Page 54 of Faking It With My Pucking Protector

A slow breath catches in my chest as I respond.

Thanks, Ma. Love you too.

I slip the phone into my bag, her words settling somewhere deep, warm and solid in my chest.

Then I finish packing and head for the door.

The house is quiet when I get home. Voices drift faintly from upstairs: Miss Taylor, probably helping Liam and Noah get settled after school, but it’s Ava’s presence I find myself instinctively searching for.

I grab a glass from the cabinet, fill it with cold water, and drink half of it in one go. My reflection stares back from the kitchen window, slightly tense, clearly anxious. I set the glass down a little harder than intended.

“Jackson?” Miss Taylor’s quiet voice startles me. I turn to see her smiling knowingly from the kitchen doorway.

“Didn’t mean to startle you.”

I lean against the counter. “How were the boys today?”

“Good. A little wild, but nothing I couldn’t handle,” she replies. “Big night tonight?”

I shrug. “Just a team dinner.”

“I’ll make sure the boys behave. You two enjoy yourselves.”

Miss Taylor leaves quietly, disappearing down the hall. I head down the hall and push open the boys’ door. Liam’s at his desk frowning over a worksheet while Noah tries to shoot a crumpled paper ball into the laundry hamper.

“I’m here to help with homework,” I say, ruffling Liam’s hair as I cross the room.

We spend the next while untangling a math problem and discussing which dinosaur would make the best pet.

By the time the clock hits seven, I’m back downstairs, straightening the cuff of my shirt with a restless energy under my skin. When I head down, Ava’s already in the entryway, standing near the door with her coat in hand.

The sight of her stops me in my tracks.

She looks beautiful, her dark hair loose, a soft blush on her cheeks, eyes bright but uncertain. For a moment, I just stare.

“Too much?” she asks nervously, shifting under my gaze.

“No.” My voice comes out lower than intended. I clear my throat, managing a more normal tone. “You look great.”

Her smile is shy but real. “Thanks. So do you.”

We linger a second longer, an electric quiet settling between us. Then, breaking the tension gently, I grab my keys from the bowl by the door and reach to open it. “Ready?”

She nods, slipping into her coat. “Ready.”

Outside, the cool evening air steadies me as we walk toward my car. I open her door without thinking, a small gesture that feels strangely intimate.

As we pull away from the house, Ava settles into the seat beside me, quiet but not uneasy. I steal a glance, noticing the faint smile still playing on her lips.

The car falls into an easy silence as we head toward the restaurant, and I realize being here with her feels natural.

The restaurant hums with laughter as we walk in, Ava beside me, heels clicking softly against the polished hardwood.

“You okay?” I ask quietly, placing my hand lightly at the small of her back. The gesture feels more real than pretend, and I try not to overthink that.

She glances up at me, eyes bright but nervous. “Yeah. It’s just been a while since I’ve done anything like this.”

“You’ll be great,” I reassure her, leading her toward the group gathered near the bar.