Declaring his Truth

Fahmeen's POV:

"Thank you."
I say it quietly as I'm feeling a little emotional. I think he realises and Rolf brings his hand up to touch my cheek, but he stops himself. I bite my lip to stop it from trembling and he looks so disappointed. This is so hard for the both of us. I put on a smile and take the cake from him, placing it on the table.
"You guys are the best." I side hug Georgia and she leans her head against mine. Just then my brother takes a picture of us as we take in the beautiful, happy faces around us. Proud of us.

...

"Hi girls!"
I turn to see Jasper holding his son and standing next to them was none other than Jessie.
I hide my surprise.
"Hey! Hi Arch." I touch his cheek and he smiles at me.
"Congratulations." Jessie says, barely looking at me. Jasper gives her a hard look before returning to me. Archie's fussing in his arms, I think he wants to get down.
"Georgia invited me and I couldn't not bring this guy along."
"Of course! I've missed you Archie."
"Missed you too, Farmy." I chuckle at the name he's given me. His dad lets him down and Archie runs off, in the direction of the colourful food bowls.

I see Jessie stand up a little straighter and then I hear his voice from behind me. I smell the intoxicating scent of his skin. He's inches away from my body as he stands so close to me.
"Nice to see you guys here." Rolf politely says and he takes Jasper's handshake.
"We couldn't miss it." She says and me and Jasper share this look. It's kind of funny.

"I'm sure." Rolf sounds awkward as he talks to Jessie now, and he slides his hands in his pocket, refraining from looking at her too much.
"Can I get you a drink?" He asks me. I look towards him finally and see hopeful eyes staring back at me. I nod and he swiftly kisses me on the cheek. I'm a little surprised at this but he's got a swagger in his step as he walks off.

"My son's got the right idea." She says and we all look towards little Archie. He's taken one of the many bowls, sitting on the floor he's now stuffing his face with Cheetos. Jessie walks in his direction so it's just me and Jasper.

"So, how you feeling? Any plans for the summer?" Just as Jasper was talking, the speakers got put on and drowned out his words.
"I can't hear you!" I gesture for him to follow me to the study room as it was empty.

He closes the door and the music is finally quieter. As I turn around to face him, we end up pretty close. He awkwardly laughs, thank God, and I step away to put a little distance between us. He didn't, though.
"What were you saying?"
"Plans for the summer, have any?"
"Hmm, I thought I did but... things have drastically changed the last couple of weeks."
"How so?" He leans against the wall, his arms crossed watching me intensely.

"Because... well, me and Rolf are... taking a break? I don't know."
"Oh, I didn't expect that. I take it our genius plan didn't work?" He frowns.
"It was because of Jessie, wasn't it?"
I shrug.
"Rolf's an adult, he made his choices. I just needed to let him know it was hurting me though. I don't think he sees it yet, from my perspective how bad it was. But we're trying."
I talk and unload and Jasper just stares at me and he's gotten closer. I haven't moved, though.

Suddenly, we're toe to toe and no one's talking.
"What are you doing, Jasper?" He softly brushes up and then down my arms. I realise now just how big his body was, so worn out and intimidating but he had a kind face towards me.

"I don't know what I'm doing. Tell me." We look at each other and it's clear now his affection for me. I have to stop whatever this is before it happens. I can't trust myself in such an emotional state so I just blurt it out.
"I'm pregnant, Jasper."
His face transforms to one of surprise and a little disappointment.
"Wow. How long because I couldn't tell." His eyes look at my stomach.
"I'm small, I know." I chuckle, desperate to break any tension between us. I want to stay close friends with him.
"It's almost 6 months actually. Oh, she's kicking."
"It's a girl?" He touches my stomach, genuinely interested and just at that moment Rolf walks in, shock and hurt on his face.
He's holding our drinks.

...

Fahmeen's POV:

"You're having a kid?" Jasper turns to Rolf as he steps inside the room. He closes the door behind him and walks closer to us so that Jasper has to step back.
"Yes." Rolf doesn't look at him though, only me.
"Can we talk?" He asks.
I don't know, should we? Jasper raises his eyebrows at me as I think about it.
"Please?" Rolf steps closer to me, his eyes pleading with mine.

"There you all are!" Jessie barges in and she looks at us all with surprise. Not soon after though, she begins to get suspicious.
"We should probably leave them two, Rolf."
Wow, she's pissing me off. But before I could react Rolf immediately turns to her.
"What's your game?" He suddenly sounds so frustrated, completely different to how he was just speaking to me. Jessie backs up, hurt and afraid. Jasper just watches, but staying close to her.

"Why are you suddenly so interested in me? Just as I became happy again, without you? I'm the one that lost everything when you left. You don't make sense, Jessie. You loved Jasper, you're with him now, I get that but what's with the eyes towards me? You never loved me so what game are you playing?"
Rolf sounded so hurt, I had to hold myself back from touching him in some way. I guess this was his way of getting closure. I couldn't be mad at what he's saying as she was his first love, and she so happily broke his heart. And now she swans back into it, confusing him all over again.

"Rolf, it isn't like that. I never played you." She looks between him and Jasper, her voice small. Her husband just seems amused. Their relationship is so bizarre.
"I don't love him anymore. I did." Her eyes glaze over. The past running through her.
"But it's you I want, Rolf. It should've always been you."
I hear Jasper's loud scoff and my heart is preparing to break with Rolf's next words.

"I don't want you."
He steps back till he's side by side with me. As he looks at me, there's tears in his eyes.
"I want my wife." He cups my cheek and brings my face closer, we're both now crying.
"I'll always want my wife." His voice broke with that last word.

I have to hug him, feel his body around mine. I don't want to fight anymore, I want him back. I need him. We need him.
"If that's what you want." We hear her quietly say before leaving the room.

"Congrats on the baby and everything, we're gonna go." Jasper says.
I pull apart and find him looking down.
"I'm sorry, Jasper. You're a great man, amazing father. I hope you find someone worthy of you." Rolf holds me close as I say this and then he holds out his hand. Jasper looks between it and me, tears in his eyes. He grips Rolf's hand tight.
"I hope so, too."

This was goodbye.

...

When we return to the party, I feel a little hole in my heart as I no longer see Jasper nor Archie. This wasn't goodbye forever, but it was a goodbye nonetheless.
"Do you forgive me? I'm sorry if I pushed you."
People pass by us, drinks in hand and music blaring.
"I love you, Rolf." I take a deep breath.
"And you loved her. But I have to believe you love me now."
"Only you, with the exception of our little girl." He touches my belly.
"I promise to you, I'll never disrespect you like I have been doing. Ever again. You will be my wife. Mother to my children. And I swear to God I love you both with all that my heart is worth. Please don't ever forget that."

"Don't let me."