Page 22

Chapter twenty-on e

Pajamas are the absolute worst

Jake - 12 Years Ago

I ’m heading toward the mess hall when I spot Charlotte sitting on the steps of her cabin, her head in her hands. She’s usually right in the thick of things, helping the kids and organizing other leaders with a smile in place. Something’s off.

“Hey, Charlie,” I call, keeping my tone light. “Everything okay?”

She looks up, and the exhaustion in her eyes hits me like a punch. “Just a long day,” she says, her voice missing its usual spark. “I’m fine, really.”

I don’t buy it. “You don’t look fine.” I sit down beside her on the steps, stretching my legs out. “Wanna talk?”

She sighs, running a hand through her hair. “You know how it is. Some days are just harder than others. Today was one of those days.”

I nod, not pushing. Camp can be exhausting, and it’s more than the physical stuff—it’s the emotional weight of being ‘on’ all day. I’ve had my rough days too, but I’ve never seen her like this.

“Anything I can do to help?”

She shakes her head. “Not unless you’ve got a magic wand that makes kids listen the first time.”

“Hmm, fresh out of those. But I’m a pro at sitting…”

A small, tired smile appears. “Yeah, that helps.”

If that’s all it takes, I’ll gladly sit beside her for as long as she needs. We sit in comfortable silence, the distant chatter of campers and the rustling of leaves around us. It’s still. Peaceful.

After a while, she straightens, rubbing her hands over her knees. “I just wanna feel like I’m doing a good job. Like I’m not letting anyone down.”

I frown, because I’ve had that same thought a hundred times myself, but I never would’ve guessed she felt the same. Seeing her like this stirs something deep in me. It’s hard to reconcile this version of her with the strong, confident person I know. But maybe that’s the point—maybe even light needs a place to rest.

“You’re not letting anyone down,” I say firmly. “The kids adore you. Hell, this whole camp would fall apart without you.”

She doesn’t respond right away, but I see the faintest smile tugging her lips. For the first time since I sat down, she looks lighter. Less weighed down by whatever’s been gnawing at her all day. It’s small, but I feel the victory. Like maybe just being here with her is enough. “Thanks, Jake.”

“Anytime, Lady Lightning.”

I glance at her, and for a moment, I see her in a new way. Not just as a friend or camp leader, but as someone who also needs to hear that they’re doing okay. That they’re valued.

And if she needs that reminder, I’ll do it. Every damn day.

***

Jake - Present Day

When I pull up to Charlie’s house, the sounds of mayhem are almost audible from the driveway. I knock, and when she opens the door, she looks frazzled—hair slightly out of place, tracksuit still somehow managing to look sexy on her.

“Hey,” she says, breathless. “You really didn’t have to come.”

“I wanted to,” I reply, stepping inside.

The scene is just as chaotic as I expected. Meadow clutches her towel, red-faced and wailing at a pitch that could shatter glass. At the table, Noah glares at his broccoli like it’s personally offended him, while Charlotte juggles a handful of pajamas and a sippy cup.

I drop to one knee in front of Meadow, softening my voice. “Hey, Princess. What’s got you so upset?”

She pauses mid-wail, blinking at me, but then she remembers her grievances and starts up again, even louder. “Don’t wanna wear pajamas!” Her lower lip trembles, tears streaking her cheeks.

“Pajamas are the worst,” I agree solemnly, glancing up at Charlie with a wink. “But bedtime stories are the best.”

Meadow’s eyes briefly light up before suspicion returns. “No! No pajamas!” She pulls the towel tighter like it’s a shield against the idea.

“How about a deal?” I say, keeping my voice gentle. “You get into your PJs, and I promise you the best story ever. I’ll even do all the voices.”

She hesitates, her little brow furrowed in contemplation. Before she can decide, Noah pipes up, frustrated. “Do I have to eat the broccoli? It’s gross!”

I glance over at him, seeing the broccoli standoff. “Tell you what, buddy,” I say, balancing between Meadow’s tantrum and Noah’s broccoli battle, “if you finish it, you get to pick the story tonight. Deal?”

Noah grumbles, but finally stabs the broccoli and takes a tiny, dramatic bite, grimacing the whole time.

“Good job, Noah,” I say, before turning back to Meadow. “So, what do you say, Princess? Pajamas, then stories?”

She’s still sizing me up, her grip on the towel firm. I can see the wheels turning in her little mind, deciding whether she trusts me enough to keep my promise.

Charlotte steps in, her voice soft but tired. “Honey bee, let’s get into your PJs, okay? Then story time.”

Meadow’s lip quivers, but instead of bursting into tears, she lets out a small defeated sigh. “Only if Jake reads the story,” she concedes, looking at me with big, watery eyes.

I shoot Charlie a grin as she quickly helps Meadow into her pajamas. “Deal.”

Once she’s dressed, I lift Meadow ont o my shoulders, drawing a few giggles. As we head upstairs, I hear Charlotte let out a quiet sigh of relief. Noah, still grumbling, shuffles up to his room to get ready.

Getting Meadow into bed isn’t as easy as I hoped. She squirms and protests, complaining about the covers, and at one point, throws herself onto the floor in frustration. With a lot of patience and coaxing, she finally settles, clutching her favorite stuffed unicorn.

Noah arrives with a stack of books, each one thicker than the last. “You said I could pick the story,” he reminds me, holding up a book that will take hours to read.

I chuckle, ruffling his hair. “How about we save that one for the long weekend and pick something a little shorter?”

He pouts but eventually hands me a different book. I settle in with them on Meadow’s bed, putting on all the silly voices. But even as I read, Meadow fidgets, scrunching her face up. “No, not like that! You’re doing it wrong!”

I laugh and adjust my voice, deeper and more dramatic, and that seems to satisfy her for now. She’s testing, the way little kids do when they’re figuring out how far they can go. Maybe it’s her way of checking if I’ll still be here when the story’s over—if I’m someone she can count on.

After the story, I close the book and look at the two sleepy faces beside me. Noah’s already half-asleep, but Meadow’s still fighting it, her eyes fluttering as she tries to stay awake. It’s damn near the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

“More stories tomorrow?” Meadow yawns, her tiny fist rubbing at her eyes.

“You got it, Princess,” I reply, brushing her hair back. She finally settles, her breathing evening out.

I stand, feeling a mix of contentment and something deeper—something that feels a lot like belonging. This house, hectic and vibrant, is everything my condo isn’t. It’s not quiet or neat, and it sure as hell isn’t simple. But it feels alive. It feels like a place where love happens, even in the middle of broccoli standoffs and bedtime battles. And that’s something I didn’t even know I was missing. Not until them.

As I turn to take Noah to his room, I spot Charlott e at the door, leaning against the frame with a soft smile.

“I’ll tuck her in,” she whispers, stepping in. I nod and head with Noah to his room, pulling his covers back.

“You did good, Jake,” he mumbles, barely coherent as he snuggles under his covers.

“Thanks, buddy.” I smile. “Sleep tight.”

I head back downstairs and stop by the bathroom to wash my hands, taking a moment to breathe while Charlotte finishes up with the kids.

Everything tonight has been a whirlwind, exactly as she promised. But it feels right. Even in the chaos, there’s a warmth here that I love.

Back in the kitchen, I find Charlie pulling out a bottle of wine from the fridge. There’s a tension in her shoulders, like she’s still processing the evening. She doesn’t hear me approach, so I place my hands on her shoulders, kneading slowly. She jumps slightly, but then stands there, letting me work out the tension in her muscles.

“You okay?” I ask softly, pressing a kiss to her neck.

She chuckles, though there’s weariness there. “I’m fine. This is just… life.”

I smile, releasing her as she turns to me. “Wouldn’t change it for anything.”

She sighs, offering me a glass, but I shake my head.

Taking a small sip, she studies my face. I smile serenely back at her, and brace for the hit. I know her. I know exactly what she’s going to say. This is where she’ll tell me that this is too much for me to take on.

“You don’t have to pretend, you know. It’s okay if this is a lot.”

Bingo.

“It is,” I admit, my fingers trailing up her arm. “But I like it.”

She swirls her wine, processing my words. “You say that now, but what about when it gets harder?”

“Charlie girl, the easy parts are great, but I’m here for all of it.”

She looks down into her glass, doubt flickering in her eyes. “I don’t want you to feel obligated because of the kids.”

I place my hand over hers, stilling the motion of t he glass. “Charlotte. I’m here because I want to be. Not out of obligation, but because I care about you—and them.”

She meets my gaze, her eyes softening. “I’m trying to believe you,” she whispers. “But it’s still scary.”

I nod, understanding her fear. Cupping her cheek, I brush my thumb up her jaw to her earlobe. “I know. Life’s messy, and this isn’t easy for you. But I don’t wanna be anywhere else, or with anyone else.”

A small genuine smile appears, her defenses lowering. We stand there for a moment, just enjoying the quiet after the storm. Then I lean down, pressing a tender kiss to her lips. When I pull back, I let my eyes coast over her face, savoring her. God, you’re beautiful.

“So, about Thanksgiving…”

Her smile fades slightly, but I give her hand a reassuring squeeze.

“It’s just a holiday,” I say. “A chance for us to spend time together with everyone there, Zoe too.”

She sighs, still torn. “It’s not just the holiday Jake, it’s everything. I’m a package deal. My life isn’t simple, and there are a lot of highs and lows. I need to know that you’ve thought this through.”

“Trust me, I’ve thought about this a lot. I know it won’t always be easy, but I want you and the kids to be a part of my life, and I want to be a part of yours.”

She lets out a shaky breath. “Okay,” she finally says. “We’ll go to Thanksgiving.”

Relief and warmth wash over me. “You know, you could make this a little easier by just admitting I’m irresistible.”

Charlie laughs, her eyes twinkling. “Oh, is that what I’m supposed to do?”

I nod. “It’ll be fun. I promise.”

She takes another sip, still smiling. I watch her for a beat then reach for the glass, taking it from her hands and setting it down.

“Come here.”

Her breath catches slightly as I reach for her, my fingers brushing back her hair, lingering at the nape of her neck.

This time when I kiss her, I let everything pour out—the intensity, the longing, the quiet certainty that's been building since the moment she walked back into my life.

Her lips part beneath mine, and fuck, I swear I could get drunk off her. She tastes warm and sweet, but there's something else too. Something distinctly Charlie that I’ve been chasing for twelve years without even realizing it.

A low hum escapes her as her fingers tug into my shirt, pulling me closer. My hands drift down, tracing the cu rve of her spine until they settle firmly on her hips. She presses into me, and a sharp breath leaves me as the heat of her body sinks into mine.

Griping her ass, I squeeze just enough to feel the way her breath stutters against my lips. She moans, and I swallow the sound down as I deepen the kiss, teasing her lower lip between my teeth before soothing it with my tongue. Fuck, I want her.

When I pull back, her eyes stay closed for a moment, her lips parted and breathy. I press a lingering kiss to the corner of her mouth, memorizing the way she feels against me. She exhales, eyes still closed, gripping my shirt like she's not ready to let go, and I fucking love it.

I love you.

“See?” I murmur, studying her. “Told you this would be fun.”

She opens her eyes, and the look she gives me is all I need to know I’m right where I’m meant to be. Whatever comes next, whatever challenges we’ll face, I know one thing for certain.

With Charlie, I’m home.