JAKE
I sighed, feeling the weight of everything on my shoulders as I hung up the phone. Alyssa’s words still echoed in my head. Marry me, Jake. It wasn’t a demand—it was more like a plea, and it left me with mixed emotions.
There was a part of me that felt relieved, but another part was still tangled in the mess of everything going on. I shook my head and turned back to where my grandparents sat quietly in the living room. Grandpa Jack looked at me with his sharp, knowing eyes, and Grandma Amelia gave me a soft smile.
I walked over, my steps slow and measured, feeling like I needed a moment to gather myself. But then I sat down beside Grandpa Jack. He didn’t waste any time. “Was that Alyssa?” he asked, his tone neutral but curious.
I nodded and smiled, though the smile didn’t quite re
