Jake's POV


Clare pushed the door open, revealing her apartment.

"So, what do you think?" She asked as we both stepped inside.

"It's simple, yet elaborate at the same time. If that makes any sense." I said.

"It sort of does." She laughed, leading me over to the living room. She gestured for me to sit before asking if I was thirsty. I shook my head.

"So, how have you been?"

"Pretty good." I replied. "I mean, being a marine is fun. A little tough, but I work around that. I love the adventure."

"I can see that you haven't changed much at all."

"Neither have you." I said. I was about to ask her how her new novel was coming, but then I heard something that sounded like metal jingling. My thought was answered when I had a guest come and sit on my lap.

"Scout, I know you love guests, but you can't just sneak up on them like that." She reached over to pick him up. "Sorry about that."

"No, it's okay." I said. "He's fine where he is." I began to pet him to calm him down. "He's cute."

"Yeah." She came over to sit next to me on the couch, and started petting Scout as well. "He's the little man of the house."

"I bet he loves this place. It must be like a palace for him."

"Nah, it isn't that big. I'm not that great of an author, you know? If I was, we'd probably be living in Milan, and he'd have his own house."

I laughed again.

"What?" She asked.

"Nothing." I said.

She looked at me seriously. "Please tell me why you're laughing."

"You just...you're exactly the same as I remember you." I bit my lip. "I thought ten years away from high school is supposed to change someone. I mean, yeah, you changed of course. You're an author now. But deep down, you're the same, fun-loving, wonderful person."

"Come on. I'm not that amazing."

"To me, you are. You've written 6 books, had two tours, and-" I stopped right there, because I wouldn't dare to mention anything about her leaving for our senior year.

"Raised a kid by myself." She finished for me.

I nodded. "Yeah. ...I wasn't sure if you'd...gotten an abortion or anything."

"Of course not. And Willow's great. She's behaved. A little mischievous sometimes, but she's not a bad kid." She cleared her throat, as if to move away from the subject. "She, uh, she actually picked out Scout. ...Or, she wanted his mother. We saw her at the animal shelter, and she really wanted Jessica, but as soon as one of the workers told her that she'd be having puppies soon, Willow couldn't wait until the next time we went back there."

Normally someone would smile at a story like that, but I just couldn't. I felt too guilty for breaking up with her the second I found out she was pregnant. Yes, Willow was not mine, but if Eli wasn't going to take on the responsibility of being a father, then I shouldn't have stuck Clare with being a single mother. Though I didn't ask if she'd told him, it was pretty obvious that she hadn't. Eli barely looked her way once the entire night. And I'm pretty sure that Clare would have brought Willow to see her father if her knew about her.

"Mom!" I heard some call from down the hall. It must have been Willow.

"I'll be right back." Clare got up from the couch and walked to her daughter's room.

I sighed, looking down at Scout. "Mommy's still got it, huh?" He licked my nose, which I took as a yes.