Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
HAZEL
Thanks to Tex and Annie, the day flew by. We made serious progress on the cabinetry, and once the altered materials were stained, everything looked seamless.
When Ryder brought the clients by for approval, they were thrilled.
At the end of the day, I was cleaning up and in my thoughts when someone came up behind me.
“Heard you had a win.”
I turned and smiled at Tucker before I could control myself. “Hey.”
He was in his station wear, looking hot, sweaty, and deeply over it.
I was doomed. “Long day?”
“Too much action,” he said. “And not the fun kind.”
That one hit me right in the soft spot. When I had a bad day, it usually meant someone didn’t like their cabinet hardware. When Tucker had a bad day, it meant someone might not have made it home.
“I’m sorry,” I said softly. “Shouldn’t you be face-first on a couch somewhere, drooling into a throw pillow?”
He gave me a look that said, Probably, but here he was anyway.
“Delivering this.” He handed me a house key. “Caleb and Emma are taking Hank to bingo tonight, and I’ll still be at the station, so the house will be all yours.”
I stared at it, throat tight. The Seattle job offer had felt like a way out. But lately, I didn’t want out. I wanted this. “Caleb went willingly to bingo?”
Tucker grinned through his obvious exhaustion. “Oh, he hates bingo. But Emma loves it, and he loves her, so…”
“Sweet.”
“Don’t let Caleb hear you say that.”
“All you Colburns have your moments.”
He scowled. “Take that back.”
“Nope.”
My dad passed by, grumbling about the schedule and overages.
He glared at us. “We standing around now? Because in case no one noticed, we’re staring down the deadline, and if we don’t finish on time, we’ll get hit with a daily overage charge.
Ryder’ll take that outta my ass, so don’t think I won’t take it outta yours. ”
“Hi, Dad,” I said with extra cheer. “I’m having a great day, thanks for asking.” I turned to Tucker. “You?”
“Amazing,” he said, dry as dust.
“The owners were just here,” I added, hoping to break the tension and change the subject.
Dad crossed his arms.
I realized I’d just done the same thing. Like father, like daughter… Nothing like looking into the DNA pool and seeing your own reflection glaring back. I immediately dropped my arms.
I was pretty sure Tucker smirked, then moved away to give us privacy.
“And?” Dad asked.
“They loved it. Not a single change order.”
His face brightened with a rare grin. “Of course they did. Your work’s impeccable.” He ruffled my hair like I was five. Normally, that would’ve made me bristle. But this time, it just made me feel seen.
Across the room, Tucker was watching me—not like I was a hot mess to fix. Not like a puzzle missing too many pieces. He looked at me like I was important to him. And I—finally, undeniably—soaked it up.
I walked over to him, looking up into his eyes, which had warmed at my approach. “Maybe…” I whispered, “maybe it doesn’t have to be complicated.”
He cocked his head, making me realize that I’d had an entire conversation in my head and he had no idea what I was talking about.
“Us,” I said. “I’m making it too hard.”
A corner of his mouth quirked, and I sighed. “I’m being serious.”
“Then, by all means, continue.”
“Us,” I said. “No past. No future. Just now.”
He looked at me for a moment. “No promises, no strings.”
“Yes. Worth a try?”
Another long beat. “You’re always worth a try, Haze.” He let out a half laugh. “I mean, what could possibly go wrong?”
That night, alone at Tucker’s, I fixed his back porch’s railing, which was oddly satisfying. I’d never imagined I’d find my worth in my work, but I had.
It was late when I slid into bed, wearing one of his T-shirts. I curled under the covers. Just another night in another borrowed space I didn’t quite belong in.
Even if a secret little part of me wanted to.
I drifted, but as it often did now, the dream found me.
Vicious. Cruel. Unrelenting.
Because I knew no matter how fast I moved, I’d still fail.
I was fifteen again. Grounded for sneaking in after curfew.
I hate you, Mom! I’d screamed it at her…
Darkness. Panic. Tangible distress dragging me down the hallway. And then—
Her body on the floor.
No pulse.
No movement.
Her bright, joyful eyes closed. Her mouth twisted in pain.
Skin blue. Lifeless.
Then her eyes opened. “Hi, my beautiful girl. Don’t cry. I love you to the moon and back…”
Mom, don’t go. Please.
I have to, baby…
I woke up sobbing. Shaking. Drenched in sweat. A scream trapped in my throat and panic clawing down my spine like it had teeth. I fumbled for air, for blankets, for reality, my breath coming in gasps, shallow and ragged.
I heard the door open.
Tucker.
No words. No questions. Just him and all that controlled, silent grace. He sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped his hand around mine with just enough pressure to ground me.
He didn’t say, You’re okay. He didn’t say, Let it go. He simply leaned back against the headboard and opened one arm.
And I moved.
I crawled into that space he made for me without thought. Curled into his side like the part of me that was locked in the past knew he had me, and I could let go.
My cheek against his bare chest. His heart steady. Warm. Strong.
One arm wrapped around me, and the other hand threaded into my hair. Slow, rhythmic motion. Thumb tracing over my cheek like he could soothe the nightmare out of me.
Still no words. He didn’t need them.
I had no idea how long we stayed like that. Ten minutes. An hour. A lifetime.
But slowly, the dream loosened its grip. The shaking stopped. I could breathe.
His arms never wavered.
And for the first time since that awful night…
I let go.
Of the guilt.
Of the fear.
I love you to the moon and back…
Finally…finally…my tense muscles relaxed one by one. I hadn’t let anyone in like this, not in years. But something in me trusted him with all my broken pieces, even the ones I hadn’t touched since that night.
And I slept. Because maybe this was how you started to belong—you built one solid thing, then let someone hold the rest.
When I woke up, Her Fluffiness sat on my chest, a note in her collar:
Dinner tonight? Dessert included.
Like I was going to say no to dessert.
Or Tucker…