"Don't jinx it," Mia says, but she's smiling.
I pull her closer, my arm around her shoulders. Her breast presses against my side and I have to force myself to focus on the conversation instead of how good she feels.
Jack's phone buzzes and he glances at it, his expression shifting to something more serious. "The school board wants to meet Monday morning. They're making a final decision about Mia's reinstatement."
"That's good, right?" Mia asks, but I hear the uncertainty in her voice.
"It should be." Jack sets his phone down. "With Kyle expelled and the evidence of his stalking behavior, they don't have grounds to keep you suspended."
"But?" Mia prompts.
"But they're going to have questions about your personal life. About the rumors." Jack meets her eyes directly. "We need to be prepared for that."
The weight of reality settles back over us. For a moment, we'd been celebrating small victories. Now we're back to strategizing, planning, and preparing for the next battle.
Noah stands and moves to the window, watching the children play. Maya has them all lined up now, apparently teaching them some kind of dance routine. Ethan and Sophie are trying to follow along while Rory and Corey ham it up, making Lily giggle.
"They're good together," Noah says quietly.
"Yeah." I join him at the window, my shoulder brushing his. "They are."
Mia and Jack come to stand with us, the four of us watching our makeshift family through the glass. It's not traditional. It's not what any of us planned. But it's ours.
"I have an announcement too," Noah says suddenly.
52
NOAH
I stand at the window watching Maya organize the younger kids into some elaborate game that involves a lot of shrieking and laughter. My chest tightens with an emotion I'm still learning to name. Love, maybe. Or the terrifying responsibility of caring for three children who aren't biologically mine but feel like they are.
"I have an announcement too," I say, turning to face the others.
Mia's blue eyes widen slightly, her full breasts rising and falling beneath her sweater as she takes a breath. We head back into the living room. Blake shifts on the coffee table, his muscular thighs flexing beneath his jeans. Jack leans forward in his chair, his broad shoulders straining against his button-down shirt.
"I accepted a position at Westfield Academy," I continue, adjusting my glasses. "Head of the history department. I'll still teach, but with administrative responsibilities and significantly better pay."
Blake's face breaks into a grin. "You're coming with me?"
"Looks that way." I can't help but smile back. "Seemed like fate when they called. I wasn't even looking, but the department head is retiring, and they wanted someone who could modernize their curriculum."
"That's amazing," Mia says, standing and crossing to me. Her hips sway in those jeans and I have to force myself to focus on her face instead of how perfectly her ass fills out the denim. "Both of you at the same school. That's perfect."
"There's more." I take a breath, knowing this next part is bigger. "I'm filing for joint custody of Maya, Ethan, and Sophie."
The silence that follows feels weighted. Jack's hazel eyes sharpen with interest. Blake nods slowly, understanding crossing his features. Mia's hand finds mine, her fingers warm and soft.
"Vanessa's struggling again," I explain. "She lost her apartment last week. The kids have been sleeping in her car more often than not. They deserve stability, consistency, and I can provide that now with the salary increase."
"That's a huge commitment," Jack says carefully.
"I know." I think about Maya's responsible eight-year-old face, Ethan's quiet attachment to his stuffed rabbit, and Sophie's thumb perpetually in her mouth. "But they're already mine in every way that matters. Making it legal just acknowledges what's already true."
Mia rises on her toes and kisses me softly. Her lips are warm and taste faintly of the wine she's been drinking. When she pulls back, her eyes are shining with tears. "You're a good man, Noah Young."
"I'm trying to be." I cup her face, my thumb brushing across her cheekbone. The skin there is soft as silk.
Jack stands and moves to the kitchen, returning with his glass raised. "To new beginnings. Blake and Noah with new jobs and better pay, and all of us moving forward instead of constantly looking back."
