Chapter 2

I nodded; I guess it was obvious; I was stupid to come back. Stupid to believe Paul had changed and grew up. I turned away and picked up Layla.

"Come on, Layla. It's cold and we should get home and get some food. Are you hungry sweetie?" I asked forcing my voice to be normal.

Layla nodded and snuggled her head into my neck, "Me sleepy."

I smiled. "Well, let's get home." Without looking back I started to walk towards the parking lot, where my red Jeep Wrangler was parked. I buckled Layla into her booster seat and closed the passenger door before walking being the Jeep to the driver's side. I chanced a glance towards the beach and Jake wasn't there.

I sighed. Why did everything have to be so hard? I thought while opening the door. Seconds later though the door was slammed shut. I barely muffed my scream as I saw it was only Jake.

"Jeez, Jake trying to give me a heart attack?" I asked smiling slightly, placing my hand over my pounding heart.

But, Jake's face had no trace of joking upon it. His eyes were dark, unlit, bare and his mouth was set in a thin line, his entire body shook as he asked "Does Paul know?" His voice was tight, angry.

I glanced over at Layla and sighed, "Yes Jake. He knows. He's denied both me and her for years. I want her to have a father in her life but not him. He doesn't deserve to know her! Not after he denied us, and called me a lying slut. We deserve better than that."

Without another word, Jake tore off towards the woods and disappeared. I shook my head in confusion and jumped into my Jeep. I drove off to my new/old home. My new home with my daughter- my old childhood home. My mom died and my dad gave me this house to get me out of the place I was living, a tinny tiny apartment in the middle of a city- not the best place to raise a child. Nothing like a small town where we are living now.

The house wasn't much, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a kitchen, dining room, living room and sunroom but it was enough. All the space I and Layla needed. We could even get a dog or some other pet. We had moved in 2 days ago and were mostly unpacked. Layla claimed the biggest room but I talked her down to the middle-sized room, leaving the smallest and most of the house to storage.

It wasn't long after I started cooking dinner for me and Layla when there was knock on the door.

"I'll get it Mommy!" Layla screamed as she came barreling down the hallway, I stepped out of the kitchen and grabbed her mid-run.

"How about we open it together?" I asked so I swung her up on my hip. Together we opened the door to reveal Jake and another young man standing there.

"Hey, Jace. This is my friend Seth. Mind if we come in?" Jake asked stepping in my house without another word.

"Sure, it's not like saying no would have stopped you anyway." I replied raising my eyebrows towards Jake's friend Seth, who was staring at my daughter with a strange look on his face- a look that conveyed many different emotions, happy, content, worry, fear, and something that could be love. Wait, love? I threw Jake a warning glare and his eyes followed mine. He jabbed Seth in the side, Seth then looked at me.

"Hey, I'm Seth. I take it you're the Jacey that Jake's been talking about. And who's this?" Seth asked his eyes back on my daughter.

"Her name is Layla. My daughter." I said turning my back and going back to the kitchen. "Hey, Lay why don't you go play with your toys why mommy finishes cooking dinner?" I told her as I placed her back on the ground. Layla tore off towards the sunroom where most of her toys were at this point.

Jake and Seth seemed to be having a silent conversation, only with their eyes and various nodding, Seth looked at me. "Do you mind if I go play with Layla? I love kids."

I thought it over. Seth didn't seem threating, and I was sure if he put Layla in danger then Jake would kill him. I felt safe leaving Layla with him. I nodded. "Back room."

Seth smiled and left the room. Jake leaned against my counter, "Mmh, what's cooking?"

"Mac and cheese. It's one of the only things that I can get Layla to eat. She's so picky." I smiled at the thought of my daughter while stirring the pot.

Jake smiled at me and tucked my hair behind my ears, "I have something to tell you and you probably won't like it."

I narrowed my eyes, how can it be that there's already something that I won't like happening in my life? "What is it Jacob?" I only used his full name instead of his nickname when I was angry.

"I saw Paul. And I kinda, maybe, sorta freaked out on him and told him he better get his effing act together and start being a father to his daughter." Jake said softly while avoiding his eyes.

I don't know what made me do it, but I raced up to Jake and slapped him across the face with all the force I could muster. "How could you! Jake it wasn't your fucking place. This is my goddamn life and my goddamn daughter. I would have fucking talked to Paul when I was ready!" I shouted twirling away from Jake.

He stared at me, like the slap didn't affect him. His eyes were blank-unlit. "This isn't just about you anymore Jacey, This is about Layla. She deserves a father, and Paul he deserves to know his daughter. You're selfish to keep them from knowing each other."

"Get the fuck out of my house." I pointed towards the door.

Jake strode towards the door and called "Seth. We're leaving. Let's go." And both were gone. I slammed the door behind them.

"Momma, I like that boy. He's nice." Layla said as she hugged my legs. I just shook my head and fought back tears, how could this move seem so right, yet so wrong at the same time?