Becoming Strangers Again by Lily

Chapter 47 LILY The moment Jake opened the door and walked in, I knew we were about to engage in another argument. Ryan moved glances between me and Jake. "Didn't I tell you that I don't want to meet him anytime I come to spend time with my kids?" "This is my house, you can't be telling me who stays and goes whenever you want to come around." I sighed, turning to Jake. "Did y forget something?" He nodded before walking further into the room, intentionally bumping into Ryan's shoulder. "I left my jacket in the living room and then I realized I didn't you goodnight." He leaned forward and peeked my cheeks. "Good night love." I licked my lips. "Good night Jake." He ruffled my head before truning to leave, however he halted. "Don't let this man intimidate you into doing something you don't want to do." He glared at Ryan, "if he keeps threatening you about filing for custody, let him go ahead, I am certain we can beat him in court." Ryan threw his head backwards and laughed mockingly at him, "Beat me in court?" he blinked down, trying to contain his laughter as he shook his head "with what? The salary you earn from real estate?" he rubbed his thumb on his lower lips. "I will kick yo out of the real estate business faster than you can blink, then allowe you waste the little savings you have left in court, helping Lily fight for kids that aren't even yours." "Enough of the insult!" I snapped at Ryan. "I will not stand here and watch you insult my man." Ryan's jaw clenched. "insult your man you say?" he growled, "didn't you see him bump into my shoulder? Did you caution him? are you kidding me Lily?!" "You provoked him into that behaviour.” I defended Jake. "You always say and do things that irk him then you expect me to caution him for acting out? Are you serious?" "Irk him?" Ryan spat," I did not say a word to that fool ever since he walked into this room yet he bumped into my shoulder and you say I am the one who irked me?" he licked his lips. "I can see that you are taking sides Lily, and I don't really blame you." He pinched the bridge of his nose, "I blame myself for indulging this nonsense." He stomped towards the door and I called after him. "where are you going Ryan?!" "To see the real reason I came here." He retorted, slamming the door behind him. All alone with Jake, I finally gave him my attention. "that was wrong Jake," I pointed out, "I didn't want to reprimand him in front of Ryan. "you didn't have to bump into his shoulder like that." Jake scoffed, folding his head. "Countless times, you have watched that young man talk down on me and the one time I defend myself, you want to take his side?" he closed in the distance between us, "you should always take my side Lily, I am not freaking fiancé and he is your ex-husband, emphasis on the ex!" "I just defended you." I yelled back at him, wondering why he is screaming at me right now, "you basically listened to me scold Ryan and take your side so what are you saying?" "I should be asking you what are you saying?" he fired back, "After defending me, the moment the moment the door closed, on me Why? you turned "Why not?!" Placing my hands on my hips, I took deep breaths and counted unp to three before continuing. "Just because you are my fiancé doesn't mean I shouldn't call you out if you do omething wrong." He poked his tongue into his cheek and stared at me silently for a while. I waited for him to gather my thoughts. "Can you please tell me why we aren't planning our wedding yet." My jaw dropped. "And why the hell are we discussing that now?" I drawled out, dumbfounded by the sudden change in conversation. "The fact that you think it is a

conversation we shouldn't be having shows there is something wrong." My breath hitched and I earnestly prayed that he won't ask the same question My kids are downstairs and I need to get to them." Lasked me. Jake, please let's not do this right now. 11:43 AM Chapter 47 "They are with their father which means this is the prefect time to have this conversation. He deadpanned. "so why are you trying to avoid the conversation about our wedding?" "I am not trying to avoid anything." I lied, "just that I do not see the reason why we should be discussin this right now." "We are having this conversation right now because I have been waiting for you to bring this up and you have failed to do that." He argued. "what exatly is going on Lily? Do you really want to get married to me?" My hand went to my neck and I rubbed the pendent anxiously, "when I accepted that ring Jake, you said we wouldn't rush the marriage preparation, so what is this?" He scoffed. "I said I won't rush you, but I never said anything about never seeing you walk down the aisle towards me." Rollin my eyes. I headed towards the door, hoping to put an end to this conversation. "Don't be ridiculous Jake." "I am not being ridiculous," he replied, chasing after me, "Look m in the eyes and tell me that we are actually going to get married." Breathing in and out, I turned around and looked him in the eyes. "we will get married Jake." He exhaled with relief. "Give me a date Lily, a month preharps. “I can't do that Jake," I muttered, "I am sorry." He frowned atme and I that moment, I knew it wasn't right to keep lying to him. "I didn't accept that ring because you said you won't pressurize me into getting married to you, but because I didn't want you to feel insecure about Ryan presence which I know which will be constant," because it is expected of him to be around the boys that he is getting to know. "but then I have realized that the solution doesn't lie with accepting the ring." "What is that suppose to mean?" "It means that even if we get married you will still be insecure whatnever Ryan is around and I can't have that." His eyes narrowed. "Are you breaking up with me Lily?" I shook my head in response. "I am only telling you to work on your insecurity Jake. Ryan is going to be a constant presence in my life because of the kids and I can't have you behaving like this every time." "f@ck you!" he spat before stomping out of the room, banging the door as loudly as Ryan did when he left in anger too. Chapter 48