Page 71 of Paper Flowers (Stonebrook #1)

“0907SGBeckett,” Luke replies over his shoulder.

With his arm still around my lower waist, Luke reaches for Sadie’s untouched bowl of ice cream.

He scoops up a generous spoonful and brings the spoon to my lips, his eyes dipping down to my mouth.

I open for him, taking a slow bite. His gaze doesn’t break as he watches me, and then, with a soft swipe of his thumb across my bottom lip, he brings it to his mouth and sucks it clean.

His throat bobs as he swallows, then he clears it, snapping the tension between us.

“So…” he says, voice a little raspier than before, “are you ready for the basketball game?”

“About that,” I sigh. “It sucks. I was really looking forward to playing this year, but I’ve got a meeting.”

“Seriously?” His brows pinch together. “The whole school’s going to be there.”

“I know. I’m bummed. I wonder if I can reschedule it. The invite didn’t even say who it’s with. I’ll ask Mrs. Emily what it’s about.”

“No! Don’t.” His response is a little too quick.

“Luke?” I study his face.

“I mean…obviously it’s a meeting you need to be at,” he says, recovering. “You shouldn’t reschedule. There’s a Student & Staff Softball game in a few weeks, right? You can play in that.”

“You’re right. Who knows, maybe the meeting will be shorter than I think.” I pause, giving him a look. “Still…I was really looking forward to watching you jog around the court.” I can’t help the giggle that escapes, and Luke just smirks.

“I bet you would,” Liam pipes up from the side with a perfectly timed sass only a brother can give.

To say things have been weird around here is an understatement.

For the past two days, Sadie’s been quietly keeping her distance.

Not in a dramatic way–just enough to sting.

Every time we’re in the same room, she finds a reason to drift toward Luke or disappear into her room.

At bedtime, she only wanted Luke to tuck her in.

He told me not to take it personally…but how can I not?

It’s starting to settle in my chest like something I did wrong.

Last night, when Nina FaceTimed, I handed Sadie my phone like I always do. But instead of curling up besides me like she usually does so we can talk together, she just…walked away. No explanation, just silenced. That silence echoed.

I’ve talked to Luke about it, but he doesn’t seem too worried.

Liam said everything seems fine, too. Maybe it’s nothing.

Maybe I’m overthinking it. But I can’t shake the feeling that something shifted.

If I did something to make her pull away from me–I need to fix it.

I just don’t know how or where to start.

Now that it’s time to leave for work and school, Sadie walks down the stairs.

Her hair up with an oversized hunter green hair bow clipped in.

She’s in a gray school spirit shirt that says “Wolf Pack” with a paw print stamped across the center.

Black cotton shorts and her black laced-up Vans complete the look.

Luke follows behind her, dressed in black joggers, the same spirit shirt and matching Vans.

“I love the matching outfits today.” I say, gesturing to myself–I’m in the same getup. Sadie’s hazel eyes meet mine and she gives me a small smile. It’s the most I’ve gotten from her in days, and I hold it close like a fragile, beautiful thing.

Luke heads into the office to grab his backpack. “Some of the fifth graders were talking so much shit yesterday,” he calls out. “They told me to make sure I had an emergency contact in case I popped a hip.” I can’t help but laugh.

“No they didn’t!”

“They did! I said, ‘how old do you think I am?’”

“What did they say?”

“They said I look no less than forty-five. Forty-five, Dayna. Do I look that old?” I glance at Sadie, who’s now covering her mouth, trying to stifle her laughter.

“No, Baby,” I say grinning. “You don’t even look forty.”

“ Thank fuck , I’m a lawyer,” Liam mutters as he strolls into the room, pulling on a baseball cap. “Being called old is my worst fear–especially from little shits who probably still sleep with night lights.”

With our bags and lunches in hand, we make it to the front door and down the porch steps.

Liam climbs into the backseat with Sadie–per her request–so they can sing loudly together.

It might be the cutest thing I’ve seen, second only to when she sings with Luke.

None of us were prepared when Liam started belting out Cruel Summer at full volume.

“So I’ve had my fair share of being drunk in the back of the car–”

“Crying like a baby too?” Sadie cuts him off, eyes wide, waiting for his answer. Luke raises a brow in the rearview mirror. “Well? Aren’t you going to answer your niece?”

Liam straightens his shoulders, lifts his chin dramatically. “Why yes, Girlie. I have cried like a baby–more times than I care to admit.” Luke and I exchanged a quick glance and burst out laughing.

“It’s not easy being a lawyer! I win some cases, I lose some–I cry for my clients, okay?” Liam says, attempting to defend his honor.

“It’s okay Uncle Liam. Crying is good for you.” Sadie replies softly, with the kind of wisdom only kids can deliver without trying.

“Daddy, can you turn the music up?” She asks, a little louder now. Luke presses the button on his steering wheel, and the volume rises.

“THANK YOU!” Sadie shouts with glee. Her energy feels different today–lighter, freer.

I turn in my seat to glance back, and she’s looking right at me, beaming from her car seat.

That smile…it’s been days since I’ve seen it directed at me like this.

I smile back, heart catching in my chest, and reach my hand towards her.

She takes it without reserve, and I give her hand a soft squeeze.

Once.

Twice.

Three times .

She squeezes back.

Luke shifts the truck into park and twists in his seat to look at Sadie. “All right, Sadie Girl. Ready for the big game?”

“Yup! We’re going to crush the Stonebrook teachers!” She says, bouncing in her car seat barely contained energy. “But not your team Daddy–your team has all the cool teachers.” She grins at him, bright and certain.

“I’m glad I made the cut.” Luke chuckles. “Let’s go before anyone sees you hanging out with an opposing player.”

We all pile out of the truck. Sadie immediately grabs Liam’s hand, chatting nonstop as they head toward the front office.

Luke and I walk a few steps behind, our shoulders brushing, fingers intertwined.

Across the lot, Cara spots us and waves before picking up her pace to meet us.

“Good morning to my favorite family!” she calls, her smile wide and real.

“Morning, Auntie Cara! Look who’s here today–Uncle Liam!

” Sadie says, tugging his hand excitedly.

Cara’s eyes land on Liam–and something passes between them.

A quiet, undeniable flicker. Her smile falters for half a breath before returning, just as Liam’s gaze deepens with something unreadable, slow enough to notice it.

“Hey, Liam,” Cara says softly, and leans in for a hug. “It’s nice to see you again.”

“Hello, Auntie Cara Jane.” His voice is low.

Steady. His thumb brushes gently over the faint scar above her eyebrow–soft, careful, like he’s memorized every part of her face.

Then he tucks a piece of hair behind her shoulder, the motion fluid, practiced…

like muscle memory. Like something he’s done a hundred times before.

The contact is small, but it stretches the air tight between them.

Something is there–something lived–in and quiet, heavy with whatever history they aren’t saying out loud.

I don’t miss the way Cara’s breath hitches, or the way Liam’s eyes linger on her a second too long before he steps back, hand sliding casually into his pocket .

I glance at Luke. His jaw is tight, unreadable–but his silence says everything.

I’m definitely missing something. Sadie’s eyes don’t miss a beat, flicking between Liam and Cara.

She tilts her head slightly, watching them in that observant way she has.

Then, as if sensing the shift, she tugs on the hem of Liam’s shirt.

“This is the way to the office,” she says, pointing toward the front building. “I want Mrs. Emily to meet you.” The moment pulls Liam out of whatever thoughts were running through his mind.

“I can’t wait to meet the one and only, Mrs. Emily.” He says as he gives his niece his full attention again.

The five of us step through the front door and are instantly greeted by Mrs. Emily.

“It’s Game Day Wolf Pack!” She practically sings, radiating more energy than a double espresso. She gives me a look–a little too long, a little too sparkly eyed.

“Oh I just love, love,” she says with a dramatic sigh. “Doesn’t it feel like a perfect day, Sugar Bear?”

“It’s gonna be the best day!” Sadie replies without hesitation.

“Mrs. Emily, I want you to meet my Uncle Liam! He’s from New York!

” Sadie grins up at her before adding, “And he cries in the car...” Her voice trails off, and even she seems to realize mid-sentence how funny it sounds.

Liam’s expression freezes. Luke bursts out laughing, and Cara snickers under her breath.

Mrs. Emily’s eyes go wide as she takes Liam in.

“Well, my goodness,” she says, fanning herself. “You Beckett men really are cut from the same cloth. I thought Luke was a sight for sore eyes, but this one–this one’s God’s favorite, that’s for sure.” Liam raises a brow, clearly amused.

“I’m Mrs. Emily Hart,” she adds, straightening her posture. “And if I were as young as Ms. Davis,” She hikes a thumb towards Cara. “I’d tell you to call me yours. But I’m happily devoted to my work. I don’t have time to date. So don’t go looking at me with those beautiful blues.”

We all glance at Liam, who tries and fails to look anywhere else as Mrs. Emily turns a deep shade of flustered pink as she’s working on his visitor pass.

Once she’s done, she reaches over the front desk to hand it to him.

“Now that I have this, show me your classroom Girlie, I wanna meet your teacher.” He says as he’s adjusting his pass.

“It’s this way!” Sadie skipping out of the office. “Love you Daddy, love you Dayna!”

“As fun as this has been, I need to get to my classroom. I’ll see everyone in the gym!

” Cara announces walking out of the office leaving me and Luke standing in the office.

“I’ll see you after the game?” I ask, pausing just outside my office door.

“You’ll see me,” he says, tugging me closer by my belt loop, like he does not want to let me go just yet.

“Have fun with your meeting.” I groan. “Don’t remind me.

Fifteen minutes right in the middle. I’m so mad I have to miss it. ”

“I’m sure it’ll fly by,” he says with a casual shrug.

“Make sure you stretch really well, don’t want any popped hips out there.

” I give Luke a playful smirk. He closes the gap between us, his lips brush the tips of my ears, “The only stretching I do is when I put my–” I turn my face to his lips and kiss away what he was going to say, “Go to class, Mr. Beckett before you get detention for that dirty mouth of yours.” I whisper against his lips.

“With pleasure, Ms. Evans.” Luke turns on his heels and walks out leaving a cloud of citrus and pine lingering.

I step into my office and quietly close the door behind me. The familiar hum of the building settles around me as I cross to my desk and ease into my chair. For a moment I just sit, letting the silence wrap around like a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

The last few days have been…odd. Sadie’s sudden shift in energy.

Mrs. Emily’s lingering glances. The way Liam looked at Cara–and the way she looked back.

There’s something brewing, just beneath the surface, like pieces clicking into place a puzzle I haven’t seen the full picture of yet.

But through all of that, one thing remains clear.

Steady.

True.

I am so deeply, entirely in love with Luke Beckett.

And his beautiful, thoughtful daughter? She’s become a part of me in a way I never expected–she’s etched her name across my heart.

They are my home. My heart. This season of life–messy, magical, unpredictable–has been the best of mine.

As I sit here, hand resting lightly on my desk, I can’t help but smile.

I don’t know what’s coming next. But I cannot wait to grow into it–together.