To Kylee, it felt like wearing a beautiful coat over a hollow chest.
She turned her face back to the game just as Jake Jr. Threw a perfect pass and his team mate sprinted down the field, the crowd going wild. Her hands flew to her mouth, tears stinging the edges of her lashes.
He was so proud of himself. And she was proud of him too.
She glanced at Jake and saw the genuine excitement in his eyes, his hands clenched in fists as he stood and cheered.
And for a brief second, she let herself believe the others. Maybe they really were that perfect family. Or maybe they were just good at pretending.
The scent of homemade chips and melted cheese filled the kitchen as Kylee pulled a pan of homemade nachos from the oven. Macy was already camped out on the couch in mismatched pajamas, feet sticking out from under a fuzzy Barbie blanket. Kayla dozed peacefully in her swing, the gentle rocking motion and hum of white noise.
Jake Jr. sat at the kitchen island with flushed cheeks and damp hair from a quick post-game shower, replaying clips from the game on Kylee’s phone. “Mama, look, that's when I juked number 44! He totally ate it!”
Kylee laughed as she set the nachos down. “He did eat it. That was amazing!”
Jake emerged from the hallway in a fitted charcoal tee and joggers. His hair was slightly tousled, a softness to his expression Kylee hadn’t seen in a while.
He stopped behind Jake Jr. and dropped a hand on his shoulder. “You were the best player on that field today. Seriously.”
“You think so?” Jake Jr. asked, glowing under the praise.
“I know so,” Jake said. “You’ve got natural instincts. That cut on third down? I didn’t teach you that! That’s just you being smart.”
Kylee’s heart swelled watching them. The moment was real. These were the nights she lived for.
She wiped her hands on a dish towel. “Alright, team nachos are served. Movie or highlight reel first?”
“Highlights!” Jake Jr. shouted.
Jake smirked and nudged his son. “We’ll do both. Let me pull it up on the TV. I got some good footage from the stands.”
He crossed the room and connected his phone to the living room screen. Within seconds, Jake Jr. was sprawled on the floor in front of the TV, narrating every moment like a sportscaster.
Kylee curled up on the edge of the couch, Macy leaning against her side. Jake dropped down beside them, close enough that their thighs touched. It startled her, that small bit of contact.
He was here. Engaged. Laughing. Reaching for more nachos than usual.
“You’re in a good mood,” she said quietly, glancing over at him.
He wiped cheese from his fingers with a napkin. “It was a good day.”
Kylee searched his face. “You’re glad you went?”
He looked at her, then back at the TV. “Yeah. I needed it. All of it.”
She nodded, her chest tight again but this time from the warmth. Maybe things were turning. Maybe last night, the game, this moment maybe they were stacking up into something solid.
Cassie’s words from earlier replayed in her head: “It’s like watching a Hallmark movie.”
Tonight, it really did feel that way.
But somewhere beneath the laughter, the screen glow, and the soft weight of Macy on her lap, Kylee felt a flicker of something else… a whisper she couldn’t name yet.
Chapter 3
His hands, Her mouth
Kylee hadn’t felt like this in a long time. There was a lightness to her that morning, a quiet confidence humming beneath her skin. Her reflection in the mirror didn’t look tired or invisible. She saw warmth in her eyes, a subtle glow in her cheeks, the delicate curve of her lips turned up just slightly. She wasn’t just someone's mother today. Or someone's wife. She was her again.
