Rio moved closer, concern etched deep into his face. “You holding it together better than I thought.”
“I don’t have a choice,” she said quietly. “I have two little girls in there who need me to pretend everything’s okay.”
Rio’s jaw clenched. He looked like he wanted to tear something apart. “He had no right to do what he did. Taking your son like that. Talking to you like you were nothing.”
Kylee’s throat tightened, but she just shook her head. “I don’t want to cry anymore.”
Rio stepped in close, placing his hand gently on her cheek. “You don’t have to pretend with me, Idaho. I got you.”
Her eyes welled up again, but she blinked the tears away quickly.
“I still can’t believe you came,” she whispered.
“Of course I did,” he said. “I meant what I said. I’m not going anywhere.”
She let herself fall forward into his chest, and his arms wrapped around her tightly, strong and safe.
“Whatever you need, we’ll figure it out… Together.”
Rio held her for a long moment, then gently pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. His thumb brushed along her cheekbone, wiping away the tear she didn’t even realize had fallen.
“You know,” he said quietly, “I never really pictured myself with kids. Never thought I’d be good at that kind of thing.”
Kylee gave him a soft, sad smile. “Yeah? Why not?”
He let out a low breath and leaned against the wall beside her. “I didn’t grow up with any examples of what that should look like. My mom worked three jobs. My dad was never around. I was thekid people expected to screw up. And then the band took off, and it was like freedom. Chaos. All about me.”
Kylee stayed quiet, letting him open up on his own.
“But watching you with them…” He glanced back toward the door. “The way you hold them, talk to them, protect them. It’s... beautiful, Kylee. You’re a damn good mom.”
The words hit her deep, so unexpected and sincere. She looked away for a second, trying to hold it together, but he gently tilted her face back to him.
“I mean it,” he said. “Even now after the day you’ve had you’re still their safe place. Still making sure they’re fed and smiled at and comforted. I see it. And Macy? She already trusts me just because you do.”
Kylee felt her throat tighten again, but this time it was from warmth, not pain.
“They’re so beautiful,” he added softly. “You made them. That blows my mind.”
She let out a small laugh, blinking up at him. “You’re really not used to kids, huh?”
He smiled, that crooked Rio grin she was beginning to crave. “Not even a little. But I think… I get it now though. Why people want that. Why it matters. Why it’s worth everything.”
She stepped in a little closer, resting her head against his chest again. “You make me want to be better,” he said against her hair. “I don’t know what this turns into, or how it works, but I know one thing for sure: I want to be where you are.”
Kylee’s voice was barely a whisper. “Even with the chaos?”
“Especially with the chaos,” he said, holding her tighter. “That’s how I know it’s real.”
As the tension finally began to dissolve from Kylee’s shoulders, Rio leaned in and kissed the side of her head.
“You’ve done enough today,” he whispered. “I ran you a hot bath. Go take a break… I got the girls.”
Kylee blinked up at him. “Wait, what?”
He grinned. “You heard me. Go. You deserve time to get yourself back together”
She hesitated, glancing toward the baby monitor and the toys scattered across the living room.
