Always There - Part 2 || Greta Van Fleet

Chapter 235: She Didn't Have To

I was once again filled with that familiar dread that always consumed me as we pulled into the hospital parking lot. As if by reflex, Jake squeezed my hand tighter, seemingly reading my mind.

"Everything's okay." He said simply, bringing my hand up to his lips. I couldn't help but smile.
"I know." I sighed. "I just.. I wish that.. I didn't have to come back here anymore." He nodded.
"I know, but.. if we're gonna raise the kids in Michigan, we're gonna have to pick a hosp-"
"Jake." I laughed. He playfully rolled his eyes, giggling to himself as he got out of the car, shutting the door behind him.

As unsure as we were right now, I'd never admit just how much I loved talking hypotheticals with him. The endless nights I went to bed dreaming of moments like this with him, doodling "Mrs. Kiszka" into my diary, imagining what these kids would even look like, the perfect combination of him and I.

If only I could tell her those dreams weren't wasted.

He then opened the passenger door, stealing a quick kiss before grabbing my hand and helping me out of the car.
"So.. where do we stand on this?" He asked, giving my hand another gentle squeeze. I smirked up at him.
"This is okay." I whispered. He nodded, bringing his attention forward as he guided us inside and back upstairs to Josh's room.

My heart started beating faster the closer we got, wondering what I would be walking into, especially considering our conversation the other night. I prayed he wouldn't bring it up, not in front of Jake anyway. Maybe if we could just have a few minutes alone to talk about things..

"Hey, you okay?" He asked. I snapped out of it, looking back up at him.
"Oh, y-yeah. Why?" He shrugged, his face unsure.
"I just.. I don't know." He muttered. But I knew what he meant. I stopped, pulling him aside.

"I'm okay." I said, reaching up, gently caressing his cheek. His face eventually relaxed into a softened grin as he leaned further into me, his eyes moving down to my lips.
"Okay." He sighed. "I just.. I always want you to be honest with me, and.. if there's ever a point where.. maybe you're reconsidering things, I just.. please tell me and-" I cut him off, pulling him into a deep kiss. My heart jumped at the feeling of his hand now in my hair, his fingers tightly tangled within as he kissed me harder.

"I love you." I whispered, leaning into another gentle kiss. He sighed, staring back at me with a lovestruck grin.
"Then that's enough for me." He said, taking my hand and motioning back towards Josh's room. I nodded, following him closely as he lead us inside where we were instantly met with Sam's recognizable laughter.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up!" He called out, waving us over. "Alright, who was it? Who slept in?" Jake quickly smirked down at me, signaling that he would take the bullet for us.
"Guilty." He said. "Jaime tried calling me but I guess my ringer was off. Sorry." He shot Josh a look to which he returned a disbelieving nod, his eyes instantly shooting over to me.

He knew that we had woken up in the same bed.

"How are you feeling?" I asked, going over and sitting down next to him. He shrugged, eventually giving me a tired smile.
"I'm okay." He said softly, now motioning over to Sam. "I probably would've slept better if you were here instead of this one."
"Hey, you were lucky to have me." Sam called out. Josh rolled his eyes, bringing his attention back to me.

"I am ready to get out of here though, so.. whenever you're ready.." He said, his voice trailing off as his smile grew.
"Of course." I laughed. "I'll go talk to them about signing you out." He nodded, peeking over to see if the guys were listening.
"I'd also like to talk later about.. you know, just.. everything." He said softly, now moving his hand over, gently brushing it against mine. My heart jumped.
"Oh, y-yeah.. we can talk."

His smile instantly grew as he quickly pulled is hand away as Jake peeked over at us.

Later That Night

I watched them from their kitchen window, helping their mom finish up the last of the dishes when I heard her quiet giggle from beside me, snapping me out of my trance with a gentle flick of water from her sponge.

"What?" I laughed, feeling my face get hot, knowing that I had just been caught. She shook her head, a permanent grin spread across her lips.
"Is everything okay, honey?" She finally asked. I hesitated for a moment, biting down on my lip as I held my stare on her. Eventually, I nodded. But she didn't buy it.

"I think so." I sighed, turning away, now leaning up against the counter.
"You know.." She stared, but I could feel she was hesitant. I nodded. "Well, when you and Josh got engaged, we were all.. so excited and happy for him, and for you, and.. well, he hasn't really talked to me about it further than.. it ended. And I'm so sorry about that.. but.." She stopped, peeking out the window again.

"But what?" I asked
"But.. Jake is my baby too. And.. I don't know what's going on, and to be honest I really don't see him ever telling me. But.. over the past few months, he.. he just.. he wasn't my Jake anymore, and.. I think that was because of you. Because then.. you came back, and.. I feel like I have my Jake again, and.. he's singing again, and smiling again, and I guess I just.. well, how do you feel about him?"

As taken back as I was, considering her and I had never really talked like this before, I couldn't say that I was surprised. It seemed like everyone around us noticed the effect Jake and I had on each other, even if we were blind to it. And after these past few days, there was no denying how I felt for him, how I'd always feel for him, no matter what happened.

"I'm in love with him." I finally muttered, feeling like at any moment, my heart could pound right out of my chest. Her face eventually relaxed into a gentle smile as she held her stare on me again; the longer she remained quiet, the more nervous I felt.

"I think he's in love with you too, dear. I.. I think he always has been." I tried my best to contain my smile, but it was no use. She noticed.
"But.. that doesn't mean I don't love Josh, I.. I do, and when he proposed-"
"I know." She said simply. "And I don't doubt that. We've all seen how you two were together all these years but.. sometimes.. we don't get to pick who our hearts truly fall for. And that's not our fault." I nodded, now feeling tears come to my eyes.

If anyone should be angry right now, it was her, and yet she was being more understanding than anyone.

"You know I've always looked at you like a daughter, Jaime, and no matter what happens, I always will. And.. yes, they are my boys, and.. that's an entirely different story, but.. as a woman, you need to follow your heart, no matter where that takes you, because if you don't.. in the end, that's not fair to anyone. We all deserve to be with someone who loves us just as much as we love them. And I love them more than anything, but.. I can't interfere here. But what I can say.. is I've seen those moments between you and.. him, and if you dig deep enough, I think you know."

She didn't say who.
She didn't have to.

"Thank you." I finally muttered, wiping my eyes. She pulled me into a tight hug, gently rubbing my back, holding on until I finally let go of her first.
"I hope you can always look at me like a second mom." She whispered, gently brushing the hair out of my face. I nodded, giving her a gentle smile.
"I do."

"And.. those nights when Jake and I had to rush your mother to the hospital.." She started.
My heart sunk. What did she mean? When did this happen? No one had told me anything about this? I thought she was getting better? How many times was this? What else weren't they telling me?

"W-what do you mean?" I asked. She stopped, her face dropping, but it was then I heard the back door open, Jake sticking his head in, looking around until he flashed me a wide grin. I quickly made my way over, grabbing his hand and pulling him out into the yard.