Page 24 of Jax & Knox

"Good. Really good, actually."

"Good." She glances around the kitchen, then starts opening cabinets without asking. "You need more spices. I'll bring some next time."

"You don't⁠⁠—"

"I know, but I'm going to anyway." She smiles, pulling out a few mismatched mugs and rearranging them. "That's what we do, Ainsley. We take care of each other."

We work together in comfortable silence, organizing the kitchen, wiping down counters, making the space feel more lived-in. Hadley keeps the conversation light, talking about her students, about the upcoming club event, about nothing heavy.

It's easy. Companionable.

By the time she leaves, the kitchen feels like mine.

I'm sitting on the porch swing with Owen when Tessa's car pulls up.

She hops out, grinning, and pulls a stack of paint cans and brushes from her trunk.

"What are you doing?" I ask, standing.

"Making Owen's room fun," she says, like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Come on. Let's do this."

I follow her inside, watching as she sets everything down in Owen's pale blue bedroom.

"We're painting?" I ask.

"Yep. And adding decals. Dinosaurs. Every kid loves dinosaurs." She looks at me, her expression serious for once. "Every kid deserves a fun room, Ainsley. A room that feels like theirs."

I nod, my throat tight.

We spend the next two hours painting and decorating. Tessa does most of the work, insisting I sit and direct while she climbs ladders and applies decals. She teases me about my terrible color commentary, makes me laugh with wild stories about club parties, and doesn't let me spiral into my own head.

By the time we're done, Owen's room is transformed, bright, playful, full of color and life.

Tessa steps back and surveys the room, hands on her hips. "Not bad."

"It's perfect," I whisper.

She looks at me, and her expression softens. "You're home now, Ainsley."

And that's when I break.

Not a full breakdown. Just tears. Quiet, overwhelming tears that I can't hold back anymore.

Tessa pulls me into a hug, holding me tight. "Let it out, babe. You've earned it."

I cry into her shoulder, and she just holds me, not saying anything, just being there.

When I finally pull back, she wipes my face with her sleeve and grins. "Feel better?"

"Yeah," I say, laughing through the tears. "I do."

Jax and Knox show up just as the sun is setting. Jax is carrying a bottle of wine. Knox has flowers, wildflowers, like the ones growing along the fence.

"Thought we'd stop by," Jax says, grinning.

"Come in," I say, stepping back.

We sit on the porch, the three of us squeezed onto the squeaky porch swing. Owen is sleepy after all the excitement of the day, his eyes drooping as he leans against my chest.