Page 95 of Seal the Deal

I chuckle, the sound rumbling in my chest. “We’ll talk to them properly when I get back, okay? Make sure they know what’s going on.”

She nods, her fingers tightening slightly on my shirt. “Okay.”

We stand there a moment, holding each other, neither wanting to let go.But then the app for my ride pings, shattering the quiet. I want to throw my phone across the room and crawl back into bed with her, but I have to go.

I pull back and tilt her chin up to kiss her thoroughly, like I’m trying to make it last the whole week.

When we finally pull apart, I rest my forehead against hers. “I’ll call you when I land.”

“Safe travels,” she whispers.

I grab my bag and head for the door, but stop and turn back to look at her one last time. She’s standing there, watching me with a soft smile, and I know on the spot this week apart is going to be harder than I thought.

“I’ll see you soon,” I say, forcing a smile, hoping it hides the unease gnawing at me.

“See you soon,” she echoes.

Opening the door, I pause and glance back one more time. “Remember, I’m just a call away. If you need anything, you know I’ve got you.”

Her smile widens as she leans against the doorframe. “I know. Now go kick some ass, Captain Thunder.”

“You got it, Lady Lightning.” I flash her a grin before heading out into the early morning.

As I walk down the driveway, the chill in the air biting at my skin, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m leaving a part of myself behind, right there in that house with Charlie and the kids.

***

Charlie

After Jake leaves, I linger in bed a while longer, watching Meadow sleep. Her little face is so peaceful, her breaths soft and even. I brush a hand over her hair, marveling at how angelic she looks like this. The room feels quiet—almost too quiet without Jake beside me.

But the quiet doesn’t last long. I hear the familiar creak of Noah’s door, and soon enough, his sleepy figure appears in the doorway, rubbing his eyes. “Mum? Is Jake gone?”

I nod, giving him a soft smile. “Yeah, sweetie. He had to catch his flight.”

Noah shuffles over and climbs into bed, settling himself on the other side of me. He’s quieter than usual, and I can tell something’s on his mind. I wrap my arm around his shoulders, pulling him close. “You okay, buddy?”

He shrugs, looking down at his hands. “I just... I like having him around. It feels nice.”

I swallow the immediate lump rising in my throat, pulling him even closer. “Itisnice, isn’t it? Jake loves being here with us, too.”

He nods, leaning into me. “I hope he’s not gone for too long.”

“He won’t be,” I assure him. “He’ll be back before you know it.”

The three of us stay like that for a while, huddled together under the covers, soaking up the warmth of the morning. Meadow eventually shifts, waking up and blinking her sleepy eyes at us.

“Morning, honey bee,” I whisper, brushing a hand over her hair.

“Hi Mama,” she murmurs, snuggling closer. “Where’s Jake?”

“He’s gone to work, but he’ll be back soon.” I tell her, and she nods slowly, not fully awake yet.

As we lie there, I think about how seamlessly Jake has woven himself into our lives, how natural it feels to have him here, to talk about where he is and when he’ll be back. Noah’s calm acceptance, even after seeing Jake here early this morning, surprises me in the best way. Maybe this isn’t as complicated as I’ve been making it out to be.

A thought crosses my mind, and I reach for my phone on the nightstand. “Hey, how about we send Jake a picture to say goodbye?”

Meadow’s eyes light up, and she immediately pulls a silly face. “Like this, Mama?”

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