more to herself than to Chloe.

Chloe squeezed her arm gently. "And whatever happens, I’ll be here."

Bella smiled gratefully, her heart swelling at the reminder that she wasn’t alone. She just hoped everything would go as planned.