His forehead drops to mine, hands flexing against my waist to ground himself in the moment. I feel the warmth of his breath as he speaks. “You’re not losing me, Charlie. I’ve been a goner for you since we were eighteen.”
Tears blur my vision, but I press forward. I have to say this. I need him to hear it.
“I know I hurt you when I said you don’t have kids, because you do, Jake...”
His whole body trembles, waiting for me to continue.
“Alex may be their father, butyou know them.You know what they love, what makes them smile.You know Noah loves his action figures and hates when they don’t stand up right, you know his favorite space facts. You know Meadow still needs ‘Goodnight Moon’ every night, even though she pretends she’s too big for it. You know how Noah’s face lights up building those complicated models and how Meadow only eats pancakes with pink sprinkles.”
Jake chokes on a breath, his eyes blinking rapidly as a tear slides down his cheek.
“Alex doesn’t know those things because he’s not here,” I whisper. “But you are. You’re here every day, thinking about us, loving us out loud with your whole chest.” My voice fractures, but I don't stop. “And we love you right back.”
Tears spill down his face now, but he doesn’t wipe them away. Instead, he yanks me into him, crushing me against his chest like he's terrifiedto let go.
“I love them, too.” His lips tremble against my forehead. “And I love you, Charlie.So fucking much.”
His lips tilt to mine before I can say anything more, and we kiss with all the things we’ve been holding back. Desperation, love, fear.
I lean back to look at him, fingers gripping his shirt. “I’m all in, Jake. I promise.”
Jake’s eyes shine with a mix of relief and love as he slowly lifts his hand, wiggling his pinky finger at me. “Seal the deal?”
A watery laugh escapes me as I lift my own hand, linking my pinky with his. “Seal the deal,” I whisper, kissing our joined thumbs like we did that night under the stars.
His lips find mine again, kissing me slowly like he’s committing this moment to memory. Like he’s reclaiming every year, every second we’ve spent apart. Gathering every fleeting thought, every quiet wish we ever made for each other, and pouring them into this moment. An invisible string pulls us tight and sighsfinally,like in every universe, every lifetime, it was always meant to be us. Together.
The world blurs in our shared breaths, the soft press of his mouth, the way he holds me close like I might float away. With each soft exhale I let go of everything that came before him, all the doubt, every wall crumbling into the quiet between us.
He pulls back slightly, his breath mingling with mine. “You’re my dream too, Charlie. I’m convinced I was always made to love you.”
We stay like that, neither of us moving, just breathing each other in. The weight of everything slowly eases, each breath a little lighter than the last.
Jake’s grin curves, breaking the quiet as he glances back at the cake stand. “So, about that apology brownie…”
A breathy laugh escapes me as I wipe at me cheeks. “You want it now?”
“Hell yeah,” he says, eyes still glassy but full of warmth. “I’m starving.”
I watch as he walks to the counter, cutting a piece and popping it into his mouth. He closes his eyes, groaning low in his throat like it's the best thing he's ever tasted.
“Damn, it’s always so good.”
I chuckle, a mixture of shy fondness stirring in me. The same feeling I felt on that bus all those years ago. “I hope you remember I’ve had this recipe all along…”
Jake’s gaze darkens, the playful edge giving way to something deeper. He sets the brownie down and reaches for my hand, pulling me into him.
“I never forgot anything about that summer, Lady Lightning,” he murmurs, his thumb tracing slow circles over my knuckles. “Especially you.”
The charge between us shifts, more intense and tangled in the longing after our week apart. I meet his eyes and feel the pull—something hungrier, something that’s been waiting to surface to let me know exactly how this night will end.
Before I can respond, the creak of footsteps on the stairs make us spring apart.
Nina appears, smiling. “Both kids are out cold,” she says, her eyes flicking between us with sharp amusement. “I’ll head out. Enjoy your night!”
I barely manage to keep my face neutral as I mumble a quick thank you. The second the door clicks shut, I barely have time to turn before—
Jake’s hands are on me.
