Page 21

Chapter twenty

The pizza was definitely… gourmet

Charli e

T he morning sun filters through the windows, casting a warm glow across the kitchen counter. The very counter where everything changed last night, where Jake literally devoured me. I close my eyes, still feeling the ghost of his touch, the way he looked at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.

When we said goodbye last night, he'd cradled my face as if he was afraid to let go while reminding me how much he wants this, wants me. I’d tried to respond, tried to tell him I felt the same way and he didn’t need to convince me. But the words were tangled in my fear and uncertainty. So instead of speaking, I’d kissed him one more time. It was desperate, a little clumsy, but it was all I could offer in that moment—my way of conveying what I can’t say out loud yet. I’m all in too. I want this too.

His parting words play on a loop in my mind.

I’m not going anywhere.

I swallow hard, struggling to hold back the emotions. He means every word, and I know it. But that only makes this more complicated, because if he’s serious, then I have to be too. And that scares the hell out of me.

I’ve been up for hours, replaying everything in my head. The house is quiet except for the soft hum of the fridge and the kids’ occasional laughter in the living room. All I can think about is how much I want to believe him, how much I want to throw caution to the wind and just let myself fall.

But the other part is screaming to slow do wn, to protect myself and the kids from potential heartbreak. I don’t know how to navigate this. How to balance my life, my kids, my job, and this overwhelming feeling growing between Jake and me. I’d planned everything: relocating, setting up life here, even quizzing Zoe endlessly to nail the new job.

Nowhere in my notes had I planned for Jake.

To bump into him after twelve years, to have him dig deep beneath my skin, burrow right through my ribcage, and cup my heart in his hands like it’s something precious. He’s done it so quickly, so effortlessly.

Like it was always meant to be his.

It’s making me fucking crazy that I can’t control this, but I can’t stop the little voice in my head telling me this is exactly what I need—to relinquish the control I’ve so tightly clutched and just live.

The doorbell rings, snapping me back to the present. When I open it, Zoe’s standing there practically vibrating with excitement. I sent her a crisis text after Jake left, so I know she’s here for one reason: a debrief.

“Morning, lover girl,” she singsongs as she steps inside, blowing kisses to the kids in the living room before sauntering into the kitchen, grinning at me like an idiot.

“Sooo…?” She plops down onto a barstool, not even trying to hide her curiosity.

I roll my eyes but can’t help the smile tugging at my lips as I sit down next to her. “We need to be careful with what we say,” I whisper, nodding toward the living room.

“Got it. Code names and metaphors.” She winks.

I hand her a cup of coffee, but she barely acknowledges it as she leans forward with a smirk on her face. “So, Charlie. How was the… pizza?”

“Pizza?”

“Yeah, you know, the pizza .” She waggles her eyebrows suggestively. “Was it everything you wanted it to be? Cheesy, hot, maybe a little… spicy ?”

I nearly choke on my coffee.

“What?” she says innocently. “I’m just asking if the pizza was worth it.”

I shake my head, a smile slipping through despite myself. “It was… Let’s just say it was gourmet . Way more than I expected.”

“That good, huh? Sounds like it hit the spot .”

“Oh, it did,” I reply, lowering my voice. “It was amazing. But it’s not just the… toppings. It’s everything else. The way the pizza… looks at me, the way it… makes the kids so happy. It’s an intense pizza.”

Zoe’s eyes, glittering with barely contained amusement, soften as she clinks her coffee mug with mine. “Sounds like you’ve got yourself a five-star meal , Charlie.”

I sigh, leaning back in my chair. “But what if it’s too good to be true?”

She tilts her head. “He’s not a fast-food kinda guy, Charlie. Can’t you tell?”

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “Yeah, it’s just… it’s a lot. But in a good way.”

“That’s because the pizza is head-over-heels, can’t-think-straight into you, babe.”

“Yeah, but what if it doesn’t last?” I blurt out, the fear that’s been gnawing at me finally surfacing. “Alex seemed all in too, and look how that turned out.”

Zoe’s playfulness fades at the mention of Alex's name. “The gourmet pizza is nothing like that stale loaf of bread. And you’re not the same person you were back then, either. You’re stronger now, smarter. You’re allowed to want this, Charlie. You’re allowed to be happy.”

I snort at the comparison, but try to absorb her words. “I just don’t want the kids to get hurt. They’re already getting attached to him, especially Meadow.”

Zoe gives me a knowing look. “Which means you’re getting attached, too.”

I look down at my coffee, her words hitting me hard. “Maybe.”

“Look,” she says firmly, “you don’t have to have all the answers. Just take it one day at a time. And trust that he’s in this for the right reasons. I’ve known him for a few years now, and honestly? I’ve never seen him like this with anyone.”

“You think he’s ready for all this?”

Before she can answer, Meadow runs in, her eyes bright with excitement. “Mama! Can Jake read me a story again at bedtime?”

I chuckle, scooping her up into my arms. “We’ll see, honey bee. Jake might be busy tonight.”

“He promised.” Meadow pouts, resting her head on my shoulder.

Zoe shoots me a gleeful look. “And there’s your answer.”

I ignore her and turn back to Meadow, kissing the top of her head. “We’ll figure it out, honey bee.”

Zoe stands and stretches with a satisfied grin. “Well, I think that’s my cue to leave you with your gourmet meal—I mean, your thoughts. ”

She gives me a quick hug and waves to the kids before heading for the door. With a last wink, Zoe leaves me alone with my thoughts, and a little girl who’s already halfway in love with Jake.

As I watch Meadow wander back to the living room, I feel the weight of Zoe’s words. One day at a time.

Maybe that’s all I can do right now.

***

Jake

Ryan and I step into my condo, still laughing about something one of the guys said at practice. The door clicks shut, and it’s quiet, almost too quiet after the buzz of the arena.

I drop my bag by the door and stretch, the adrenaline from practice still humming in my veins. Ryan heads straight for the fridge like he owns the place, grabs two bottles of water, and tosses one my way.

“Man, I think we might actually have a shot at the playoffs this year,” he says, cracking his bottle open.

I lean back against the counter, nodding. “Yeah, we’ve got a good rhythm going. Just gotta keep it up.”

Ryan takes a long swig, glancing my way. “Definitely. About time we got our act together. And if Eli keeps playing like that, we’re golden.”

We trade a few more jabs and inside jokes about the team, but I can feel Ryan’s tone shift. He’s got something on his mind, and I know him well enough to recognize it.

He sets his bottle down, crossing his arms. “So… Thanksgiving. You bringing Charlotte and the kids?”

I pause mid-sip, glancing at him. “Yeah, that’s the plan. Mentioned it to her last night. She’s hesitant, but I think she’s on board.”

Ryan quirks an eyebrow. “Last night?”

“Yeah. Noah got into some trouble at school, so I offered to help out. Then I hung around for a bit.”

He smirks, leaning against the counter. “You thinking about making it exclusive?”

I frown. I hadn’t considered I needed to ask outright, I just assumed we were.

“She’s mine.” I sound like a caveman, but I don’t care.

He chuckles, lifting his water. “Does she know that?”

My thoughts race at the question, the weight of it settling over me. She better fucking know it.

“I don’t want to push her too fast. She’s been through a lot, so I don’t wanna screw this up by rushing things.”

Ryan’s expression turns serious. “You’re all in with her, aren’t you? The way you talk about her, man…”

“All in, one hundred percent. She appeared right in front of me after twelve years, there's no way I’m not letting her go again.”

“Dude, you’re in deep.”

I run a hand through my hair, sorting out everything in my head. “I just don’t want to scare her off, you know? She’s got the kids to think about, but I don’t want her thinking I’m not serious either.”

His head shakes, amused. “I’ve never seen you like this over anyone. Surely she knows.”

I glance at him, trying to gauge how much is friendly reassurance and how much is truth. “I don’t wanna screw this up. I…” I trail off, unable to voice my deepest feelings out loud—not yet. Not until I’ve said them to her first.

Ryan claps a hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “You’re doing everything right, man. Just keep being yourself. She’s already halfway there.”

Nodding, I take in his words. He’s right. I’ve put it all out there, and I’ve got to trust that she feels the same. Still, the idea of making our relationship official is a lot to process.

I’d do it in a heartbeat, but I have to be careful. Losing her now, before we’ve even really started, scares the shit out of me.

We finish our waters, the conversation lightening up as we talk about the upcoming game, Chase’s escapades, and the usual locker room banter. But after Ryan leaves, the condo feels even more sterile, the silence pressing in around me.

I take in the sleek lines and pristine surfaces. It’s the kind of place that looks good in a magazine. Impressive on the outside, but hollow at its core. The same way I’ve felt without her these past twelve years.

I think back to Charlie’s house and how warm it felt; how alive. There’s a coziness there, a sense of home my place is missing. The thought crosses my mind to make my condo more inviting for her and the kids. It’s not something I’ve thought about before, but now it feels important. I want them with me. I want to be with them.

With a sigh, I pull out my phone, scrolling until I find Charlie’s name. My thumb hovers over the screen for a moment before I hit the call button. It rings a couple of times, and I hear chaos in the background when she picks up.

“Hey, Jake,” she says, voice frazzled. A high-pitched wail sounds in the background.

“Hey, Lady Lightning,” I reply, a smile tugging at my lips. “Everything okay over there?”

“Sorry, it’s a bit crazy right now.” Her words are nearly lost in the noise—sounds like Meadow is in full meltdown mode.

“You okay?”

She lets out a tired laugh. “Just another standard night at Casa Charlotte. Meadow’s decided that bath time is the end of the world, and Noah’s arguing with me about whether broccoli is necessary. You know, the usual fun and rainbows.”

I chuckle, picturing the scene. “Sounds like a full house.”

“Yeah, it’s… something,” she says, then qui ckly changes the subject. “How was practice?”

I ignore it, instead focusing on the strain in her voice. She’s tired in a way that goes beyond physical—a kind of tired that comes from doing everything alone, day after day.

“I should come over,” I say, the decision made before I even realize it. “I promised my favorite three-year-old a bedtime story anyway.”

“Jake, you don’t have to—”

“I’m on my way,” I insist, already grabbing my keys. “Be there soon.”

There’s a pause, then a sigh. “Alright. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Bring it on, baby.”