More Than Love (NG3)

15 - Relatives

Once again, Laney felt nervous driving to a birth parent's home. At least seeing Jake again wasn't so bad. She liked him, except for his anger towards Sasha. Sasha told her to expect more from his parents.

Sasha hid it, but Laney knew it was taking a toll on her. Meanwhile, it took Laney half the night to recover from hearing Reed's voice over the phone. Sasha hadn't told him she had a child. Would it change anything if Reed knew who she was? Dating him could damage the fledgling relationship she had with Sasha. It wouldn't be fair to force her to choose between her biological child and her stepson.

Jake greeted her with a hug. "What's wrong, kiddo?"

She smiled. "Kiddo?"

He laughed. "You don't like it. I thought it was better than long-lost daughter I never knew I had."

She laughed. "Definitely better, but Laney or Lane would be perfect."

"Okay, kiddo."

He winked. Hopefully that would be the last she heard it.

"Seriously, are you alright?"

She shrugged. "Nervous again. This birth parent stuff is gonna give me ulcers."

"I hope not. I wouldn't bring you if they didn't want to meet you, but I had the awkward task of telling my parents that I impregnated my teenage girlfriend."

"I would have been a lot worse if you weren't a teenager when it happened."

Jake shook his head. "I've always dated close to my age."

"Have you dated since your divorce?"

He shook his head. "The last thing I need is another relationship after screwing up my marriage. We should get going if we don't want to be late."

Jake had a truck parked in his driveway with a ladder and metal scaffolding in the back. She had never driven in a pickup truck before. He walked past the truck into his garage. The last thing Laney expected was a platinum color Lexus sedan.

As he drove, he asked, "Do you have questions?"

"Do you regret your divorce?"

He snickered. "That's an essay question. Do you ask her personal questions, too?"

"I know she's divorced, but she hasn't revealed much else." She hasn't told her about her stepson.

Jake frowned. "She didn't tell me she was having a baby."

"Do you think you will ever forgive her?"

"I don't know."

"I wish you would. It makes it awkward for me. Someday, I hope to get married and I don't want to choose which of you to invite."

"It's not that simple, but I'm proud of you for speaking up."

She had been making Paul Sherman proud for years and couldn't think of Jake as her father. Sasha instantly felt like a friend. The handsome man wasn't like any friend she had ever had. She imagined some of her friends gushing over him. Jazmyn would probably hit on him.

Her friends had gone out on Friday night, but she stayed in. Meeting her birth parents had taken time and energy away from her paintings. It was quite a night because the guy Laura liked finally kissed her, and Emily was in love with another guy, but she didn't remember his name. Laney wondered if they had any tequila behind the bar for Saturday night after her friends finished drinking. She didn't like tequila or hanging out with drunks.

Laney told Jazmyn she met her birth parents, but not about Reed. He was her secret. If only she could forget him. Would they meet again someday? Only if Sasha introduced them.