Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
CHLOE
Saturday morning comes too fast. I’m barely awake, sitting on the couch with my hair in a messy bun, when there’s a knock at the door. I waddle over, grumbling under my breath about the sun not being all the way up yet when I swing it open to find Dagger standing there, holding a brown paper bag, a bottle of orange juice, and a coffee.
"Bright and early," I say, squinting against the morning light.
He smirks and steps inside without waiting for an invitation, all six-foot-four of pure muscle. "Figured you'd need some fuel for the day."
The smell of breakfast sandwiches and coffee fills the air, and my stomach growls on cue. “You’re lucky I’m starving,” I mumble, taking the bag and orange juice from him and heading toward my small table.
We sit down, unwrapping sandwiches, and I let the first bite melt some of my crankiness away. Dagger sips his coffee, watching me with that unreadable look he gets sometimes.
“So, what’s the plan?” he asks, breaking the silence.
I swallow and wipe my hands on a napkin. “I’ve got the essentials packed.” I gesture to the boxes lining the wall. “I just need to load all of that, the furniture, and everything else into the U-Haul. Then it’s off to the new place to unload and start unpacking. Shouldn’t take too long.”
He raises an eyebrow. “You mean we need to get it all over to the new place.”
I smirk. “That’s exactly what I said.”
He shakes his head, leaning back in his chair. “Anything heavy stays put until I move it. You got that?”
“Dagger, I’m pregnant, not broken,” I laugh rolling my eyes.
“Doesn’t matter,” he says, his voice firm but not mean. “You’re not lifting a damn thing. If you need something moved, you tell me.”
I let out a dramatic sigh but smile anyway. “Fine. I’ll play nice.”
When we finish, Dagger grabs the trash and tosses it in the bin before heading outside to start loading the truck with my boxes. I watch him through the window as he moves with that quiet confidence he always has, effortlessly hoisting boxes like they weigh nothing.
An hour later, Tank, Sophie, and Hawk show up. Sophie’s smile is as bright as ever. “Morning, mama,” she says.
“Morning,” I reply, taking a grateful sip of my coffee.
She glances at Dagger, who’s leaning against the truck, then turns back to me. “When did he show up?” she asks, her voice casual but curious.
“About an hour ago,” I say, shrugging. “Brought breakfast.”
Sophie raises an eyebrow and gives me a knowing look before smirking. “Well, this is going to be interesting,” she murmurs, her gaze bouncing between Hawk and Dagger.
Tank claps Dagger on the back as he joins him near the truck, while Hawk hangs back, his eyes flicking between Dagger and me. There’s a tension in the air, subtle but unmistakable, and I do my best to pretend it isn’t there.
The two of them exchange a curt nod, then get to work hauling the big pieces of furniture while Sophie and I stay in the she-shed, sorting through the last of the smaller items and putting them into boxes.
“I’m proud of you,” Sophie says softly, nudging me with her elbow.
“For what?” I ask, glancing at her.
“For standing your ground. For making a fresh start. You’re doing this your way, and that’s brave.”
Her words make my throat tighten, and I give her a small smile. “Thanks, Soph.”
By the time the U-Haul is loaded, I’m exhausted just from standing around and supervising. Tank and Sophie climb into Tank’s truck, chatting easily, while Hawk lingers for a moment, his gaze softening as he looks at me.
“Let me know if you need anything,” he says, his voice low.
“I will,” I promise. He steps closer, pressing a gentle kiss to my cheek before walking off toward his bike.
I catch the flash of jealousy in Dagger’s eyes as he watches Hawk, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. Without a word, he turns and slams the U-Haul’s back door shut, then looks at me.
“You ready?” he asks, his tone even but his expression unreadable.
“As I’ll ever be,” I say, climbing into the passenger seat of the truck.
The drive to the new house is quiet, but the sound of Tank’s truck following close behind is comforting. When we pull up, the sight of the little house makes my chest swell with a mix of pride and nerves. It’s mine—a fresh start for me and the baby.
Tank parks behind the U-Haul, and he and Sophie climb out, both of them stretching after the short ride. Sophie flashes me a bright smile as she walks up to the porch.
“Still loving it?” she asks, nodding toward the house.
I grin, resting a hand on my stomach. “Yeah. It feels... right, you know?”
Dagger slams the U-Haul door shut and walks around to the back, yanking open the tailgate. “Alright,” he says, glancing at Tank. “Let’s get this done.”
Tank shakes his head. “Let’s move some shit.”
Dagger and Tank start hauling boxes from the U-Haul into the house, working in a steady rhythm. Dagger doesn’t say much, but his focus is sharp, his muscles flexing with each load he carries inside.
Sophie watches them for a moment before nudging me. “Alright, mama, let’s get to work. Show me where you want things.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “You’re way too excited about this.”
“I live for organizing,” she says with a wink, grabbing one of the smaller boxes and heading inside.
We start in the kitchen, unpacking plates, glasses, and utensils. Sophie moves quickly, handing me items as I direct her to the cabinets.
“So,” she says after a while, glancing at me. “How’s it feel? Your own place.”
I pause, holding a mug in my hand, and look around the space. “It feels good,” I say softly. “Like I can finally breathe, you know?”
She smiles, reaching over to squeeze my arm. “You deserve this, Chloe.”
Outside, I hear Tank laugh, followed by Dagger muttering something under his breath.
“What’s going on out there?” I ask, peeking out the window.
Tank is carrying two boxes stacked on top of each other, teasing Dagger. “I’m carrying double, and you’re still behind me,” Tank says, grinning.
Dagger rolls his eyes, shifting a heavy box onto his shoulder. “Keep talking, Tank. We’ll see who finishes first.”
I shake my head, laughing as I step back from the window. “They’re ridiculous.”
Sophie grins. “Let them be. At least they’re getting it done.”
The guys keep unloading while Sophie and I tackle more unpacking. By the time Dagger and Tank bring in the last of the boxes, the kitchen is starting to look like an actual kitchen, and the living room has most of the basics in place.
Dagger walks in, wiping sweat from his brow, and looks around. “Where do you want this?” he asks, holding a box labeled “Baby Stuff.”
“Bedroom,” I say, pointing down the hall.
He nods and disappears into the back. Tank plops onto the couch, exhaling loudly. “Damn, Chloe, you’ve got a lot of stuff. How did you fit it all into your she-shed?”
I smirk. “Very carefully.”
Sophie laughs, handing him a bottle of water. “She’s not wrong.”
Dagger reappears, his eyes scanning the room. “What’s next?” he asks, his tone all business.
I glance at the pile of unopened boxes and then at Sophie. “Unpacking and organizing. The fun part.”
Tank groans. “I think my part’s done. I’ll supervise from here.”
Sophie smacks his arm lightly. “You wish.”
Dagger leans against the kitchen counter, wiping sweat off his forehead with the hem of his shirt. “You want me to stick around and help unpack?” he asks, his tone casual, but there’s a flicker of something genuine in his expression.
I shrug, trying to downplay how much I actually need the help. “Yeah, thanks. That’d be great.”
A grin tugs at his lips. “Try not to sound too excited about it.”
We get back to work, all four of us chipping away at the mountain of boxes. Little by little Dagger starts to talk and in no time he’s up to his usual stream of commentary, tossing out jokes and teasing Tank, who silently powers through, lifting heavy furniture like it’s nothing. Sophie flits around, organizing and unpacking as she goes.
By the time we’ve finished unloading, I’m completely wiped. I drop onto the couch with a groan. “Okay, I’m done. That’s it for today.”
Sophie flops into an armchair. “Thank God. My arms are noodles.”
“Pizza?” Dagger asks, already digging his phone out of his pocket.
I wave a hand. “On it.” I order enough for everyone, and when the food arrives, we eat sprawled across the furniture in contented silence. The exhaustion in the room is palpable, but there’s a quiet satisfaction, too.
Once the last crumbs are gone, Sophie stretches and gets to her feet. “Alright, Tank and I are heading out. You’re officially on your own now.”
“Thanks for everything,” I say, walking them to the door. Tank gives me a nod, and Sophie pulls me in for a quick hug.
“Text me if you need anything,” she says with a smile before they head off into the night.
Back inside, it’s just me and Dagger now. He leans against the counter, arms crossed, watching me with a smirk. “Want me to take the U-Haul back for you?”
I hesitate for a second, then nod. “That’d be amazing, actually.”
“Grab your car and follow me,” he says, already heading for the truck.
We swing by Tank’s place so I can pick up my car, then drive to the U-Haul drop-off. The night is quiet, the air cool as we stand in the lot while Dagger hands over the keys. Afterward, we head back to Tank’s so he can grab his motorcycle.
As Dagger swings a leg over his bike, he glances at me, his ever-present smirk softening. “See? I’m not so bad to have around.”
I cross my arms, leaning against my car, a grin tugging at my lips. “I guess you’ll do.”
He laughs, the sound low and rich, but instead of revving the engine, he stands and walks toward me. My breath catches as he closes the space between us, his eyes locked on mine. Before I can react, he leans down, his lips brushing softly against mine.
I gasp, surprised, but then I melt into the kiss, my hands instinctively reaching for his jacket. His lips are warm, his touch unhurried yet deliberate, and for a moment, the world around us fades away.
Before it can go any further, he pulls back, his forehead briefly touching mine as his breath fans against my cheek. His voice is low, almost a whisper. “Drive home safe.”
I nod, too stunned to speak, and he steps away, the smirk creeping back onto his face. He swings back onto his bike, revving the engine before disappearing into the night, the roar of the motorcycle lingering in the air.
As I drive home, my heart still pounding, I can’t stop the smile spreading across my face. The house may still be a chaotic mess of boxes, but it finally feels like everything is starting to fall into place.