“I know. And I’d be happy to help you build out a business plan if you’re serious.”
Sara stared at him for a moment. Really stared.
Something passed between them—unspoken, but deeply understood.
This wasn’t just him being nice.
He saw her. The ambition. The grit. The spark she rarely let anyone recognize.
“Thank you,” she said, a little quieter now. “Really. I might just take you up on that.”
Dinner lingered long past the last bite. The food was gone, but the energy stayed. Comfortable. Full. Earned.
Eventually, Carter and Trevor tossed their final beers in the cooler and stood.
“Alright, we’re out,” Carter said. “Long drive in the morning.”
Hugs passed around. Gratitude murmured. And as Claire told the girls she’d be staying for one more night, they didn’t question it. They just nodded.
Sara hugged Jaxon a little longer than expected, then pulled back, holding his gaze.
“Thank you,” she said again, softer now. “For all of this.”
He smiled. “Anytime.”
And for once, no sarcasm followed. No teasing jab.
Just respect.
Real.
Earned.
43
Almost
Theachehitsbeforeshe even opens her eyes.
It’s there—in her chest, in her throat, coiled behind her ribs like it’s been waiting for this moment to strike.
Claire lies beside Jaxon, their bodies still tangled in sleep, skin warm from the night before. But time doesn’t pause for love—not even the kind that takes you by surprise and rearranges everything you thought you knew.
She blinks at the ceiling.
Only a few hours left.
And she doesn’t know what to do with them.
Does she pull back now, start untethering her heart so goodbye won’t crush her when it comes? Or does she fall harder tonight and let the wreckage come tomorrow?
Next to her, Jaxon is already awake—silent, staring at the ceiling like he’s trying to memorize how it feels to have her there. He turns to her slowly, his voice quiet but certain.
“I want to make the most of tonight.”
She looks at him, startled.
He continues, “It’s not about what we can do. It’s not about the bedroom or any of that. I just want to be with you. No distractions. No pretending like tomorrow’s not coming. Just… us.”
