Page 162 of Seal the Deal

He hums against my neck, lips teasing against my skin. “Cartoons are on. We’ve got a good ten minutes.”

Before I can respond, his mouth is on mine, claiming me with a hunger that's been burning below the surface since Alex arrived at the door. The kiss is rougher than usual, laced with everything he's been holding back—the frustration, the protectiveness, the need to remind exactly where I belong.

He fists a hand in my hair, tilting my head back as the kiss deepens. My pulse pounds as he presses into me like he's trying to erase the last hour, replace it with something better that belongs to just us.

“I’m thinking,” he murmurs against my lips, “we lock the door, turn up the cartoons, and see if we can break another door frame.”

I huff out a laugh, tipping my head back as his mouth trails along my collarbone. “You’re impossible.”

“And you love it.” His hands slide lower, curving possessively around my hip and sending a delicious ache right through me.

Brushing my lips against his, my voice is barely a whisper. “Nah… I loveyou.”

Chapter forty-eight

Loving him is the easiest thing I’ve ever done

Charlie - 3 Months Later

Glenwood Springs lies quiet, nestled between the towering Rockies and the steady rush of the Colorado River, its streets framed by the fresh green of spring. It feels worlds away from Denver, from the whirlwind of our busy city lives.

As we pull up to the house, a flutter of nerves settles in my chest. Meeting Jake’s mom isn’t just about saying hello, it’s about stepping into a part of his world he keeps carefully guarded. It feels like a privilege to visit this small town that holds pieces of Jake I’ve yet to know.

This is a gamble, but it’s something I haven’t been able to stop thinking about since the Storm made the postseason. Now, with the team heading into the final game of the championship series, I have to give this a try—surprising him with his mom at the game. After everything we’ve been through, he deserves this moment, surrounded by everyone who matters.

Noah’s been asking a million questions, and even Meadow is bouncing in her seat, clutching her stuffed unicorn.

I turn to them before we get out of the car, raising an eyebrow. “Remember, best behavior, okay?”

Noah nods seriously, while Meadow just giggles. “Okay, Mama!”

As we approach the door, I take a deep breath and knock gently. Noah and Meadow chatter excitedly behind me. Noah’s been telling Meadow all about the Stanley Cup, trying to explain how big it is.

“It’s the biggest thing in hockey,” he says, eyes wide. “Jake could win it all.”

Meadow however, is more focused on her new sparkly shoes. “Jake’s gonna win, and I’m gonna show him my shoes when he does.”

I can’t help but smile at their excitement, but a pang of gratitude hits me, one I’ve been carrying for months. It’s been quiet since Alex’s last stunt. True to form, he never followed through on his custody threats. Once he realized Jake and I were united and that Noah’s incident had been documented, he must have seen it for what it was: a losing battle.

Since then, he’s only made sporadic efforts to see the kids when he’s in town, and while I’ve kept the door open for him, he’s done little more than keep it cracked. I’ll never stop wanting more for them, but I can’t force him to step up. What matters is that we’re finally free to live our lives without Alex’s shadow darkening our happiness.

The door opens, and Alison Brooks stands there, her mouth forming a perfect ‘o’ of surprise. She’s smaller than I expected, with a quiet, understated elegance. Jake’s always said she keeps to herself, but her eyes soften the moment they land on the kids.

“Mrs. Brooks?” I offer her a warm smile. “I’m Charlie, and this is Noah and Meadow. I hope it’s okay that we’ve come to visit.”

For a second, she just stands there, then her eyes soften further. “Jake’s Charlie,” she says quietly.

“I know it’s probably a surprise,” I say. “But I’ve heard a lot about you, and I thought... maybe it’s time we met.”

There’s a brief pause, then she opens the door a little wider.

“Please, call me Alison,” she says, stepping aside. “Jake’s told me about you. All of you.” Her eyes flick to the kids again with a faint smile. “I’ve been hearing a lot about you two, especially.”

The kids bound inside, eager to explore, while I follow more slowly, watching Alison closely. She leads us into a warm, tastefully decorated living room. It’s not what I expected based on Jake’s stories. He’s clearly been taking care of her—the space feels like him in some ways: calm, tidy, everything in its place. But there are added comforts, the kind of room that invites you to sink in and stay a while.

“Can I get you something to drink?” she asks hesitantly, unsure of what to do with the sudden energy filling her quiet home.

“Water’s fine, thanks,” I say, sitting on the couch.

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