Page 48

Chapter forty-seven

Oh, don’t worry bud—I’ve got plans

Charlie

T he soft hum of cartoons drifts from the living room, mingling with the rich scent of coffee. Noah and Meadow sit curled up on the couch, their eyes glued to Paw Patrol , yesterday’s drama already forgotten.

Jake hands me a coffee, pressing a kiss to my temple, his fingers lingering just enough to make my skin spark. He slides onto the stool beside me, the warmth of his knee brushing mine.

Before I can speak, a sharp knock at the door breaks the peace. My stomach knots. There’s only one person who would show up unannounced this early. I glance at Jake, who’s already put down his cup, his body rigid.

“Stay here,” I say, but he shakes his head, following me to the door.

I open it cautiously, and there he is—Alex, dressed in a suit despite it being barely 7 a.m. on a Saturday. His gaze flicks over me in my robe, then to Jake, standing just behind.

“Lottie,” he says, voice dripping with condescension as he greets me.

Before I can even respond, Jake steps forward. “Call her that again, and I swear to God, we’re gonna have a real problem.”

Alex’s smirk falters for a second, but he quickly recovers. “Alright, alright. No need to get all hockey player on me. I’m just here to see my kids.”

I cross my arms. “Now’s not a good time. We haven’t discussed what happened yesterd ay.”

Alex waves his hand, dismissing me. “We found him in the end, didn’t we? Shit happens. He was fine.”

Jake’s fists tighten, anger simmering close to the surface, but before he can speak, Meadow’s voice breaks the tension.

“Jake, guess what!”

She bounds into the hallway, her face lighting up when she sees him. He immediately softens, scooping her into his arms as she giggles.

Alex watches, his lips pressing into a straight line. “Meadow,” he calls, forcing a smile. “How about coming back to New Zealand with me? Wanna see Granny and Grandpa again?”

Meadow’s eyes brighten at the mention of her grandparents. “Granny!” she squeals. “Yes!” But then she shifts to Jake, and her little brow furrows. “Jake… are you coming too?”

Jake holds her a bit tighter, glaring at Alex. “No, Princess. But you’re staying right here with me and Mama.”

Noah, overhearing, appears in the hallway, his expression cautious. “You mean… like for a holiday?”

Alex, smug and unbothered, shrugs. “Not just for a holiday, for good! Wouldn’t you like to come back home?”

Noah’s face falls, glancing between Jake and Alex. “No. I like it here. I wanna stay with Mum and Jake.”

Meadow’s small hands cling tighter to Jake’s shirt. “I don’t wanna go,” she whimpers, her bottom lip trembling. “I wanna stay with Jake!” Tears spill over, and my heart shatters for her.

Jake’s face darkens, and he holds her close, rubbing her back soothingly. “You’re not leaving, Princess. I promise,” he murmurs, his voice a protective rumble.

Alex takes a step forward, but I’ve had enough.

“No.” The word is sharp and final as it snaps from my throat. “You don’t get to mess with my kids’ he ads. You can’t just throw out the idea of taking them to New Zealand and walk away like there are no consequences. You have no idea how to be a real parent.”

He has the audacity to shrug, still trying to play it cool.

“I’m just giving them options, Lott—"

“If you call me Lottie one more time,” I cut him off, “I will rip your balls off and shove them down your throat.”

Jake lets out a low chuckle beside me, pride flashing in his eyes. “Listen to her,” he adds, his voice dark. “She’s not joking.”

He places Meadow down, kissing her forehead and gently sending her back toward the living room. I nod, encouraging both kids to go back. They don’t need to see this.

“Well, isn’t this a cute little family,” Alex sneers, flicking his eyes to Jake. “How’s playing house treating you?”

Jake doesn’t take the bait, but I can see the tension, feel the restraint barely holding him together. I take a slow breath, keeping myself calm for the kids’ sake, now oblivious back in the living room.

“Don’t get too comfortable,” Alex continues, smirk growing. “They’re my kids, not yours.”

Before I can respond, he turns to me like a snake ready to strike. “And you really think this guy’s going to stick around, Charlie ?” He twists my name, making it sound like an insult. “You’re just a convenient distraction between games. Once the novelty wears off, you’ll be back to square one—with two kids and no help.”

The words slice through me, but Jake steps forward, his voice lethal.

“You think this is about convenience , Alex? I’m not going anywhere. And it kills you, doesn’t it? That someone’s actually here for them. Because you never were.”

Alex scoffs, rolling his eyes, but Jake doesn’t stop.

“And as for Charlie being some distraction ?” Jake’s lips twitch, though there’s no humor. “We’re great together. In every way. But it’s so much more than that, and you know it.”

Mask slipping, Alex's voice drops into something uglier. “Well, I’m sure we can both agree she’s a good lay, but—”

CRACK

Jake’s fist slams into the doorframe beside Alex’s head so hard the wood splinters. I jump, but it’s Alex who flinches, his smirk wiped clean off his face.

“You don’t talk about her like that. Ever. ”

Alex tries to sneer, but the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes betrays him. He’s scrambling for control, but Jake’s already stepped closer.

“Here’s the thing, Alex—you lost your shot. I’m with her now. Every part of her, and none of it has to do with you. It’s about how she lights up when I walk in the door. The way she melts into me when I hold her. You wanna talk about what happens between us? How about the fact that she feels safe with me.”

Jake’s gaze doesn’t waver as Alex tries to scoff again.

“She trusts me, with everything. Because I show up , I listen. And I love her the way she’s always deserved to be loved. And you? You couldn’t even watch your own kid for an hour.”

He lets the words hang between them, watching as Alex’s cocky facade begins to crumble. My eyes drop to his hands, watching his fingers clench like he wants to throw a punch, but knowing he won't stand a chance against Jake.

Jake tilts his head, studying him like he's already dismissed him as any kind of opponent. “So yeah, we’re good together. We fit in every way you never could. Because she’s always been mine.”

He steps back, lip curling in his signature sneer. “You really think you’re going to replace me, Jake?”

Before Jake can answer, I step forward. “Stop it, Alex. You lost Noah yesterday. The only reason he’s safe is because Jake was there to clean up your mess. Again.”

Alex’s face twists into something ugly, his glare sharpening on me. But before he can retort, Jake’s right there, voice eerily calm.

“You think this is about replacing you?” Jake’s words slice through the air. “I’m not trying to be their father. They already have one—he’s just never around when it matters. But here’s the difference: what we have isn’t temporary. It’s real, and I’m not going anywhere. So next time you wanna compare notes? Remember you lost them. And I’ll be keeping them forever.”

“Well then,” he mutters darkly, face pale. “We’ll see how this goes in court. I’ve got lawyers lined up—”

“You wanna talk lawyers?” Jake steps takes one step closer, nearly nose to nose. “I’ve alre ady spoken to mine. Trust me, you won’t win this. You’ve got nothing on me. Waste your time and money if you want.”

Alex stiffens, realizing he’s in over his head. He’s not just up against me, he’s up against Jake, too. And Jake doesn’t lose.

“This isn’t over, Jake.”

Jake’s eyes don’t leave his. “It is for you.”

Alex’s gaze flicks between us before he mutters, “See you in court.”

“Get out,” Jake says, his voice carrying an edge he means every word. “Before I forget the kids are in the next room.”

As soon as the door closes, I release a long breath, my body trembling with adrenaline. I turn to look at Jake, who’s already moving toward the living room, his anger fading into something softer as he kneels to scoop Meadow into his arms.

“You’re not going anywhere, Little Lightning,” he says, brushing a tear from her cheek. “You’re stuck with me forever, okay?”

Meadow snuggles into his chest, her fingers gripping his shirt. “Jake,” she sniffles, “you stay forever?”

Jake smiles, kissing her head. “Forever and ever.”

Noah, who’s been watching quietly, suddenly speaks up. “You should just marry Mum, Jake.” He says it so matter-of-factly, like it’s the simplest solution in the world.

I freeze, eyes widening as the air shifts, tension dissolving into amusement. Noah looks completely oblivious to the weight of his words, but I feel them settle deep, pressing into my ribs like a truth I wasn't ready to hear out loud.

Jake’s slow grin spreads across his face as he meets my eyes. There’s a teasing glint, but beneath it, something steadier. Like a promise.

“Oh, don’t worry bud, I’ve got plans.”

A breathy laugh escapes me, shaking loose some of the pressure still gripping my chest. I make my way back to the kitchen, leaning against the counter, calming the aftershocks of adrenaline in my veins.

Less than a minute later, Jake's hands find me. One sliding to the small of my back, the other curling around my hip. His touch is grounding, like reassurance wrapped in warmth.

“You okay?”

“More than okay.” I let him see the mischief flicker in my eyes. “That was hot as hell.”

Jake raises an eyebrow. “Yeah? The doorframe, or me telling him off?”

I press my lips together, tilti ng my head. “All of it,” I whisper. “But I think the doorframe’s going to need some attention.”

His grin turns wicked, lips brushing my ear. “I don’t think that’s the only thing that needs some attention…”

I glance toward the living room, where the kids are still engrossed in cartoons. “Jake, the kids are right there.”

He hums against my neck, lips teasing against my skin. “Cartoons are on. We’ve got a good ten minutes.”

Before I can respond, his mouth is on mine, claiming me with a hunger that's been burning below the surface since Alex arrived at the door. The kiss is rougher than usual, laced with everything he's been holding back—the frustration, the protectiveness, the need to remind exactly where I belong.

He fists a hand in my hair, tilting my head back as the kiss deepens. My pulse pounds as he presses into me like he's trying to erase the last hour, replace it with something better that belongs to just us.

“I’m thinking,” he murmurs against my lips, “we lock the door, turn up the cartoons, and see if we can break another door frame.”

I huff out a laugh, tipping my head back as his mouth trails along my collarbone. “You’re impossible.”

“And you love it.” His hands slide lower, curving possessively around my hip and sending a delicious ache right through me.

Brushing my lips against his, my voice is barely a whisper. “Nah… I love you. ”