I sigh, leaning into him, letting his warmth surround me. “I just don’t want to lose any of this.” My voice is barely above a whisper.
Jake pulls back slightly, his eyes locking onto mine. “You won’t. I meant what I said last night, Charlie. You’re mine. We’ll figure this out.”
His words are a balm, even as the worry still gnaws at the edges of my mind. “I know. I love you.”
His smile widens, and he brushes my hair back, admiring me like he’s memorizing the moment. “I love you, too.” Then he leans in and kisses me like he’s trying to erase the tension with every touch. And for a moment, it works.
We lay there for a few more minutes, wrapped up in each other. Jake’s fingers trace light patterns on my skin, his presence grounding me, reminding me that the world outside can wait.
“You know,” Jake hums, his lips grazing my temple, “we could always stay in bed. Skip the day altogether.”
I let out a soft laugh. “Tempting, but I think the kids might notice if we never come out.”
“They’ll survive.”
Before I can respond, a soft knock on the door makes us both freeze.
“Mum?”
Noah’s voice is quiet. Jake moves beside me, reaching for a t-shirtand pulling it on.
I roll over and adjust my tank top, offering Jake a reassuring smile before calling out, “Come in, buddy.”
Noah pushes the door open, his small face peeking around the corner. He clambers onto the bed, crawling between us. I smooth a hand over his hair as he curls up next to me.
“You okay?” I ask gently.
Noah nods but doesn’t speak right away. After a moment, he whispers, “Are we seeing Dad today?”
My stomach twists, that familiar dread rising up in my chest. I hate this—hate how Alex holds the reins. Hate that I don’t know how to answer Noah because his father hasn’t bothered to give me any information.
“I’m not sure, honey,” I say softly. “Your dad hasn’t told me yet.”
Noah’s face falls, and he burrows into my side, quiet and still. “I don’t want to see him,” he whispers, and my heart aches.
I glance at Jake, who’s watching us with that protective look, his jaw ticking slightly.
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to, Noah,” I reassure him, stroking his hair. “It’s your choice, okay?”
Noah nods, but the tension in his small body doesn’t ease. Jake leans over, brushing a kiss against my shoulder before murmuring, “I’ll go check on Meadow.”
He ruffles Noah’s hair gently before slipping out of the room, leaving the two of us cocooned in the warmth of the blankets.
A few moments later, I hear Meadow’s happy shrieks echoing down the hallway, and then Jake walks by with her perched on his shoulder.
She spots us through the doorway as they stroll by. “Mama! Pancakes!”
I chuckle, pressing a kiss to Noah’s head as I watch them disappear down the hallway. My heart feels full despite the lingering stress from last night. Jake’s presence, the way he handles everything with such steady confidence, makes me feel like we can get through anything. Even Alex. Even custody threats.
“Come on, bud. Let’s get some breakfast.”
***
Downstairs, the smell of coffee fills the air, mingling with the sound of Meadow's giggles as she runs circles around the kitchen island. Jake’s busy at the stove flipping pancakes, but he throws me a playful wink as I step into the room.
I scoop Meadow up, kissing her chubby cheeks. “Good morning, sweet girl.”
She beams, snuggling into me. “Jake’s making pancakes!”
