I gasped. “Me, obviously. It’s called saving the best for last, thank you very much.”
He shook his head, laughing. “You’re doing it all wrong. The fries are the sidekick, not the star. You eat them as you go.”
“Says the guy who loads ketchup onto everything.”
“Hey, hey.” He held up a hand. “Ketchup is a universal condiment, and I stand by it.”
I rolled my eyes, grinning. “Next thing I know, you’ll be putting it on your pancakes.”
Austin paused, as if considering, then grinned wickedly. “Don’t tempt me.”
By the time we were done, the counter was littered with wrappers, and my stomach hurt from laughing more than from the food.
He leaned back, patting his stomach. “Alright, I’m officially stuffed. But I’ll say it—this was the best dinner I’ve had in a while.”
I smirked, tossing a balled-up napkin at him. “That’s because I’m great company.”
“Can’t argue with that.” He caught the napkin and chucked it into the trash can. “You might just be my favorite fry-hoarding, burger-saving fake wife.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Glad I could earn such a prestigious title.”
Austin stood and grabbed the crumpled wrappers and empty cups. “Let me clean this up.”
I watched him, my mind racing. The bathtub had been intense, emotional—him opening up about what he’d survived,me realizing how much I wanted to be there for him. But this . . . this was different. Seeing him here, fitting so seamlessly into my space, was quieter but no less powerful.
This wasn’t just heat or attraction. It was something steadier, something that made me want to keep him here in every part of my life.
As he rinsed out the cups and set them on the drying rack, I swallowed hard, the reality of what I had to do sinking in. This wasn’t just about calling my mom and Jacob. It was about telling them the truth, about facing the fallout of the choices I’d made—with him standing beside me.
I drew in a shaky breath as he turned back toward me, drying his hands on a dish towel. He tilted his head when his eyes met mine, and for a moment, it felt like he could see the storm brewing inside me.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. Just thinking.”
He walked back over and sat down beside me again. “You ready?”
I hesitated, then shook my head. “Not yet, but I know I have to.”
“Whenever you’re ready,” he said, his hand resting lightly on my knee. “I’ll be right here.”
And that’s when I knew—whatever came next, I didn’t want to face it alone.
29
charlie
“Mama?” I said, switching the call to video. “Jacob?”
In seconds, their faces filled the screen.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
It had been so long since I’d seen her, and for a moment, the sight of my mom took me back. Her brown hair was pulled into a sleek, oversized bun atop her head, and she wore the same pearl earrings and matching necklace she always did. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, studied me through the screen.
Jacob appeared to be in his office. His amber eyes, so much like mine, held a mix of curiosity and concern. His blonde hair was neatly combed, and the faint hum of a printer in the background confirmed he was still in work mode.
Austin stood off to the side, giving me space but staying close by. I sank into the couch, leaning back against the cushions, trying to steady my breathing.
