Page 127 of Seal the Deal

It takes everything in me not to kick him down the stoop.

When the door clicks shut behind him, the room feels like it’s still buzzing with tension. Charlie’s still facing the door, her shoulders sagging with the exhaustion of it all.

I’m across the hall in two strides, wrapping my arms around her waist, pulling her against me. "Hey," I whisper, pressing a kiss to her temple. "You okay?”

She leans into me, but I feel the weight on her shoulders. "Yeah, I’m fine," she says, but her voice trembles.

I turn her to face me, tipping her chin up. "You handled that so well."

Her smile is tired. "I just hate that it always feels like a fight. Like we’re always in a battle.”

"That’s because he’s a manipulative asshole," I spit. "But I’ve got you, Charlie girl. We’re in this together. He doesn’t get to control this."

She looks up, her eyes a little glassy under the stress and pressure. I rest my forehead against hers, protective instincts flaring. She’s mine. Those kids are mine too, even if they don’t have my DNA. And I’ll be damned if Alex thinks he can mess with their emotions like this.

I press a slow kiss to her forehead, then her nose, then to her lips.

“Come on, let me take you to bed... I’ve got a way to help with all that stress.”

She scoffs softly. “Jake Brooks, are you seriously using this moment to get me naked?”

I brush my lips against her ear. "Stress relief is important, y'know."

She rolls her eyes but links her hands behind my neck. "Fine. But if this is your idea of therapy, you’d better be good at it."

"Oh, Lady Lightning," I whisper, pulling her toward the stairs. “I’m thebestat this kind of therapy."

Chapter thirty-nine

I’ll make you forget everything but me

Charlie

As we climb the stairs, Jake’s hand grips mine, grounding me with his presence. Reminding me he’s here. His eyes are on me, scanning for cracks, like he’s bracing himself to catch any piece that might shatter. I try to smile, but it doesn’t reach my eyes. Not after tonight.

At the top of the stairs, I glance at him. His brow is furrowed, watching me carefully. He lets go of my hand, his fingers trailing up my arm as we step into the bedroom. I sink down onto the edge of the bed, the weight of Alex’s visit settling over me like a heavy fog. I can handle him—I’ve done it for years. But every time he shows up, it’s me left picking up the pieces.

It’s exhausting.

I run a hand through my hair with a sigh. I hate how much space Alex still occupies. Hate how he shows up when it suits him, pushing his way in with that smug smirk.Hatehow he calls me Lottie like he still has a claim on it. On me.

Jake steps in front of me, his eyes soft but cautious. He’s waiting for me to say something, to let him in. But the words are stuck. My skin feels too tight, my muscles tense, and all I want is for this night to be over.

“He’s always like this,” I finally murmur. “Shows up, throws everything off balance, then disappears again. I’m always left to fix it.”

He crouches down, hands gently covering mine. “You’re not alone in this, Charlie girl,” he says quietly. “I’ve got you.”

I swallow. “I want the kids to have their dad. I really do. But they deserve better.”

Squeezing my hands gently, something protective flickers in his eyes. His reaction to my words could have been jealous or bitter, but it’s not. He hasn’t tried to push Alex out, even though I know he wants to. He knows how much I want the kids to have their father, no matter how hard things are between us.

Tonight, he didn’t come barreling in like some knight in shining armor. Jake stood beside me, letting me handle Alex. But I felt his presence, his eyes on me the whole time.You’re not alone in this.He keeps saying it, and his actions keep proving it.

“You’re doing right by the kids, Charlie,” he says. “Don’t let him twist that.”

Another sigh escapes me, and I nod. Jake’s right. Alex is the inconsistent one, not me. But that doesn’t make it any easier to navigate.

I feel the burn behind my eyes and clench them shut. I refuse to give Alex one more tear. Jake’s silent support is everything Alex never was. When things got tough, Alex bailed. When the kids needed consistency, he was onto the next business trip. Onto another affair.

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