If they need my help, they’ll ask.
Luna and Jules have been nothing but happy for me. They areglad I’m taking this time to recoup and nest. Everyone is supportive of our goals to all step away later this year.
I identified a local medical school and even talked to Doc. She was so great with me the night she treated me. She was very encouraging of my plan and even offered to let me shadow her and her team. I’m excited.
An hour later, Enzo is at the stove, sleeves rolled up, hair slightly damp from his shower. He felt like cooking today. I didn’t even know he knew how to cook—I assumed Marco had been cooking for them since birth.
I like that our relationship is solid enough to all live together, but still new enough to discover each other. And I’m very drawn to this domestic side of Enzo.
Hudson sits at the island with his tablet, pretending to read something while watching Enzo with that soft, private look he never bothers hiding anymore.
We catch each other’s gaze and exchange a knowing look.Our man is fucking hot.
Eva came to the kitchen around the same time we did. She’s perched on a stool next to Hudson with a mug between her hands, hair pulled into a loose knot. She catches my eye and smiles. Real, unguarded. It still hits me how far we’ve come, from suspicion and fear to this new normal. She rolls her eyes and teases Hudson when she catches him ogling Enzo. It’s sweet.
“Niko just texted, Jules is here,” Enzo announces while flipping something that smells like heaven.
Jules steps into the kitchen, expression sharp and familiar and comforting all at once. Her gaze lands on me. “Look at you,” she says softly. “You look…peaceful.”
I smile because I am. The word fits so perfectly it almost makes my chest ache.
Hudson pours her a mug of coffee, and I steal a few minutes alone with her near the windows while Enzo finishes. Jules leansagainst the windowsill, arms crossed loosely, eyes studying me in that way she has since we were girls, like she’s checking for cracks.
“I’m good,” I tell her before she can ask. “Really good.”
She nods, relief easing the tension around her mouth. “I can see it. I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks, Jules. And you?” I ask gently. “You haven’t shared much about Jax. How’s it going working with him again?”
Her mouth doesn’t quite form a smile. “Complicated,” she answers honestly.
We share a quiet moment of understanding. Her calm, steady energy is great in a pinch or under pressure, but in moments like this, when she’s contemplative and guarded, I want to push her. Force her to let me in. That’s my nature, but I’ve learned over the years, it’s not hers. She’ll tell me when she’s ready—she knows I’m here for her.
Enzo announces the food is ready and we all move to the dining room. Hudson slides into the seat beside me. Jules sits across from me. Enzo sets plates down and Eva moves to the table with a graceful confidence I have come to admire. Everyone settles in, and the hum of domestic normalcy wraps around us.
I love it. I love sharing normal, everyday things with the people I care about. It feels suspiciously like family. I never had that. I never thought I’d find it, but somehow it found me.
We are laughing and chatting for a few minutes when Eva says, “The heat is officially off me for TruthDrop.”
“That’s great news,” I say. “How did that happen?”
“With the complete media takeover, they are now pointing fingers to an inside job. The general public believe TruthDrop must be a group of disgruntled government employees who have reach and access to do something at this scale.
“Ironic how when Iactuallyjoin the effort and make a biggersplash, no one thinks I have the access to pull this off.” She rolls her eyes in faux annoyance, but I know she feels relieved.
“I’m just glad you’re not in danger anymore,” Enzo says.
Eva scoffs, reminding him that any of us can be in danger at any time.
I chuckle at the sibling banter.
“I’m really impressed,” Jules says. “You and Luna working together is…powerful. Troy’s funeral came and went and not a single news outlet was able to cover it live and once they got back on air, the narrative shifted to TruthDrop, trafficking rings, and government failures. It’s brilliant.”
“That man didn’t deserve fanfare and now the world knows it,” Enzo says with finality.
I love that we can all talk shop around the table, easy and normal. Everyone an open book, no more secrets.
When I catch the time on the clock above the stove, I see more time has passed than I realized. It’s strange that Luna isn’t here yet. She’s hardly late and always reaches out if she’s running behind.
