Callum walks over and places his hands on my shoulders. “How is your first morning, Zinnia?”
She’s still blushing. “It’s good. Way better than the other foster homes.”
I tease, “Zinnia, this isn’t a foster home anymore. I’m your sister.”
She shrugs and continues to eat.
Callum squeezes my shoulder lightly. “How are you doing, Tiger?”
My eyes find Jax’s across the table, and tears fill my eyes. Heat pools in my low belly with the way Jax is staring back. “I’m so happy.”
Zinnia hugs me from the side, resting her face on my shoulder. “Me too.”
I hug her back and let the tears fall down my face. I catch Jax still staring. I can’t help it. I stare back.
Callum says, “What’d you guys do last night?”
I stiffen as Zinnia sits up. “Sleep,” she sasses. “What else?”
I blush, glancing at Jax.
And for the first time in a very long time, I see a smile playing on his lips. It loosens the knot in my chest as my smile grows.
Chapter Forty-Seven: Jax
I’m still angry.
But seeing her with Zinnia… seeing her this happy…
I don’t know what the fuck I’m supposed to do with that.
It’s late morning now. Zinnia’s at the kitchen table with markers spread everywhere, drawing something that looks like a rainbow threw up on paper. Tiger’s sitting next to her, coffee in hand, smiling at whatever Zinnia’s saying.
That smile.
I haven’t seen it in days. Haven’t been the reason for it in longer.
Callum’s at the stove flipping pancakes like he lives here. He walked in twenty minutes ago and immediately started makingZinnia laugh with his stupid jokes. I watch as Tiger swoons over him. It’s clear that she adores him.
“Jax, can you pass the syrup?” Zinnia asks.
“More syrup?” Tiger asks, watching me.
I grab it from the counter and hand it to her. But Tiger intercepts, grabbing it from me. Her fingers land on mine, and she grins up at me.
“Hey,” Zinnia says.
“You have more than enough on your plate.”
She looks up at me and says, “Shouldn’t you be a basketball player?”
“Hockey,” I correct her.
“But why do you have to be so tall for hockey?”
I shrug, looking at Tiger, who’s staring at me.
“I think basketball is way cooler.”
