Page 55 of Seal the Deal

Jake exhales slowly, his expression softening as he steps even closer, reaching out to gently touch my arm. “It’s not your fault. And you’re doing an amazing job. But right now, you don’t have to do it alone.”

“I’m scared, Jake,” I blurt before I can stop myself. “I’m scared of letting you in, of letting the kids get attached to…" I wave my hand between us. "Whateverthisis. I can’t handle them getting hurt again.”

He doesn’t flinch, just stands there, his presence like gravity pulling me in. Too close. It’s been days since I let myself feel this pull, and now it’s like a dam threatening to break. I can see the determination in his eyes, the way he’s fighting his own frustration to be patient with me. It’s enough to make mewantto believe him, even if it terrifies me.

His hand slides from my arm up to cup my jaw, tilting my face so I’m looking directly at him. The warmth of his touch sinks through me, unraveling the defenses I’ve spent time rebuilding. “I get it, I do. But I’m not going anywhere, Charlie. Andwhatever this is,” he repeats my words back to me, “I’m all in.”

Looking into his eyes, I see that steady sincerity I always see when he says these things. There’s something so unwavering in his gaze that it makes me want to trust what he’s telling me. That I don’t have to do this alone.

“Okay,” I finally whisper. “Okay. Let’s go get Noah.”

Jake nods, visibly relieved that I’m letting him in, even just a little. “I’ll follow you there.”

I make a sound of agreement and turn towards the house, but then I feel his hand on my arm again. “Unless… Do you wanna ride together?”

The idea feels like a big step, but when I meet his eyes, I know it’s a step I want to take. "Yeah, okay. Let’s ride together.”

I rush inside to change, and then head back out to Jake’s car. As he opens the passenger door for me, I catch his eye and offer a small, grateful smile. He returns it with one of his customary winks that sends my heart racing.

With Jake beside me, his hand tentatively sliding into mine as he drives, something inside me feels like it’s slowly unraveling. His calm presence is exactly what I needed today, I just didn’t know it. I glance at him out of the corner of my eye, watching the way his focus stays steady on the road, but his hand lingers against mine like he’s afraid I’ll pull away.

I don’t.

***

When we pull up outside Noah’s school, the usual buzz of parents and kids milling around hits me, but today it feels different. There’s a noticeable shift in the air as Jake jumps out of the car and walks around to open my door. I hadn’t considered that I’d be stepping out of a giant SUV with an equally giant NHL player beside me.

A few parents glance our way, recognition flashing in their eyes before they whisper to their kids. Even some of the teachers by the entrance look over, their expressions a mix of confusion and curiosity.

As we approach the front office, a group of kids by the playground notice us, wide-eyed as they point in our direction. One nudges his friend, and I hear their excited whispers: “That’s Jake Brooks! He’s here!”

Mrs. Lopez in reception stumbles momentarily over her words when she sees Jake beside me. “Ms. Andrews, and… Mr. Brooks,” she greets us, keeping her professionalism despite her surprise. “Thank you for coming in.”

“Of course,” I say, brushing off the attention and focusing on what matters. “Can we see Noah?

She nods, regaining her composure. “Noah’s in the counseling room. He’s calm, but I think he’ll feel a lot better seeing you, Ms Andrews.”

As we walk down the hallway, Jake’s quiet presence beside me feels like an anchor. He’s not trying to take control, or steamroll in. He’s just here, ready to act if I need him to. When we reach the door, Mrs. Lopez glances at Jake. “I’m sure Noah will be thrilled to see you too, Mr. Brooks.”

Jake gives her a warm smile, but his focus is on me, silently offering support.

I nod at Mrs. Lopez, and she opens the door, letting us enter. Inside, Noah sits on a small couch, his shoulders hunched, staring blankly at a book in his hands. He looks so small, so dejected. His face lights up when he sees me, then his eyes widen when he spots Jake behind me.

“Mum! Jake!” He jumps up, running over.

I kneel down, pulling him into a tight hug, feeling the tension in his small frame ease as he buries his face in my shoulder.

“Hey, buddy. You okay?”

Noah pulls back and nods, his eyes filled with unshed tears. “I didn’t mean to, Mum. I just… He wouldn’t stop.”

Brushing his hair back, I smile gently. “It’s okay, Noah. You’re not in trouble.”

“Hey, Noah,” Jake says softly, crouching to our level. “Tough day, huh?”

Noah nods, glancing back and forth between us.

I catch Jake’s eye in a silent exchange, his soft eyes meeting my glassy ones. His presence is grounding, even as I try to hold my fraying edges together.

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