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It’s not loud.

It’s not dramatic.

Just honest.

Like the way his hand finds mine on the floor between us.

“I think I’m really,actuallyhappy,” he says again, a little wonder in his voice.

My throat goes tight.

I lean my head on his shoulder, paint and all.

“Me too,” I whisper.

Later, after the brushes are rinsed and the last string of lights finally stops sagging, I curl up on the cabin’s only finished couch with my knees tucked under me and a warm cup of mint tea in my hands.

Jason’s in the tiny kitchen nook, humming something tuneless as he stacks leftover sandwiches into a container with far more concentration than necessary.

The lamp glows soft in the corner. There’s music playing low on the speaker—something dreamy and slow. Outside, crickets chirp and a soft breeze rustles through the pine just beyond the screened windows.

It’shome.

I take a long sip of tea and just let myself sit in it.

The quiet.

The closeness.

The peace.

It’s the kind of moment I used to think I didn’t deserve. Too soft. Too safe. Toosteady.

But now? It feels like breathing for the first time.

Jason glances over his shoulder. “You good, babe?”

I nod, smiling into my cup. “Yeah. Just... soaking this in.”

He grins. “Pretty decent for two days’ work and one minor glitter explosion.”

“Feels like a real home.”

“Damn right it does.”

And itdoes.

It really, really does.

CHAPTER 24

JASON

Iknock on Julie’s office door with exactly the amount of confidence I don’t have.

Which is none.

Zip.