Ava

Two months later . . .

Lilly is officially the cutest Fern who’s ever graced the stage of Charlotte’s Web, and this production is possibly the best I’ve ever directed.

“What do you think?” Sydney asks me backstage after the cast is gone and the audience has cleared out. Tonight was the last performance of the summer, and Sydney and Lance have been by my side through the whole thing, helping kids learn their lines and overcome their fears of performing in front of an audience. I’m not sure what’s better—watching the young kids perform or the older ones teach them. Either way, this is the best job in the world.

“I think it’s perfect,” I say, smiling. “I couldn’t ask for more.”

“Will we get to help next year?” she asks. “And meet at your new building for drama club?”

I grin. “Absolutely.”

“I can’t wait,” Sydney says, and next to her, Lance gives an uncharacteristically excited fist pump.

“Excuse me,” Jake says, making all three of us turn away from the stage. “I’d like to congratulate the director.” He holds out a bouquet of roses. “For my girl.”

I shake my head. “You didn’t have to do that, Jake.”

He puts the roses on a table between a couple of prop boxes and pulls me into his arms. “I’m trying to get on your good side so you’ll come home with me tonight.”

Between the production and gearing up for my new program, my summer has been busier than ever, but most nights I’m at Jake’s or he’s at my house. Sleep has definitely taken a back seat to other priorities the last two months, and I couldn’t be happier. “You might be able to talk me into that.”

He lowers his mouth to mine, and the teenagers behind him snicker.

“We’ll give you some privacy, Miss McKinley,” Lance says.

I wave to them and smack Jake’s hands away when they drift from my waist to my ass. “Behave,” I whisper.

“I’d rather not.” His next kiss is longer, lingering, and I get swept under the spell of his hands sliding up and down my sides.

“We’ll lock the door behind us,” Sydney calls.

Jake pulls away. “Thanks, Sydney! I always liked you.” Mischief is all over his face. He stills until the click of the back door echoes across the stage, then he pushes me against the wall and snakes his hand up my shirt.

I arch into his touch. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Getting distracted. I’m back here for a reason, but I’ve got you alone and want to touch.” His mouth trails slowly up my neck, then his breath is hot against my ear. “I have to make up for all those years I couldn’t.”

I flatten my palm to his chest and push. “Don’t be distracted.”

His nostrils flare as his gaze slips up and down my body again. “Maybe I’m trying to calm my nerves.”

“Nerves?”

He swallows hard and backs up a step. “I wanted to wait until the papers were signed and everything was in place for your new theater program. I wanted to let you get that part of your life in order first.”

A chill races up my skin. “First? Like before you did something else?”

“Yeah.” He nods and lowers himself to one knee.

“Jake . . . Are you . . . Is this?”

Apparently, my stumbling puts him at ease, because he grins and reaches into his pocket. “You said you wanted to give me something.” He rubs his thumb over the velvet box, and I want to scream for him to open it, but I bite my lip instead. “You said I give you more than you give me. I know that’s not true, because I get to wake up with you next to me every morning. I know I’m the one getting the winning end of this deal every time you laugh with me or prove how deep your love goes.”

“You give me everything,” I whisper. “Everything that matters.”

“Then give me your forever.” He slowly opens the box to reveal a sparkling diamond solitaire inside. “If you want to give me more, give me your tomorrows. I want your laughter and tears. I want your good days and the bad.” He takes the ring from the box and reaches for my hand. “Because there’s nothing else I want, Ava.”

I feel the tears on my cheeks as I nod. “Yes. Of course, yes, Jake.” He slides the ring onto my finger, and I can only stare at it in wonder. Jake’s been my everything even when he didn’t have to be. He was my always even when I pushed him away. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” He stands and presses me against the wall again as he lowers his smiling mouth to mine. His hand tugs at the hem of my dress.

“What are you doing now?” I ask against his mouth.

“I’m fucking my bride-to-be backstage.”

A shiver of pleasure races up my spine and down my arms. “Oh.”

He slides his hand between my legs. “I love you, Ava.”

I gasp as he tugs my panties to the side. “Love you too,” I say, breathless. “But I actually need to talk to you about something.”

He tugs my panties down until they fall at my feet. “I saw the trash in the bathroom,” he says. “Don’t you dare apologize about it.” He sucks at my neck and rubs between my legs, and I struggle to form words. “We aren’t in any hurry, and if I have to fuck you every day for the rest of our lives to try to give you a baby, that’s just my cross to bear.”

“The test was positive.”

He freezes. His hand, his mouth, maybe even his heart. Slowly, he pulls away. “Seriously?”

Swallowing hard, I nod. “Seriously.” He searches my face, and my heart is so damn full. “I’m pregnant.”

“Are you happy?”

I nod, tears spilling onto my cheeks. “So happy.”

“I didn’t . . .” He swallows and shakes his head. “I didn’t think I could be any happier. I was wrong.”

“I never expected it would happen so fast. I’m sorry if—”

He crushes his mouth down on mine. “No apologies. This is amazing.” His lips quirk as he pulls back. “You’re going to need to plan that wedding pretty fast. You up for that? You have to marry me before our baby’s born.”

“It’s not a have to. I get to marry Jake Jackson.”

“And have his baby,” he says, his voice gruff.

I nod. “Exactly. I’m the luckiest girl I know.”

Thank you for reading Straight Up Love, book two in The Boys of Jackson Harbor series. If you’d like to receive an email when I release a new book, please sign up for my newsletter:

I hope you enjoyed this book and will consider leaving a review. Thank you for reading. It’s an honor!