“Did you forget a towel?”
She peeks her face out and nods. “Can’t you just keep one here for me at all times?”
I sigh. “Sure thing, Queen Zinnia. I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t call me a queen, I’m a princess. You’re the queen!”
When I close the door behind me, I catch the guys in the kitchen with boxes of pizza. Perfect timing. I grab Zinnia a towel, throw it on the toilet, and tell her to get dressed before she comes out and to make it fast because the food arrived.
We eat on the living room floor because there’s not enough room at the table for five people. Zinnia comes out in her pajamas. Hair wet. Cheeks pink from the hot water.
“Pizza!” she announces, sitting down between Jax and me.
We eat and laugh, and Callum tells increasingly exaggerated stories about the game until even Jax is smiling.
When we’re done, Zinnia yawns. “Can we watch a movie?”
“Yeah,” Jax says. “Pick whatever you want.”
We migrate to the couch and decide on a cartoon.
She curls up against my side. I’m next to Jax. Zephyr’s on my other side. Callum’s on the floor, leaning against the couch.
Halfway through the movie, Zinnia falls asleep. Her head heavy on my shoulder.
I lean my head on Jax’s shoulder, and I feel him tense for just a second, then relax.
His arm comes around me. Careful and gentle.
I close my eyes. Listen to the movie. To Callum’s quiet commentary. To Zephyr’s laugh. I feel Jax’s steady breathing. Zinnia’s warmth against my side.
And I think… Jax is lightening up.
He’s okay.
He’s not mad anymore.
I listen to his heartbeat, feeling overwhelmed with the sense that this is the best my life will ever get.
This moment right here. Right now.
Chapter Forty-Nine: Tigerlily
The school registration paperwork sits in front of me on the kitchen table.
I’ve filled out Zinnia’s name three times. Erased it twice. My hand keeps shaking.
“You okay?” Jax asks from across the table.
“Yeah. Just nervous.”
“She’s going to be fine. It’s just school.”
“I know. It’s just...” I set the pen down. “I never thought…”
“This is a good thing.”
“I know. It is. I’m just—” I look at him.
