"I guess it's magic seeing as he stopped crying when you did it," she said,watching Timothy, who was busy trying to finish his ice scream.
Bella then raised her gaze to Jake. She stared at him for a long moment, and then, unexpectedly, a laugh slipped past her lips. It startled her, the sound so free, so unguarded.
Jake turned his head, his eyes softening at the sight of her laughing. "What?"
"Nothing," Bella said quickly, shaking her head, though her lips still curved. "I just… I never thought I'd see you do something like that. Beating the ground for a child."
"Guess I'm full of surprises."
She looked away, her heart racing, her chest aching. She shouldn't feel this warmth. She shouldn't feel this soft pull toward him.
Because deep down, beneath her fragile laughter and the brief ease of this moment, the fear remained.
Would he still be this gentle, this patient, this good with Timothy… if he knew Timothy was his?
Bella didn't dare answer the question.
