Page 130 of The Convict Gets His Girl

"Just a long night, sweetie," Jewel replied, careful to keep her tone light. Her heart ached for normalcy, for the days when their biggest worries were homework and soccer practice. But as they drove home, the quiet between them was a tender thing, something Jewel was afraid to rock.

The gravel crunched under the tires as Jewel pulled into the driveway. The afternoon sun cast long shadows over the homestead, and for a moment, the weight of her sleepless night seemed to lift. Destini was unusually quiet next to her, staring out the window with a thoughtful frown etched on her youthful face.

"Something on your mind?" Jewel ventured, her voice laced with the fatigue she couldn't quite shake.

Destini turned, the corners of her lips tipping downward in a disappointed frown. "I thought Chase would pick me up with the horse today," she confessed.

Jewel's brow furrowed, confusion mingling with concern and brain fog. "I thought you were embarrassed by that." The memory of Destini's flushed cheeks the previous day when they talked about the horse came to mind.

A shrug lifted Destini's shoulders, and her eyes brightened a bit. "I was at first, yeah," she admitted. "But, I don't know... it's like everyone at school suddenly wanted to be my friend, more than just the soccer girls." A smile crept onto her face. "All the ranching kids kept asking about the horse."

"Maybe you should talk to Chase about it. He thinks he might've made a mistake giving you Whiskey," Jewel suggested gently, watching as understanding dawned in Destini's eyes.

"Really? But it's amazing to finally have a horse of my own." Destini's voice held a newfound apprehension. Jewel knew how often Destini had asked for a horse when she was younger, and to see that childhood dream come true tugged at her heart. She was happy for her daughter to achieve at least one of her dreams.

"Talk to him, honey," Jewel encouraged as they got out of the car. "Tell him how you feel."

"Have you told him how you feel?" Her daughter flung her words back at her as they shut the doors to the truck, Destini's slam a little too forceful.

Jewel winced and ignored Destini's piercing gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Destini gave a dramatic, world-weary sigh as they stomped up the stairs and through the door, but didn't say anything.

Inside the house, the sound of tapping keys led Jewel to the study. Chase sat hunched over his computer, completely absorbed in his work. Destini bounded in ahead of her, backpack flung carelessly to the floor.

"Hey," she called out, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. "Can we take Whiskey for a ride before dinner?"

Chase looked up, his face surprised as he glanced at the clock. "Oh wow, y'all are home. I completely lost track of time. I haven't even made dinner yet."

Jewel said, "I'll pull out one of the meal train meals while y'all go for a ride."

Chase pushed away from the desk, stretching his back with a pop. "That sounds great. I could use a ride."

Jewel snorted, thinkingyou and me both.

Chase glanced at her but focused on Destini, warmth flooding his tone. "How was school today?"

Jewel hung back in the doorway, her heart swelling at the sight of father and daughter reconnecting as they walked toward the front door. Chase asked insightful questions, somehow getting Destini to open up about each individual class.

Jewel hadn't been able to get her to open up about school since she'd hit middle school. Their evenings were often quiet, full of television in the background just to avoid the silence. When Destini talked, it was usually about soccer or science.

Destini and Chase were bonding, talking about more than just two topics. It filled her with joy, but it wasn't just about creating a stable home for Destini—between the laughter and the shared looks, she couldn't deny the truth that simmered beneath the surface.

She wasn't with Chase solely because he was Destini's father. Last night, alone in her own bed, the emptiness had been palpable. She had missed him more than she cared to admit, and the thought of spending another night apart tugged at something deep within her.

Later that evening, after dinner had been eaten and the kitchen tidied up, Jewel lay in Chase's bed, a book propped open on her lap. The words blurred on the pages; her mind was elsewhere, replaying the day's moments and the warmth of Chase's smile. Her stomach was a knot of nerves at this bold move.

She hadn't defined how she felt about him, but she knew she didn't want this distance between them. She wanted so much more than just roommates who raised a daughter.

The creak of the door drew her gaze up as Chase entered his room, his boots thudding softly against the wooden floor. He looked worn from the day's work, but there was a contentment in his eyes that mirrored her own.

She rubbed her legs together under the covers, and the movement drew his eyes. His brows rose as he walked toward her like a panther on the prowl.

"Hey," he said, his voice low and comforting. "What are you doing here? Are you alright?"

Jewel hesitated as he stood towering over her, her stomach twisting.

"I—I didn't like sleeping alone last night," Jewel blurted, her heart skipping a beat as she set the book aside and made room for him, pulling the blankets back.

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