Chase's smirk falters for a moment as he looks at her, but he recovers quickly. “What can I say? I’m a man of mystery.”
“More like a man of bullshit,” Ryan quips, earning a round of laughs.
The banter is light, and I can see Charlie sinking right into it, laughing along. She’s fitting in like she’s always been here, and watching her be part of this is one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever felt.
As we pass plates around, I lean close to her. “How you holding up?”
Her eyes shine bright. “Really good. Everyone’s amazing. Thanks for inviting us.”
“Thanks for being here.” I squeeze her hand under the table. “Wouldn’t have been the same without you.”
Dinner’s a flurry of conversation, laughter, and the occasional argument over who got the last bit of stuffing. Charlotte fits in seamlessly, laughing at all our old stories—like when Ryan and I got lost on a road trip and ended up at a bar in the middle of nowhere, or the time Chase nearly burned down his kitchen trying to impress a girl with homemade pasta.
Across from me, Noah’s eyes are bright as he watches Chase make goofy faces at him, trying to make him laugh. Meadow, on Charlotte’s other side, is happily chatting away to Tamara, who listens with genuine amusement.
It’s perfect.
After dessert, the kids are fighting to stay awake, eyelids drooping. I catch Ryan’s eye, and he gives me a knowing look. He doesn’t say it, but I can hear it:You’ve got something good here. Don’t screw it up.
And he’s right. I do have something good—something incredible. And I’m not letting it slip through my fingers again.
I start gathering their things while Charlotte says her goodbyes. Crouching down, I scoop Meadow up in one arm, carrying some of their things in the other. “Come on, Princess. Let’s get you and your brother home.”
Meadow yawns, resting her head on my shoulder. “Okay. Can you read a story?”
“Of course,” I reply, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Anything for you, Little Lightning.”
By the time we step out into the cool night air, Meadow’s half-asleep on my shoulder, and Noah’s holding onto Charlotte’s hand, his eyes heavy.
The drive back to Charlie’s place is quiet, the kids knocked out in the backseat. I glance over at her, and she gives me a tired but happy smile, resting her hand on my thigh. I reach down and give it a gentle squeeze, grateful for the connection between us.
“Thank you for today,” she says softly. “It was perfect.”
I take her hand and bring it to my lips. “You are.”
Back at her place, I help settle the kids into bed. Meadow mumbles something as I tuck her in, her tiny hand clutching my shirt for a moment before letting go. “Sweet dreams, Princess.”
When the kids are finally asleep, we head downstairs, the house quiet except for the soft creak of the floorboards. Charlie pauses at the bottom of the stairs, turning to face me with a look that tells me everything I need to know.
“Wanna stay for a bit?”
My heart hammers as I step closer, my hands finding her waist. “Is that a trick question?”
“Depends. What’s your answer?”
I lean in, brushing my lips against her ear, my voice low and teasing. “Whatever gets me upstairs with you.”
Her laugh is soft and entirely too tempting as she tilts her head, eyes glinting with mischief. God, I’m so gone for her.
“You talk a big game, Brooks.”
I chuckle, the sound vibrating between us as I close the final inch. “That’s because I always back it up.”
She relaxes into me, fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt, and her eyes flick to mine, holding them for a beat longer than feels safe. Something passes between us—a question, a dare, an inevitability.
Her breath hitches, and my gaze drops to her lips. That’s all it takes.
Our mouths collide, and the world falls away. It’s not just a kiss, it’s a collision that’s been building all day, maybe even longer. Her lips slide against mine, and when her tongue brushes tentatively before tangling with mine, my head spins.
