Page 32

Chapter thirty-one

Don’t go getting all sappy on me, okay?

Jake

I ’ve spent my whole life balancing on a tightrope, trying to be everything for everyone. Teammate, leader, star player. But this is different, this is real. It’s not about winning games or making the right play; it’s about showing up, being the man they need me to be. The man I need to be.

Dr. Hayes arrives, and his calm presence steadies the house instantly. “Let’s get her checked out,” he says.

Charlotte’s eyes flick to mine, her surprise still evident. She hadn’t expected me to call my own doctor. But I couldn’t leave this to chance. Not with Meadow.

I stay by their side, my hand on Charlie’s shoulder, grounding her as Dr. Hayes examines Meadow. His methodical approach helps settle her, but I can still see how tightly wound she is, still holding onto the day’s tension, struggling to keep it together.

“It’s a viral bug,” Dr. Hayes says after a thorough check. “She’ll need rest, fluids, and some meds, but she’ll be fine.”

Relief floods Charlie’s face, the tightness in her expression loosening. I squeeze her shoulder gently. “Thank you,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion.

She looks at me, and for a moment I see every unspoken word.

I love you, too.

After Dr. Hayes leaves, we settle Meadow into bed. She’s still groggy, but the w orst of it seems to be over. Holding Meadow’s small weight against me as I carry her, I realize just how much this little girl—and her mother and brother—mean to me.

We tuck Meadow in, Charlotte brushing a gentle kiss across her forehead, pulling the covers up. I stand back, giving her space but ready to step in if she needs me. Noah’s fast asleep, thanks to Nina, so Charlie peeks her head in to check on him before we head downstairs.

In the kitchen, the day’s exhaustion hangs between us. I make her a tea, needing to get something into her, realizing she’s barely even had water all day.

She leans against the counter, her gaze distant, as if she’s replaying the events of the day over and over. I want to reach through that haze, ground her in something real.

“You did everything right today,” I say, watching her carefully.

She doesn’t respond right away, just lets out a slow breath, her eyes falling to the floor. “I don’t know,” she mumbles, almost to herself. “It didn’t feel like I did.”

There’s a vulnerability in her voice that makes my heart ache. I step closer, placing a gentle hand on her arm. “Charlie, you did everything you could. Meadow’s okay.”

She finally looks up at me, eyes glazed with doubt. “I’ve always managed on my own. But today, I felt like I was failing her. Like I didn’t know what I was doing.”

Hearing that, protectiveness rushes through me. “You weren’t failing her. You were being a mom, doing everything you could to keep her safe. That’s not failing.”

She sucks her lower lip into her mouth, shoulders still tight with tension. “You showed up, and… I didn’t even know you were coming. Why did you come back, Jake?”

Because I love you more than anything.

I take her hands in mine, pulling her close. “I couldn’t stay away. I didn’t want you to feel like you were alone, not for this situation. I knew it’d be stressful for you.”

Her eyes search mine, and I see the realization settling—the moment she feels this is connection for wh at it is. That what we have is real, rare. That she might love me just as much as I love her.

A tear slips down her cheek, and I gently kiss it away. “You have no idea how much that means to me,” she whispers.

I lean in further, pressing a lingering kiss to her lips. When we pull apart, I catch the faintest hint of a smile on her face and rest my forehead against hers. “I’m here for you, Charlie girl.”

She looks up, a tired smile ghosting over her lips. “Don’t get all sappy on me though, okay?”

The corner of my mouth lifts. “No promises.”

***

We’re curled up on the sofa, the house finally quiet around us. Charlie’s head rests on my chest, and I hold her close, feeling the tension from today slowly dissolve. She’s drained, worn to the bone, and all I want is to keep her in this calm bubble.

I’m about to suggest heading to bed when her phone buzzes. She glances at the screen, fatigue clouding her face. “It’s Alex,” she says, almost to herself.

My gut tightens. I know she texted him earlier about Meadow, keeping him updated despite it being the middle of the night in New Zealand. He hadn’t replied, and it’s clear to me that he’s the type to ignore his own kids unless he’s looking for control.

I swallow back the brewing anger, but I know he’s about to push every button I have.

“Do you want me to leave?” I ask, but she shakes her head.

Good. I tighten my hold on her, brushing my thumb along her arm.

She takes a steadying breath, then answers. “Alex.”

Even before he speaks, I sense the tension. His tone is sharp, cutting through the calm we’ve built. “What the hell is going on, Lottie? Why didn’t you contact me sooner?”

Charlotte’s body stiffens at the nickname— Lottie . I know she hates it, but she keeps her voice steady, holding back her frustration.

“I did, Alex. I texted you as soon as we headed to the ER. It was late there, I didn’t want to wake you unless it was urgent.”

A pause on his end. I know his type, the kind of man who’s always twisting the knife, always needling for control.

“You should have called,” he snaps. “I’m her father, Lottie. I deserve to know what’s happening with her.”

I see her inhale slowly, keeping her composure. I slide my hand up her back, hoping she can draw strength from me.

“I handled it, Alex. Her fever spiked, then Dr. Hayes checked her over and she’s fine now. Asleep in bed.”

“Dr. Hayes?” he spits. “Who the hell is Dr. Hayes?”

“Jake’s doctor,” she replies, glancing at me. She’s drained but steady. “He made a house call to ensure Meadow was okay.”

There’s a loaded silence, and I feel the simmering anger from his end, an anger he clearly thinks he can unload on her, like he probably has a hundred times before.

“Who’s Jake?” he demands.

Charlie hesitates. She opens her mouth to downplay it, but something shifts. Instead, she squares her shoulders.

“Jake’s my boyfriend.”

I feel a surge of pride and love, and an urge to let Alex know exactly what kind of man she’s with now. She’s standing her ground, claiming us, and it makes me want to pull her in and never let her go.

“Your boyfriend ?” Alex sneers. “Jake who?”

“Jake Brooks. He’s a hockey player I met through Zoe.”

I already know from Zoe that the two of them despise each other, and the thought that this connection will rile him up even more satisfies me immensely.

“A hockey player ?” His laugh is sharp, dripping with disdain. “You seriou sly think you can just replace me with some overpaid meathead Zoe shoved at you? God, Lottie, you’re pathetic. Chasing after some jock like a desperate little girl.”

Her hands tighten, knuckles turning white. I want nothing more than to rip the phone from her and tell him exactly what I think. The realization that he’s likely treated her like this for years, the thought of her ending up with this guy after everything we shared at camp—it burns . This should have been us from the beginning. It should have been me from the start.

Every word he spits is like poison, a calculated attempt to unravel her confidence, to manipulate her into feeling unworthy of anything real. I hold her closer, watching her breathe through the barrage. She doesn’t flinch, just meets his cruelty with a strength he doesn’t deserve to witness.

“This isn’t about you, Alex. It’s about Meadow. Jake was there when we needed him, and he actually cares about our kids. That’s what matters.”

“Oh, I bet he cares,” he says with a venomous scoff. “Wake up, Lottie. You really think this hockey hotshot’s going to stick around for you and two kids? You’re nothing but a convenience for him, a little ego boost for the road.”

I can barely keep my hands from balling into fists. He’s fucking deluded if he thinks he can belittle her and plant some twisted doubt in her mind. I hold her tighter, letting her know I’m right here and ready to fight back if she needs me.

“I’m not asking for your permission, Alex,” she says. “Jake’s here because he chooses to be. That’s something you’ll never understand.”

The line goes silent, his shock almost tangible before he finally snarls, “You don’t get to just cut me out, Lottie. I’m still their father, and you’d better remember that.”

Her hand trembles slightly, but she doesn’t retreat. “I know you’re their father. But I’m not apologizing for moving on. My life isn’t your business anymore.”

The line goes dead, but her hand is still shaking as she slowly lowers the phone. I don’t hesitate. I pull her onto my lap, wrapping my arms around her, a protectiveness radiating through me.

“You were incredible, Charlie,” I murmur into her hair, my voice a blend of pride and fury. “You di dn’t put up with his bullshit, and I’m so damn proud.”

She buries her face against my shoulder, her breath uneven. “I hate how he makes me feel so small. Like I’m some failure, never good enough.”

I tip her chin up, meeting her eyes, feeling something fierce and unshakeable rising inside me. Every part of me aches to tell her, to show her, just how wrong he is.

“He doesn’t get to control that anymore. You’re stronger than that, and I swear to you Charlie girl, you’re so damn worth it. I’ll remind you every day. No one’s ever making you feel that way again.”

She stares at me, eyes shining. I lean down, capturing her lips in a kiss that’s soft but filled with everything I feel—pride, love, and a fierce need to protect her from anyone who tries to hurt her.

She wraps her arms around my neck, holding me close. “Thank you,” she whispers, her voice laced with something that goes beyond words.

“For what?”

“For being here, for being you.”

A surge of resolve rises in me as I stroke a tear from her cheek. This woman in my arms deserves the world and everything I have to give.

“If being me means I get to be here with you, then I’m all in.”

Her eyes glisten as she gives me a soft smile, and her next words—simple but so profound—bring me right back to a moment under starlit skies, to the words I’ll never forget.

“I’m glad you exist,” she whispers.

And just like that, she’s turned my world upside down again. But unlike last time, when we were too young to understand the magnitude of this connection, I pull her in and kiss her. Slow and tender, a promise, a vow. I know I’ll have to tell her soon.

She’s it for me, and I’ll be damned if anyone lets her doubt it.