Chapter 35

The ride to the restaurant was filled with teasing banter. They were pushing the seriousness for the dinner itself. None of them wanted to bring down the mood. They knew talking about the very big elephant in the room was going to make for a tense and serious mood. And for now, none of them wanted that.

They arrived the restaurant in about half an hour since the traffic was still a little light. Jack opened the door for Ana then gave the key to the valet. They walked into the restaurant and followed the maître d' to their table after confirming the reservation.

Ana felt so relieved she had listened to her mind when it had told her to wear something really nice. At least, even if it was appearance wise, she didn't feel so left out with these people.

After a waiter had taken their orders, Jack and Ana sat in silence, looking at each other. Ana obviously was waiting for Jack to talk; she wanted to hear whatever he had to say.

Jack, on his part, was looking for the right words to translate his thoughts. He rarely got nervous. But it was Ana it concerned here. And she counted a lot for him.

He stretched his hand and took hers in his. Then looked at her sincerely. "Ana.. I don't want to give another elaborate apology but I just want you to know why I had such a reaction," he started and Ana nodded. That was what they were in the restaurant for anyways.

"I'm not trying to justify my acts in any way. I hurt you and it hurts me too to admit that. About three years ago, there was this story that was all over the media," Jack continued. As he was about to start his speech, Ana gasped and interrupted him.

"Wait! The one that said you impregnated some girl and denied the baby?" she asked. She was after all in the entertainment industry. It would be strange if she didn't know of the story.

"Bingo," Jack said with a half smile that was anything but humorous.

"She- it wasn't your baby was it?" Ana asked, squeezing Jack's hands.

At that moment, the waiter was coming along with the first course. Both of them had ordered salads. As soon as Ana spotted the food, her stomach growled. She looked up at Jack with a sheepish expression, smiled then said, "Sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Jack said and watched her. She had taken like two bites when she realized Jack was not eating, just looking at her.

Ana frowned at him then asked, "What?" self consciously.

"You are so adorable," he said then picked up his fork. Ana blushed and looked down then continued eating.

It was fascinating. She was fascinating. And the fact that she was carrying his baby made it even more interesting. The small baby bump she was sporting was intriguing. It was hard but fragile all at once.

They had finished with their salads and once again Jack was watching a self conscious Ana. She felt his eyes on her and in her head it was only negative.

She had... changed. Her tummy was bigger and her cheeks were getting fuller. She didn't know what Jack was thinking because all he did was sit across her with a stupid smile on his face. Okay, not a stupid smile. More like a panty dropping smile but Ana was determined to keep her mind out of the gutter.

"What finally happened with the baby?" Ana asked. Sue her, she was curious. It was the journalist in her, always wanting to know shit. And it wasn't like she was going to divulge it to anyone. It was for her ears and her ears alone- and the baby's ears too she guessed.

"It wasn't mine. I was ready to accept the baby, but she finally told me I wasn't the father," Jack said and Ana let out the unconscious breath she had taken in.

Honestly, it sounded hypocritical but she didn't care. She didn't want any other person carrying Jack's baby. She didn't want Jack to have a baby mama. Besides, Ana wasn't just a baby mama. She and Jack were in a relationship. A shaky one but a relationship still.

"Have you seen her since?" Ana asked. She didn't know why she was asking all these questions.

"I-" Jack started then stopped. It was obvious he wanted to say something but at the same time didn't want to. The conflicted look on his face was easy to read.

"Tell me," Ana said, frowning. Why was he trying to hide whatever he had to say? He could trust her.

"I've been taking care of her them since the birth of the kid. She just wanted some help and that was the only way she could get it," Jack explained with a tint of red on his cheeks.

Ana fought the urge to go all awwww. Jack was nothing but a mushy sweetheart. She loved how he could switch up. Be a dominant fucker with a killer tongue then be a shy sweetheart.

Ana frowned all of a sudden. She had remembered something. "So why did you have that kind of reaction with me? If you're helping her?"

Jack hesitated. Then he said, "It was the part that I hadn't heard it from you. I was betrayed and hurt and I took it all on you. I shouldn't have."

Ana looked at him with a pensive look on her face. "I... I was really hurt, Jack. Yes I've forgiven you. But I'm still extremely cautious. It's going to take a while for me to trust you again. I'm sorry," she said, her eyes glistening.

"Ana, I know I broke your trust. And I promise, yes I promise that I will rebuild it all over again. Because you mean a lot to me."

Ana smiled at him and blushed when he picked her hand and placed a warm kiss on the inside of her palm. They were going to be okay. Hopefully.