Chapter 9
Paige
Iwoke up warm.
Which was immediately suspicious, because I didn’t remember going to bed. And I definitely didn’t remember falling asleep with someone wrapped around me like a weighted blanket with stubble.
I opened my eyes slowly.
Couch cushion. Old throw blanket. Dim morning light filtering through the curtains.
Chest rising and falling beneath my cheek, a stubbled chin resting against the top of my head.
And—oh god.
Hunter.
His arm was still around me, his hand resting lightly against my knee, like we’d fallen asleep mid-conversation. Like this wasn’t something altogether, wildly inappropriate that would short-circuit my nervous system the second I remembered how real it was.
It felt like I belonged right here.
He was so warm.
So right.
My whole body tensed, just slightly, like maybe if I didn’t move, the feelings wouldn’t catch up to me.
Which, of course, was when Hunter’s voice rumbled low and sleep-heavy beneath me. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I whispered. “I just…”
He cracked one eye open, his gaze amused and still soft with sleep. “Freaking out?”
“Only a little bit,” I muttered. “I’ll try to keep it together.”
I shifted away, and he let me go, stretching out with a low groan and scrubbing a hand through his hair. I sat up, brushing wrinkles from my sweatshirt, my heart thudding loudly in the morning quiet.
Then I heard footsteps.
Noah rounded the corner, rubbing his eyes, wearing pajama pants and a wrinkled t-shirt. He looked half-asleep and mildly annoyed to be vertical.
He took one look at me. One look at Hunter. Then he raised an eyebrow, as if he were the parent and I was the one getting caught past curfew. “Morning,” he said, voice dry as dust.
“Don’t,” I warned before he could make it weird.
“I need more sleep.” He raised both hands and walked back to his bedroom, disappearing without another word. “It’s too early for this. But, if it matters, and if this is a thing now, I approve.”
“Your kids are exactly like you,” Hunter said under his breath. “Kinda scary.”
“Yeah,” I sighed. “I’m going to check on Briar.”
I knocked gently on Briar’s door before easing it open.
She was curled on her side in bed, hugging a Squishmallow to her chest. Her eyes were open and tired, but clearer than last night.
“Hey,” I said softly. “How are you feeling?”
She shrugged. “Tired. But better. I’m sorry for sneaking out.”
I sat down on the edge of her bed and brushed her hair back from her face. “You scared the hell out of me.”
“I know. I’m so sorry.” She hid her face behind the Squishmallow. “I don’t know what I was thinking—”
“Hey. I love you. Nothing you could do will ever change that. You freaked out; it happens to the best of us. But promise me that next time you’ll come to me. Please. Or Grandpa, or any of your aunts, Lark, Grandma, anyone. Just don’t run off alone. I want you to be safe, sweetheart.”
“I promise. I will.” She peeked out, and I brushed her tears away. “I love you, too, Mom. I’m so sorry—”
“I forgive you. No more apologizing, okay? It’s done, and you’re safe. You want breakfast? Tea? A loud distraction?”
She shook her head no. “Can you stay with me for a minute? Is it okay if I sleep a little bit more?”
“Yeah. Of course.” I slid into bed beside her and pulled her into my arms, wondering why it took a trauma to make my teenagers want to cuddle with me.
“Do you regret marrying Dad?” Her whispered question shocked me, though I should have known it was coming based on how he had been behaving lately. “I kind of hate him right now. I don’t know if I’m supposed to say stuff like that out loud—”
I squeezed her tight, then brushed her hair over her shoulder. “You can say anything you want to me. I’m your vault. I’m the safest space in the world for you, Briar. I promise.”
“Okay. Are you sorry you had kids with him?” Her voice was tiny, barely audible.
“No.” I pulled back to look into her eyes. “Never. Not for one single second. I think women might sometimes marry the wrong man. But we always, always get the right kids. You, Lark, and Noah are my whole heart. Please believe that.”
“Okay,” she whispered, snuggling herself deeper into my arms. “I believe you. I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too, sweetheart. Forever and ever. To the moon.”
She didn’t say anything else, but after a few seconds, she relaxed and let out a huge, trembling sigh.
And from the other room, I heard the soft creak of the old floorboards, the kettle clicking on, the sound of Hunter moving around my kitchen. And for the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t feel like I had to do it all alone.
After a while, Briar drifted back to sleep, and I eased myself off the bed without waking her.
The house was still quiet, except for the faint sound of the kettle finishing its cycle and a pair of mugs being set on the counter. When I stepped into the kitchen, Hunter was already pouring cups of tea, like he did this every day.
He held out a mug to me. “Thought you might need this.”
I took the mug and let the warmth settle in my hands like armor. “This is perfect. Thank you.”
He reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. My eyes widened, and I hissed in a breath as he leaned against the counter, his mug cradled loosely in one hand, eyes on me but gentle about it. “You want me to go?”
I looked at him. The flannel sleeves were rolled up, exposing strong forearms I had no business noticing. His hair was sleep-rumpled, his expression tired but steady, like nothing could shake him. And somehow, just standing there in my kitchen, he made me feel more grounded than I had in weeks.
But at the same time, something in me shifted.
The way he looked at me—calm, unwavering—sent a ripple through my chest. Like my body knew something my mind wasn’t ready to admit.
He felt safe, yes… but suddenly, he also felt dangerous in a way I couldn’t name.
“No,” I said, quiet but certain. “Not yet.”
He nodded like he already knew I was going to ask him to stay.
We stood there, sipping in silence, when someone knocked on the front door with the exact energy of a hurricane warning.
I cracked it open to find Piper standing on the porch with a paper bag in one hand, Ren at her side, carrying a box of take-out coffee cups like a breakfast-themed rescue squad.
“Don’t panic,” she said, sweeping past me into the kitchen. “We’re not here to smother you. We’re here to feed you, assess the situation, and report back to Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, and… I guess everyone. Hunter.” She smiled at him with knowing eyes. “I’m glad you’re here. Good. Finally.”
Ren followed, setting the coffee down on the counter. “For now, I want you to avoid communicating with Eli. Direct him to me.”
“Got it. No screaming fits or threats. Check. The kids are okay, for now. They’re home, safe, asleep.”
Piper opened the bag and began pulling out pastries and foil-wrapped breakfast burritos. “Food helps. Now you don’t have to make breakfast. Just eat and try to relax.”
Ren gave me a look and jerked his head toward the back yard. I followed him outside, away from curious ears.
“Are you okay?” he asked, keeping his voice low.
“I think so.”
“And Briar?”
“She will be.”
“Good. Because I’m about to go full scorched earth, I heard from his attorney.”
I clutched my hands together. “Oh my god. Is it bad? I mean, aside from what happened with Briar? Could it be worse?”
He leaned one shoulder against the wall, arms crossed.
“He wants primary custody. Probably so he can avoid paying child support to you. He’s accusing you of working crazy hours.
But unfortunately for him, he is currently cohabitating with someone who is absolutely tanking any shot he has at appearing stable. ”
“Are you kidding me?” My blood turned cold as his words sank in.
“This is all about Danielle, it has to be. She is a piece of work. Always has been. He’s gone crazy.
And hello? The kids are teenagers; they won’t stand for this.
I mean, doesn’t he realize they are fully capable of forming their own opinions?
Is he trying to ruin his relationship with them forever?
He’s already on beyond shaky ground with Noah.
I mean, look what happened last night for fuck’s sake!
” I slapped a hand over my mouth, afraid of getting too loud.
“I don’t pretend to know how people like him justify their actions,” he answered.
“From what you’ve told me, he’s obviously prioritizing her kids at the expense of yours.
The court will likely be concerned about the minimal attention and emotional support being given to his own children.
If it even gets that far. And Briar walking out and ending up in danger? Not a good look.”
I swallowed. “You really think he won’t be able to change things? I mean, I thought this was all settled.”
Ren’s eyes sharpened. “He’s not getting the house. He won’t get primary anything. And at this point, he’ll be lucky if he walks away without supervised visitation. If he pushes this, I will nail him to the wall, Paige. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”
I closed my eyes, a deep breath filling my lungs for the first time in what felt like days. “Thank you.”
“You already did the hard part. You’re free of him,” he said softly. “Now I just clean up the mess he’s trying to make.”
I nodded, blinking quickly. “I should get back in there before Piper starts planning my second wedding,” I joked to hide that I was about to cry.
Or scream. Or have some other kind of uncomfortable emotional outburst. Ren was used to it, though.
He’d seen it all when I was going through the divorce.
Ren smirked. “To Hunter?”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re as bad as she is.”