Jax is waiting in the kitchen with his keys in hand.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Yeah.”
Callum squeezes my shoulder as I walk past. “Good luck.”
Zephyr just nods. “Bring her home.”
The drive to CPS is silent.
Jax doesn’t turn on music. He doesn’t try to make conversation. He just drives with both hands on the wheel, jaw tight, staring at the road.
I want to say something. I want to clear the air. I wish we could talk this through, but I keep to myself. I know what he’ll say. We don’t want the same things, and I guess we have to be okay with that.
We pull into the parking lot, and he turns off the car.
Neither of us moves right away.
“Jax—”
“We should go in.”
“Can we just—”
“Tiger.” He finally looks at me. “I did this for Zinnia. Not to… win you over, okay?”
The words hurt more than they should.
“Okay,” I whisper.
We get out and walk inside, where Sandra is expecting us.
“Miss Lopez. Mr. Kingsway. Thank you for coming. Right this way.”
She leads us to a small office for more paperwork, more questions.
Jax answers everything calmly. Professionally. Like he’s expected this.
Income. Housing. Support system. Relationship to Zinnia.
“And your relationship to Miss Lopez?” Sandra asks, pen poised.
Jax’s jaw tightens. “Partner.”
The word feels wrong coming from his mouth. Too formal. Too distant.
Sandra makes a note and keeps asking questions.
By the time we’re done, an hour has passed. She collects all the paperwork.
“Everything looks good. I’m approving the emergency placement. You can take Zinnia home today.”
Relief crashes through me so hard I start to cry.
“Thank you,” I manage, wiping my tears away. “Thank you so much.”
“She’s in the next room. I’ll go get her.”
