Page 36

Chapter thirty-five

Yeah princess, I heard you…

Jake

I ’ve always liked waking up early. Hockey drilled it into me. Early morning practices, ice time before the sun’s even up.

But this morning feels different.

This isn’t waking up for the grind, or the game. This is waking up to something I didn’t even know I was allowed to want.

Before I even open my eyes, I can feel Charlie next to me. Her body soft and warm, tangled up with mine. My arm’s draped over her waist, holding her close. I lie here for a moment, remembering how many more times I made her moan my name last night. I savor the way her hair tickles my chin, the sound of her slow breathing. Everything about this feels like home.

Yeah, this is different.

She shifts beside me, the subtle movement enough to pull me out of my dozing. I keep my eyes closed, soaking up the moment. But an unmistakable feeling of being watched prickles at me. She’s staring at me. I know it.

“Mmm… caught you staring, Lady Lightning,” I mumble, eyes still closed.

She huffs out a quiet laugh. “You were sleeping. I was admiring.”

“Admiring the view?” I finally crack an eye open to find her watching me with that half-amused, half-in-awe look.

She still doesn’t get it. She looks at me like I’m everything, when really, it’s the other way arou nd.

“Stalker’s privilege,” she teases. “You looked so peaceful. It’s rare.”

“More than just peaceful, judging by the way you’re staring.” I run my thumb lazily along her side. “But I get it. I’m a pretty good Christmas gift to wake up to.”

She scoffs, but I see the smile tugging at her lips.

“What? You don’t like this gift?” My hand drifts lower, tickling her side just enough to make her squirm.

“Jake, stop!” she laughs, trying to wriggle out of my grasp.

“Say it.” I trap her under my arm, fingers tormenting her in just the right spots. “Admit I’m the best Christmas gift you’ve ever had.”

She tries to escape, but I’m stronger and she knows it. Her giggles fill the room, breathless and free. “Okay, okay! You’re the best gift ever!”

I pull back, grinning like I’ve won something big. “Damn right.”

Her eyes roll, but I can see it—the way her whole face lights up, that warmth that she brings out for me. Every second with her reminds me how lucky I am, how right this all feels.

She's bright enough to rival the sun itself, like I've been orbiting nothing until her. All I want to do is be close to her, to bask in her light for as long as she'll let me.

We settle back into the pillows, my arm still wrapped around her. For a moment, everything’s quiet. It’s just us in this little bubble we’ve built together, and I can’t imagine being anywhere else.

Then, out of nowhere, her voice cuts through the stillness.

“I love you.”

Something shifts inside me every time she says it, like a part of me that’s always been missing just clicks into place. I’ve heard those words before, sure—but never like this. Not from someone who sees me the way she does, who gets me down to my bones.

“Say it again,” I say, my hands roaming up her back.

Charlie lets out a soft chuckle. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Come on,” I coax, tilting my head to look at her. “It’s Christmas.”

“I love you, Jake Brooks.”

“You have no idea how much I love hearing that,” I whisper, brus hing a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s my favorite thing you’ve ever said.”

She quirks a brow, unconvinced. “I dunno. What if I said, ‘ hey Jake, here’s a never-ending pile of brownies I made just for you ?’”

I snort and nuzzle into her neck. “That’s basically the same thing.”

“Hmm…”

“It is. But I still prefer hearing the words straight from your lips.” I lean up and dot a kiss onto her nose, letting my eyes roam her face for a moment.

"Well, I’ll keep saying it if you keep looking at me like that,” she says, running her fingers lightly through my hair.

I close my eyes, savoring this moment, committing it to memory forever. Her touch grounds me, her words settling deep in my chest like they were always meant to be there.

“I love you, too.”

“Merry Christmas, Captain Thunder,” she whispers against me.

I can’t help it. I kiss her slowly, like I’m trying to pour every ounce of how I feel into it. When we finally pull back, my forehead rests against hers, and I can barely breathe, my chest so full of love for this woman.

“Merry Christmas, Lady Lightning.”

Then I kiss her again, just because I can.

***

I’ve never had a Christmas like this.

My childhood ones were a blur of tension, silence, and gifts that felt more like obligations than anything special. But this is different.

“Alright, who’s first?” I ask, grabbing a brightly wrapped box and handing it to Noah. His face lights up as he tears into it, a wide smile spreading when he sees the LEGO set he’s been wanting for weeks.

“Thanks, Jake!” Noah beams at me before diving straight into the box, ready to sort out the pieces .

I chuckle, ruffling his hair. “You’re welcome, buddy.”

Meadow’s practically bouncing while waiting her turn, and I glance over at Charlie. She’s on the couch, hair a mess, cradling a coffee, but she’s smiling like she’s never been happier. And hell, knowing I’m part of that is the best thing I’ve ever felt.

“Your turn, Little Lightning,” I say, passing Meadow her present. She tears into it before I even let go, squealing when she sees the stuffed unicorn.

“Unicorn!” she yells, holding it up like treasure.

Charlie’s laughing, shaking her head at the excitement, and my heart feels like it might explode with how much I love this. How much I love her. Them .

I grab the last set of gifts, three boxes wrapped in the same navy paper. Charlie frowns at me, curiosity piquing. I shrug, trying to play it cool.

“Last gifts,” I announce, handing one to each of them. I grin, waiting for the reactions as they pull out matching Colorado Storm jerseys. With my name and number on the back.

“Brooks?” Charlie lifts a brow, but I see the smile she’s holding back.

“Gotta start ‘em young,” I say. “Plus, we’ve gotta match for games.”

Noah’s already pulling his on, beaming from ear to ear. “I’m gonna wear this every day!”

“Don’t encourage him,” Charlie laughs, pretending to scold, but I know she loves it. She stands up, holding the jersey against her and tilting her head. “So, we’re officially part of Team Brooks now, huh?”

“Damn right.” I stand and pull her into my arms. “You’ve been part of the team for a while now.”

She leans up and kisses me softly, and for a second everything fades into the background—just me and her, wrapped up in this perfect little bubble. But then Meadow’s voice breaks through, tugging at my arm.

“Dada, look!” she says, her voice innocent and full of joy. She’s put her jersey on back-to-front, ‘Brooks’ emblazoned across her front. “We’re on the same team!”

I don’t register it to start with. It’s just Meadow, talking a mile a minute like she always does. Bu t then it hits me, knocking the air from my lungs.

For a moment I can’t move. Can’t breathe. All I can do is see that one word echoing in my mind.

Dada.

The ground is shifting beneath my feet, the whole world tilting on its axis.

Charlie catches my eye, her soft smile brimming with a love that says everything without a word. She knows—she always knows. And she’s giving me the space to feel this.

Meadow, oblivious to the impact of her words, tugs at my arm again, this time with more insistence. “Dada? Did you hear me ?”

My throat bobs, and I blink, trying to push back the burn in my eyes as I crouch down in front of her. “Yeah, Princess,” I say, my voice hoarse, fighting to keep it together. “I heard you.”

A knot forms in my chest, tightening with every beat. Overwhelmed, thrilled, terrified. And damn if it’s not breaking me in the best way possible.

“We’re all on the same team,” I repeat softly, the weight of the moment settling over me.

Meadow beams, blissfully unaware that she’s just flipped my entire world upside down with that one word. She goes back to playing, her little world unchanged.

Noah glances up from his LEGO, his eyes flicking to mine for just a second before he goes back to his building. Like he’s registering what just happened but doesn’t know what to do with it. He doesn’t say anything, but I can feel the shift in the air, a new kind of bond quietly taking root.

We’ll figure it all out in time. Right now, I just want to let this sink in, let it fill up parts of me I didn’t even realize were hollow.

I stand slowly, my mind still racing, and I catch Charlie’s eye again. She’s not freaking out. If anything, there’s a knowing smile on her lips, like she’s been waiting for this moment.

I clear my throat, trying to shake off the intensity of it all.

Charlie steps closer, lacing her fingers with mine and squeezing gently, grounding me in a way only she c an. I look at her, and the smile we share is full of understanding, of unspoken promises we’ll unpack later.

We let the moment settle, pretending it’s as ordinary as any other day, even though I can feel its weight sinking into my chest.

“Guess I’ve got some big shoes to fill,” I say, just loud enough for her to hear, a mix of pride and awe thickening my voice.

She leans in, her lips brushing my cheek. “You’re doing just fine, Captain Thunder,” she whispers, love woven into every word.

I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her closer as we watch the kids continue playing, blissfully unaware of how much they’ve just changed my life.

In the back of my mind, that one word keeps replaying on a loop.

Dada .

It’s not something I ever expected to hear, but now that I have, I can’t imagine wanting to be called anything else.

This is what home feels like. To belong. To have a family. To be Dada.

And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

***

The cabin is alive with the sound of laughter and Christmas music, Mariah Carey belting out “All I Want For Christmas” for what feels like the hundredth time.

Charlie’s been dancing around the living room like a woman possessed, singing at the top of her lungs, twirling Meadow in her arms, belting out the high notes with exaggerated theatricality. The kids are still hyped up on sugar from the chocolate Santas they’ve devoured, and the chaos of the morning hasn’t slowed down much since.

I can’t help but grin as I watch her, completely caught up in her own ridiculous performance, making goofy faces and spinning around like a kid herself. Every now and then she shoots me a look, daring me to join in, but I stay planted on the couch, chuckling at her antics.

She’s had a glass or two of bubbly, and I’m pretty sure that’s fueling this Christmas karaoke spree .

“I know you want to join me, Brooks!” she shouts over the music, her face flushed and her hair bouncing around her shoulders as she wiggles her hips.

“You’re doing just fine without me, Lady Lightning.”

She rolls her eyes dramatically, grabbing Meadow’s hand again and twirling her in a circle as the song hits its big crescendo. Noah’s dancing around the tree, trying to copy Charlie’s ridiculous moves, and the whole scene is such a mess of happiness and chaos that I just sit back and soak up.

Later, when the kids are distracted with their new toys and Charlie’s in the kitchen, I find myself staring out the window at the snow-covered landscape. The Rockies are majestic in the distance, towering over the cabin, with the sun starting to dip behind the peaks.

It’s breathtakingly beautiful here. Quiet. Peaceful. And as I sit watching the snowfall softly outside, I feel the weight of the morning settling into my bones.

The kids, this cabin, Charlie—it’s more than I ever thought I’d have. Being settled or having a family should terrify me. I always thought I’d mess it up, that I wasn’t the kind of man who could make this work. My dad sure as hell didn’t show me how to be a father.

But sitting here, watching this life grow with Charlie and the kids, I know one thing: I’m not going to be like him. I’m going to be better, show up every damn day, no matter what it takes.

I hear footsteps behind me, and a second later, Charlie’s voice breaks through my thoughts.

“Hey, you,” she says softly, settling down right on my lap.

I pull her close as she hands me a mug. Taking a sip, I realize it’s cocoa with a splash of something stronger mixed in. “Eggnog?”

She smirks, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “You caught me.”

I laugh softly, tightening my arm around her waist. She’s still flushed from all the dancing, her cheeks pink and her hair a mess, but she’s beautiful. She always is.

With her on my lap, we both look out at the snowy landscape in comfortable silence. The kids are quiet in the next room; everything feels still.

After a moment, I clear my throat. “I was thinking earlier... how different this all feels from when I was little.”

Charlie shifts slightly, resting her head against my shoulder. “Yeah?”

I nod, staring out at the snow-covered trees, running my fingers absently through her hair. “Christmas was always tense. There were presents, a tree, the whole setup. But it never felt like this—like warmth,” I say, my voice soft, feeling for the right words. “I guess I never really knew what Christmas was supposed to feel like until now.”

Charlie tilts her head up. “You deserve all of this, Jake. Every bit of it.”

I swallow, a need to get this out before I clam up. “I’m not gonna be like him,” I say quietly, my voice rough. “I won’t check out the way he did. I’m going to be there for them. For you. All of it.”

Her hand moves to my cheek, thumb tracing a soft line against my skin. “You already are, Jake.”

I take a deep breath, letting her words sink in. The weight of everything—my past, my fears, my hopes—it all feels so heavy sometimes. But sitting here with her, feeling her warmth against me, I start to believe it’s possible. That I can have this and not screw it up.

Charlie shifts in my lap, grinning at me, knowing I need a mood lightener. “By the way, nice touch with the jerseys. Subtle, Brooks. Real subtle.”

I chuckle, setting the mug down and pulling her closer. “What? We all need to match. It’s about team spirit.”

“Uh-huh.” She rolls her eyes. “No one’s ever accused you of being humble, huh?”

“Not when it comes to hockey,” I admit, brushing my lips against hers. “But when it comes to this,” I say softly, kissing her, “I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

She smiles against me, and for a moment it’s just us, the snow falling softly outside, the warmth of the cabin wrapping us in a cocoon of quiet happiness.

Before I can say anything more, Charlie shifts slightly. "I um, wanted to talk to you about earlier...”

I tense for a moment, my heart stuttering as I remember that moment when Meadow flipped my world upside down. It hit me hard, but I wasn’t sure if I should address it or let it slide.

“Yeah?”

Charlie pulls back just enough to watch me. “I just want to make sure you’re okay with it. I know it was unexpected...”

I let out a breath, running a hand through my hair. I’m caught off guard, half expecting her to tell me how she doesn’t think it’s right, or it’s too soon. But this is so quintessentially Charlie. To be checking I’m okay with it, instead of telling me how she feels. She’s always in mom mode, always checking in on others first.

“Honestly? At first, I didn’t know how to react. But…” I pause, throat tight. “It meant everything, Charlie.”

Her eyes crinkle, and she reaches up to brush my hair back. “She loves you, Jake. You’ve been there for her in ways others haven’t. It’s natural for her to see you as that figure.”

I nod. “I just… didn’t want to overstep. I mean, I know I’m not her actual dad, and I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it.”

Charlie’s smile is warm. “You’re her Jake . She sees you as someone who loves and protects her. That’s what matters.”

A wave of emotion hits me again. "You sure you’re okay with it?" I ask quietly, needing to hear it again.

“I’m more than okay with it,” she whispers. “I’m grateful for it.”

I swallow, letting her words sink in.

Charlie cups my cheek, bringing my gaze back to hers. “You’re their family, Jake… Just like you’re mine.”

I can’t reply; I know I’ll crack. So instead I lean in to kiss her deeply, hoping she feels everything I don’t say.