Kylee turned toward him, eyes already watering. “Rio…”
He tilted his head. “There’s one more.”
She followed him down the hall to the nursery. The room smelled faintly of lavender and baby powder. The walls were painted with soft rainbows and fluffy clouds. A white crib sat in the center with a pastel mobile hanging above it. A cushy rocking chair rested in the corner with a rainbow blanket draped across the back.
Kylee stood in the doorway for a long moment, stunned. “You didn’t have to…” she said, her voice cracking.
“I know,” Rio replied gently. “But I wanted to.”
Kylee turned toward him, eyes brimming. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You and those kids… deserve to feel peace. This place, it’s yours for as long as you need it.”
She leaned into his chest and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly as Kayla stirred slightly in her arms.
For the first time in a long time… Kylee felt like she could breathe. The house was finally still. Macy had fallen asleep curled up with a stuffed unicorn the size of her. Jake Jr. was passed out mid-sentence, clutching a tiny football under his arm. Even Kayla had drifted off without a fuss, soothed by the soft lullabies playing in her new nursery.
Kylee eased the door shut behind her and padded barefoot down the hall. She found Rio outside, standing on the balcony just off the master bedroom, shirtless, leaning on the railing with a glass of whiskey in hand. The L.A. skyline sparkled around him like scattered diamonds. The city was loud in the distance, but up here it was peaceful. He turned when he heard her, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “Are they all asleep?”
She nodded. “Out like lights.”
He handed her his glass and she took a slow sip, the amber warmth hitting her chest. “This view… this house… Rio, I don’t even know what to say. You’ve done so much.”
He shrugged one shoulder, keeping his eyes on her. “It’s nothing you don’t deserve.”
Kylee leaned on the railing next to him, her bare arm brushing his. “No one’s ever done anything like this for me before. Not even Jake.”
Rio didn’t respond right away. He let the silence settle heavy, but not uncomfortable. Then, quietly: “I saw you today. Really saw you. The way you handled those kids in the chaos… The strength it took just to get through that game without breaking down…”
Kylee looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. “I was breaking.”
“But you held it together,” he said, turning to face her. “You always do. That’s what makes you different. Not just beautiful but brave. Fierce. That’s why I wanted you here. That’s why I wanted them here.”
Tears welled in her eyes. She wasn’t used to being seen like this. Not for what she looked like. Not for what she used to be. But for what she was now raw, vulnerable, and still standing. “You make me feel safe,” she whispered.
Rio reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. “And you make me want more.”
She looked up at him, her breath catching.
“More of this,” he added. “Not just the sex. Not just the chaos. But the real shit. The late nights. The sleepy kids. The wine on the balcony. All of it.”
Kylee stepped into him, her hand resting against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. “I’m scared.”
“I know.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “But you don’t have to do it alone anymore.”
She melted into his arms, letting the weight of the day, the trauma, the fight, the heartbreak slide off her shoulders. And in that quiet night, wrapped in his warmth, Kylee let herself believe that maybe, just maybe… This was the start of something real.
Back at the house, Jake slammed the front door so hard it rattled the picture frames on the wall. He paced the living room like a caged animal, his jaw tight, and his eyes dark. He snatched his phone off the counter and jabbed at the screen.
“Get over here now,” he barked the moment Rachel picked up.
There was a pause on the other end.“Uh… now your house?”Rachel asked cautiously. “What about Kylee… and the kids?”
Jake let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Fuck her. She ran off with Mr. Rock Star. Probably thinks she’s living some damn fairytale right now.”
Rachel hesitated. “She… took the kids?”
“She took my kids,” Jake snapped, grabbing a whiskey bottle off the counter and pouring it into a
