Page 66 of Paper Flowers (Stonebrook #1)

Luke catches that and his ocean blue eyes pour into me deeply, as if he knows the turmoil my mind is in.

He tips his bottle into his mouth, almost swallowing it down in one drink.

He walks over to me and switches my full bottle for his nearly empty one.

Leaning into me, he brings his lips to my ear, “I know you're worried. Take mine, so they don’t notice you’re not drinking.

” Then he places his lips to my hair and kisses me, the smell of alcohol lingers.

But at that moment, he knew what I needed.

I take the nearly empty bottle from Luke’s hand and press my lips to the rim.

I don’t drink it–but I don’t need to. He already gave me what I needed.

“Your birthday is coming up pretty soon, Luke. Do you have any plans?” Cara asks Luke as we watch the girls taking turns riding in Sadie’s Bronco Power Wheel.

Trixie has a prime spot on Luke’s lap, because obviously, she’s the one steering with the remote.

Caleb and Megan are swaying gently on the porch swing while Luke, Cara, and I sit in Adirondack chairs, basking in the golden light of a perfect late afternoon.

“My brother, Liam–you remember him, right?”

“Yeah, how could I forget the hot Beckett brother?” Cara laughs, loud enough for Sadie to glance over with curiosity.

Luke raises a brow. “Okay, first of all–rude. Secondly, he’s coming over for a visit. A week after the Student & Staff Basketball game.” Cara’s glass of lemonade sloshes slightly as she sits up straighter.

“I haven’t seen him since–”

“He saved your life?” Luke finishes for her, not even looking her way as he takes a sip from his iced water.

“You know about that?” Cara asks, blinking at him in surprise.

“He’s my brother, he tells me just about everything.” There’s a beat of silence, and I glance between them. Something’s unspoken here–something I’m clearly out of the loop on. Thankfully, Megan jumps in, breaking the tension.

“So the three of you grew up together?”

Luke nods and hands the Power Wheel remote to Caleb. “Yeah, we were around the girls’ age when we met.”

“Wow…” Megan looks out at the three of them, now collapsed in giggles on the grass. “I hope these girls get a friendship like that. A lifelong one.” We all watch them in a quiet moment of collective ho pe–each of us silently wishing the world stays soft for them a little while longer.

There is no surprise Luke and I wake before Sadie.

She had the best time with her friends yesterday–her energy was nonstop, her joy so loud and infectious it practically echoed through the walls.

Watching her run around with that giant smile on her face, surrounded by people who love her, was everything.

By the end of the day, the three girls had finally settled in the living room for a movie while the rest of us stayed around the dining table, talking and laughing.

Grace’s dad Jeremy, came by to pick her up in the evening, and before she left, the girls were already begging for a sleepover next time.

Luke gave his usual dad answer saying we’d “discuss it with the parents.”

That’s when Cara said she’d offer to spend the night next time–and that sent the girls into a fit of squeals so loud, even Caleb winced.

They bounced around the living room like it was already happening, making a list of everything they’d need–blankets, popcorn, nail polish, at least four movies, and they all needed matching pajamas for their stuffies like Trixie.

Luke and I just exchanged a glance across the room, one of those quiet, love-filled looks that said, this is our life now–and we wouldn’t change a thing.

Now, with the house still and the sun barely creeping in through the curtains, I’m curled up against Luke on the sofa.

He’s holding his coffee mug in one hand, arm wrapped around me with the other.

My cheek rests against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart and the occasional sound of him sipping his drink.

“She really had the best day,” I say, dragging my fingertips up and down the front of his sweatshirt.

“She did,” Luke murmurs into my hair. “So did I.” His hand rubs small lazy circles on my arm, and for a moment, there’s nothing but warmth between us. No to-do list. No weight. Just the comfort of being here, together, in the quiet of the morning .

And upstairs? The soft sounds of a child dreaming after a perfect day.

Luke presses a kiss to the top of my head, and I close my eyes, letting myself savor the stillness.

But just as I begin to lean into it, I feel the faintest cramp low in my abdomen.

Dull, but familiar. I try to ignore it–maybe it’s nothing.

Maybe it’s just nerves, or too much popcorn last night.

But then it comes again, stronger this time.

I know. My chest tightens as I quietly pull away from Luke’s hold.

“I’ll be right back,” I say softly, brushing his arm as I get up.

He nods, not questioning, just watching me walk toward the staircase with that warm sleepy smile he always has in the morning.

I slip into the bathroom and close the door behind me.

It only takes a second to confirm what I already felt.

Red.

A color that used to mean surprise. Now, it’s just disappointment with a familiar face.

I sit here for a moment, letting it hit me–quietly heartbroken.

Again. I press my palms into my thighs and exhale.

Deep, slow. I can’t cry, or fall apart–not completely.

Sadie will be up soon, and there’s breakfast to make, and a house to fill with laughter.

But right now? I just let myself feel it. I reach for a tampon and notice there’s only one left in this giant box. Another reminder of how many times I’ve been here. I need to get ready. The pharmacy is closed on Sundays, Target is the next closest store in Stonebrook.

Luke walks into the bedroom just as I’m pulling on my leggings. I was hoping to compose myself better before I face him–before he can see it in my eyes.

“Where are you going?” His voice is soft. I freeze for a second, swallowing the lump that’s already forming.

“I…I just got my period,” I say, quieter than I mean to. “And I don’t have any more tampons.” The words barely leave my mouth before my throat tightens. I wasn’t going to cry but my voice betrays me, anyway.

Luke’s ocean blue eyes soften instantly. “Oh, Dayna…” He crosses the room in two steps.

“Come here. ”

He doesn’t hesitate. He just pulls me into his chest like he already knows exactly what I need. Not a fix. Not a solution. Just…him.

Wrapped in Luke’s arms, I press myself into his narrow frame. The scent of citrus and pine surrounds me like a familiar song. The tears I was holding back spill freely onto his shirt. He rubs my back in slow strokes, his chin is resting on the crown of my head.

“Luke…are you okay?”

He pauses. I hear the faint click of his jaw. I squeeze him tighter, willing him to let me in. “I feel like I’m letting you down,” he murmurs. “I hate that you’re hurting like this. I know it’s only been six months but each time, I see you trying to stay strong, trying to put on a brave face.”

He lowers himself to meet my gaze, and I see the same worry mirrored in his eyes. “I’ll be okay, Luke. We can try again next month. Or…we can just have fun.”

“It’s always fun…right?” His brow lifts, waiting for my answer. He gently swipes a thumb beneath my eyes, catching the last of my tears. “Of course it’s fun. Do you know how many times I think about us tangled in our bedsheets?”

“Probably as many times as I do,” he smirks.

He kisses my forehead and gently pulls away.

I step aside as he heads into the ensuite bathroom.

I walk to the closet, grab my sneakers, and sit at the edge of the bed to lace them up.

As I’m adjusting my socks, Luke crouches in front of me, rubbing his hands over my thighs in slow, soothing motions.

The cramps are setting in. All I want is to curl beneath a blanket and disappear into comfort.

“I’ll go to Target and grab what you need,” he says. “Why don’t you snuggle up on the sofa and binge Boy Meets World ? I’ll take Sadie with me.”

He is already standing up, and that’s when I noticed he’s wearing jeans and has his sneakers on.

I never had this with Dean. I asked him to go once, and he said he wouldn’t even know what to get, that I was better off going myself.

This is different. Luke doesn’t ask, he does.

I love him for that. Having a partner who just gets you.

“There’s no need to wake her, Sadie can stay with me,” I say. “I love our snuggle times.” He leans in and kisses me–soft, warm, and full of love.

“I’ll be right back,” he says against my lips. Then he stands and turns towards our bedroom door, shoulders not as straight as I’m used to seeing him.

I’m left standing in our bedroom, a little dumbfounded. Luke didn’t even blink, he spoke with intention and a love that shows up without needing to be asked.

Slipping off my sneakers, I replace them with my cozy slippers and head over to Sadie’s room.

Her bedroom door is slightly ajar, I see Sadie is awake, and she’s talking aloud.

She’s on her bed laying on her belly, her pajama pants bunches at her calves as she’s kicking her feet behind her, fully submerged into her book.

Not wanting to interrupt her just yet, I head back to mine and Luke’s room, grab the book I’m reading off my nightstand and snag a pillow from our bed and head back to her room.