Page 28 of Seal the Deal

“Oh, I can keep up, Charlie girl.” He steps a little closer, his voice dropping to a low rumble that makes me feel like I’m quietly crumbling. “But now you’ve got me curious—what happens if I don’t? Do I get extra lessons? Maybe some one-on-one tutoring?”

His voice dips just enough to make my breath hitch, but I recover quickly, raising an eyebrow at his blatant innuendo. “We’ll see how you do, Captain Thunder. Just don’t be surprised if I have to take over when you burn the first batch.”

Jake laughs, and it’s impossible not to smile back. “Challenge accepted, Lady Lightning. But don't say I didn't warn you when I turn out to be your star pupil.”

I bite my lip and his eyes flick down briefly, catching the movement. The flash in his eyes tells me he’s having just as much fun with this as I am.

He clears his throat, holding my eyes for a moment as he slaps the notepad into the palm of his other hand. “Thanks for this. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow,” I echo, barely above a whisper.

Giving me one last lingering smile, he turns and walks out, leaving me standing there.

Tomorrow.

Chapter nine

Don't innovate too hard and break something

Jake - 12 Years Ago

I’msitting by the lake, the fire crackling softly as the night settles in. The kids are long asleep, and the other leaders are still laughing and talking around me, but it’s just noise. I stare at the edge of the water, letting it all fade.

Charlie sits down beside me, close enough that our shoulders touch. The soft breeze ruffles her hair as she stares out over the shoreline, and I know she can tell something’s off. She always does.

“You okay?”

I force a smile and avoid her eyes. “Yeah…”

She doesn’t press, just pulls her knees to her chest and mirrors my gaze toward the water. The way she slips into the quiet with me makes it easier to relax, like she knows what I need before I do.

I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face. I’m not used to talking about my dad and how he’s never really there.But tonight, it slips out anyway.

“Just… stuff with my dad,” I offer.

Charlie leans into my shoulder a bit more, her quiet presence like a lifeline. I’m used to holding it in, but with her beside me, I feel like I don’t have to. She’s the one person who doesn’t look at me like I have to have it all together. And tonight, I’m too tired to pretend everything’s fine.

“He’s never around,” I finally say. “Always working. And when he is home, it’s like he’s not even there. Like he doesn’t care.”

Her hand curls under my arm and wraps around it, linking us together. The gesture’s simple, but it feels grounding, holding me in place while I find my way through the words.

“My mom,” I pause, swallowing hard. “She’s not okay. Hasn’t been for a while. She’s tired all the time, kind of… out of it. She’s on meds now, but I don’t think they’re helping. And he doesn’t notice. Or maybe he does and doesn’t care. I don’t know which is worse."

The bitterness in my words is clear, and I hate how it sounds. But it’s the truth. He’s checked out, and I’m the one left picking up the pieces.

“Have you talked to him about it?” She asks gently.

A short, cold laugh escapes me. “Yeah. It’s like talking to a wall. He thinks everything can be fixed with a few pills. Get her on medication and problem solved, right?” I pause, my chest tightening. I don’t want to break in front of Charlie, but it’s hard to keep it all inside.

“But it’s not solved,” I mutter, hands clenching into fists. “Not for her, not for me.”

I hear my words, and they cut deeper than I expected. Charlie stays quiet, her touch still steady on my arm. She’s not trying to fix anything or give me advice, and somehow that’s exactly what I need.

“Guess that’s why I threw myself into hockey,” I murmur. “I love it, and I can control it. Work hard, get results. You don’t rely on anyone but yourself.”

Her fingers tighten slightly on my arm, and I glance over. Her eyes are soft and steady when she speaks. “But you don’t have to do everything alone.”

“I just—” My voice cracks, and I pause. “I don’t want to be like him, you know? I don’t want to be the guy who checks out when things get hard. I’m terrified of that. I don’t wanna fail the people I care about.”

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