The next morning the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the kitchen as sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a golden glow across the countertops.
Lillian was already there, cheerfully wrangling the kids as they giggled over cereal. She shot Kylee a warm smile as she handed Macy a napkin.
Jake Jr. was zipping up his backpack, stomping around the house in his usual before school frenzy.
“You’re a saint, Lillian,” Kylee said, grateful as ever.
“Oh, please,” Lillian grinned. “I love these girls and I’m always happy for an excuse to get them all to myself.”
Jake came downstairs in jeans and a flannel, looking refreshed and unusually upbeat. “You ready?” he asked, kissing Kylee on the cheek.
“As I’ll ever be,” she smiled, tugging on her jacket.
The ride to Jake Jr.’s school was filled with the usual chatter reminders about his lunch, a promise that he could have extra screen time tonight if he was good, and a quick hug before he ran off.
Kylee watched him disappear into the school building with a bittersweet ache in her chest. Once he was gone, Jake turned to her with a grin. “Alright. Just you and me now.”
They drove with the windows down, letting the crisp Idaho air rush in. The sky was wide and bright, the mountains in the distance layered with blue and green like a painting come to life. Jake had the whole day planned a stop at a quiet hiking trail, lunch at a new farm-to-table spot, and maybe even a wine tasting at a nearby vineyard.
It was beautiful. Thoughtful. Sweet. But Kylee couldn't stop thinking about Rio. Every time Jake reached for her hand, her pulse stuttered. Not from nerves or excitement but from the aching truth that she didn’t feel what she used to. She smiled, laughed at Jake’s jokes, leaned against him as they looked out over a scenic overlook… and still, her thoughts wandered. To dark eyes watching her from the stage. To a low voice in her ear. To what almost happened.
Jake was trying, and she owed it to him and to herself to try, too. Even if her heart hadn’t quite made it back from New Orleans.
The restaurant Jake had picked was tucked away on the edge of town, a charming little spot with wooden beams, mismatched chairs, and potted herbs hanging by the windows. It smelled like roasted garlic and fresh bread, and the cozy ambiance made Kylee feel like she had stepped into someone’s farmhouse kitchen.
They were seated at a corner table by the window, sunlight spilling across the tablecloth. A server brought them two lemon waters and a small loaf of warm sourdough with honey butter.
Jake leaned back in his chair, looking proud of himself. “Told you this place was a hidden gem.”
Kylee smiled and tore off a piece of bread. “Okay, I admit it so far, you’re winning at planning dates.”
He grinned. “That’s right. I figured after your big trip, you’d want something a little quieter.”
Her smile twitched, and she kept her eyes on the butter. “Yeah. This is perfect.”
They ordered, she went with a local trout dish, and he got the smoked brisket sandwich. Jake was relaxed, talking about projects around the house he wanted to get done before fall, and asking if she wanted to go to the farmer’s market over the weekend.
Kylee nodded along, chiming in where she could, but her mind was drifting. She wasn’t bored, she just wasn’t there.
Every time Jake laughed, she remembered how Rio’s laugh felt like gravel and velvet. Every time Jake’s foot brushed hers under the table, it reminded her of Rio’s hand on her lower back, the subtle heat that lingered for hours after. She kept wondering what Rio was doing now. Was he in LA already? On a plane? Fucking some girl because she didn’t give in?
Jake reached across the table and lightly touched her fingers. “You okay?”
She blinked. “Yeah sorry. Just… tired.”
He gave her a soft look. “Of course. You’ve been on the go nonstop. I’m glad you’re home, though.”
“Me too,” she said, and meant it, at least part of it.
But she also knew this wasn’t over. Something was still smoldering inside her, a hunger she hadn’t felt in years. And no amount of brunch or fresh air could blow it out.
By late afternoon, the sun had melted into that golden Idaho glow, stretching long shadows across the valley as Jake turned the car down a winding road lined with grapevines. “The vineyard?” Kylee asked, surprised as she caught sight of the rustic wooden sign swaying gently in the breeze.
Jake gave her a grin. “Figured we could do a little tasting, take in the view. It used to be your favorite place to relax.”
It had been. Before the noise. Before the kids. Before everything that used to feel like them had slowly faded into routine.
The car rolled to a stop near the edge of the vines, where neat rows of grapes sprawled out toward the foothills, glowing with soft light. The scent of warm earth and ripe fruit hung in the air, mixing with something deeper, oak barrels, sunlight, and memories.
