Lainey sipped her drink, surrounded by the other women in conversation. It felt good to be surrounded by friends. It felt like she’d finally found a home.
Finn was at the edge of the yard showing Luke how to throw a spiral. It sailed toward the women, but Luke chased it down as it bounced off the grass and rolled onto the patio.
His cheeks were flushed, his smile wide. “Hey Mom,” he said, picking up the ball. “Dad says I’m getting better.”
The entire backyard went silent.
Lainey blinked. Dani froze. Autumn’s drink paused halfway to her lips.
The guys stopped what they were doing.
Luke ran back and threw the ball to Jack as if he hadn’t turned the world upside down.
Dani was the first to speak. “Did he just…?”
Lainey nodded, still stunned. “He did.”
Autumn pressed her hand to her chest. “Talk about a picnic surprise. That was just … wow.”
The men were less subtle as Finn walked over, clapping him on the back, giving him a high five like he’d just won a championship.
Then Finn walked over to Lainey, his eyes searching hers and a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Are we good?”
Lainey smiled. “We’re good,” she said. “Really good.”
Finn’s shoulders eased, and he nodded once.
From across the yard, Luke cupped his hands and shouted. “Come on, Dad. Let’s play ball.”
And just like that, the world tilted into something new.
CHAPTER 43
The stars wereout by the time Lainey pulled into her driveway. Humidity clung to her skin as she got out of her car. The porch light cast a soft glow across the asphalt.
In the back seat, Luke was slumped over, fast asleep, his NASA hat perched sideways on his head, his mouth slightly open. Her heart softened at the sight, and she smiled.
Finn’s headlights followed her. He parked beside her and climbed out as she unbuckled Luke. She unlocked the front door as Finn reached in and carried his son upstairs to his room.
When Finn came back down, she was in the kitchen putting on a pot of coffee. The scent already filled the air. “Sit. I’ll pour you a cup when it’s ready.”
He pulled out a chair and sank into it. “What a day,” he said. “It was good to see everyone but … when Luke called me Dad?” He let out a soft laugh. “I thought my heart would burst.”
“I wasn’t expecting that either,” Lainey replied. “I didn’t coach him. And I never expected it would happen this fast.”
“Well, it’s something I won’t forget.” He brushed his knuckles lightly along her forearm. “He’s a great kid. And you’ve done an incredible job raising him. On your own.”
She swallowed hard. “Thanks.”
They sat there quietly, the silence broken only by the steady hum of the refrigerator and the low gurgle of the coffee maker.
“You never did finish telling me about your meeting with Cho and Sarah,” he said. “Do you get the feeling they’re going to help or hinder the project?”
Lainey sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. “I don’t know. My gut tells me they know a lot more than they’re telling me. Plus, they kept hinting that my funding was in danger. Also, Sarah dropped a bomb—told me another contractor put in a bid for the project, but she wouldn’t tell me who.”
His brow furrowed. “You think they’re connected to what’s happening?”
“I don’t know.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “But nothing about that meeting felt right.”
