Chapter 132

The departure from the boat this morning is tense, Marissa calls several times, ending in heated
arguments over Jake’s refusal to meet with lawyers until she agrees to Jake’s terms and not hers.
Every time causes Jake to hang up in agitation and throw his phone in various directions, violently,
cursing and going off in a full Italian rant. I sit watching with my breath held until he calms down, unsure
what to say to bring him back to a simmer instead; there isn’t much to calm that hot temper and I know
to let it run its course. His emotions are on edge with the topic of the baby and Marissa seems to know
exactly how to push his buttons.

The flight home is silent, listening to music as he thrashes emails back and forth to his legal advisor
about the meeting over paternity rights. He’s tense and agitated and very much the Jake Carrero I used
to work for; boyfriend Jake on hiatus as he frowns his way through a heated typing rampage, his poor
laptop taking a beating. The Carrero glare, stuck firmly in place as I watch him hit the keyboard several
times. That fiery Italian temper is always out of place in the cool calm demeanor of the most laid-back
Carrero alive and I smile, despite the look on his face. I had even missed that part of him when he’d
sent me away, his monumental arsey moods and dangerous glare never phased me at all. I watch him
pull out his phone, give the screen the most hateful look I’ve ever seen then he rejects whoever is
calling before returning to pounding keys.

“I think your laptop might need medical attention when you’re done.” I poke him in the rib lightly. Hoping
to calm some of that brewing storm.

“I think Marissa will need it if I talk to her right now.” He grinds out.

Ahhhhh, enough said.

* * *



We get to his apartment late evening; his staff dump our bags in his master bedroom and leave us in
peace. We never spoke again about the things I told him of my past and I’m glad. I feel like all I needed
to tell him is now done, I don’t have anything more to say about it, nothing else to get off my chest,
putting an end to a


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