Chapter 25
Jason
I stumble through the front door, juggling a paper bag containing Mila’s favourite meal in one hand and a soaked umbrella in the other.
After shaking off my boots and setting the umbrella aside next to the door, I follow the soft hum of the TV into the living room, already knowing I’ll find her curled up on the couch with a blanket.
When I step into the room, she’s leaning against the armrest of the sofa, her eyes fixed on her phone as the TV plays softly in the background. The instant she notices me, she sets her phone down and greets me with a warm, yet tired smile.
“Hey, beautiful girl.”
She giggles softy, and the sound instantly soothes my chest. “Hey, you. What you got there?” she asks, tilting her chin towards the paper bag in my hand.
“Oh, this thing?” I point to the bag, acting clueless.
She nods eagerly.
“Well, I heard my new housemate absolutely loves my Hawkins’ fire grill wagyu ribeye steak and steamed veggies. So, I had my chef make an extra plate just for her. And, of course, I couldn’t resist adding a macadamia crunch gelato, because I’m just that extra nice.”
She gasps, her face lighting up with pure excitement. “Are you serious?!” she squeals.
Seeing her this happy, even if it’s just over food, brings an instant smile to my face.
It’s these little moments, when I catch a glimpse of the Mila I remember, that give me hope and reassure me that she’ll be okay.
Rounding the couch, I sink into the seat beside her and drop the paper bag on her lap.
She immediately opens it, inhaling the savoury fragrance seeping out of the container, her eyes fluttering shut in pure bliss.
“Have I ever told you I love you, Jase?” she says absently, and I immediately freeze, my breath catching in my throat as her words reverberate through me.
I let out a hesitant laugh, unsure of how else to respond. While I know she didn’t mean anything by it and was probably too preoccupied to realise what she’d just said, it doesn’t stop my heart from racing at the sound of those words.
Clearing my throat, I quickly change the subject. “How about you eat up while I go take a shower. And then once I’m done, we can watch a movie.”
“Okay,” she murmurs, shoving a forkful of broccoli in her mouth.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m showered, dressed, and walking back into the living room to join Mila for a quiet night in. My gaze falls on her as she sits on the couch, legs crossed, with a bowl of gelato and two spoons resting on her lap.
As I settle beside her, she wordlessly hands me one of the spoons.
Smiling, I take the utensil before reaching for the remote on the coffee table. Just as I’m about to flick through the movies, she gently grabs my wrist, stopping me.
“Umm… Jason?”
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
“Can we maybe... just talk for a little while?” she asks softly. “It feels like forever since we sat down and really talked—like we used to.”
I smile at her gently, thinking to myself there’s nothing more I’d rather do right now than sit with her and talk. Heck, we could sit in silence, and I’d still be happy. “If that’s what you want, then yeah, we can do that.”
She scoops up a generous bite of ice cream and pops it into her mouth, her tongue darting out to catch the remnants clinging to her bottom lip.
I swallow hard, forcing myself to look away from the way she licks her lips, then silently berating myself for letting my thoughts wander when she’s still so vulnerable.
“How is it?” I ask her.
Her eyes practically roll to the back of her head as she licks her lips in a dramatic fashion. “Fucking delicious!”
I let out a chuckle and scoop a modest amount of gelato onto my spoon. As I take a bite, I notice Mila watching me intently, and it makes me wonder what’s going through her mind. “So, what do you want to talk about?”
She lifts her shoulders in a casual shrug. “You, Jake, the restaurant. Anything we want, apart from him.”
I nod slowly. “Okay, that’s easy. What do you want to know?”
“What really happened between you and Gemma? I always thought you two made a pretty hot couple.”
I bark out a laugh, shaking my head at her bluntness. “Wow, okay. Umm... well, as you know, she and I were never serious to begin with. Our relationship was more casual than anything, so we both knew it wasn’t built to last. We quickly drifted apart once we realised we wanted different things.”
“How so?” she asks, popping another bite of ice cream into her mouth.
“She wanted to date other people, to explore what else was out there, while I was looking for something more serious. I guess I just wasn’t into the whole casual thing anymore.”
She licks the spoon, then points it at me. “Yeah, I can totally see that.”
I raise an eyebrow at her. “How?”
“Well, you’re too old to do casual, and you got a kid. It makes sense.” She shrugs again.
I cough and sputter on the ice cream I just put into my mouth. “Excuse me?” I say, my tone mocking as I place a hand on my chest like I’m offended.
She lets out the most adorable laugh, and it makes me want to tickle her just to hear it again and again.
“You are cheeky, Miss Rivera.”
She winks and flashes a playful grin. I can’t help but smile, grateful that despite everything she’s recently been through, she hasn’t lost her sense of humour.
“Speaking of cheekiness, is that girl in Jake’s class still giving him a hard time?”
“Unfortunately, yes. But he thinks she might be in love with him since she’s always following him around the school playground like a lost puppy. His words, not mine.”
We both chuckle at the same time, and it’s the first time since I kicked Dean out of her life that I’ve seen Mila genuinely laugh and smile.
I reach for another scoop of ice cream at the same time Mila does, and we both freeze, our eyes instantly connecting.
A beat passes before, almost instinctively, I lift my spoon towards her mouth, offering a bite.
She leans in without hesitation, her lips closing around the spoon as she takes it from me.
Another moment stretches between us, our gazes still locked as the air thickens with unspoken words.
I wish I could tell her just how beautiful she is, inside and out, and that no matter how much Dean tried to break her, it could never diminish her spirit.
But like the coward I am when it comes to her, I stay silent.
The sharp ring of my phone on the coffee table slices through the tension, pulling us back to the present. I glance at the device and see Elena’s name flashing on the screen. I frown. “This is probably Jake, calling to say goodnight. I’ll be right back,” I tell her.
She nods, and I stand up, heading to the other room to speak with my son.
Ten minutes later, I walk back into the room to find Mila staring at the blank TV screen, her knees drawn up with her arms wrapped around them, the now empty bowl resting on the coffee table.
“Do you need anything while I’m up?” I ask, making my presence known.
She turns to face me and shakes her head. “No, I’m okay. Thanks.”
I sit back down next to her, sensing the shift in the mood after our little moment. Not wanting things to feel awkward, I decide to speak up first. “Jake says hi and to remind you that next Thursday is bagel day.”
That draws a delicate laugh from her, a sound so sweet it’ll forever be etched in my mind.
“So, catch me up on what else has been going on in your life,” she asks.
“Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask you.”
“Okay, shoot.”
“Has your sister been living in Melbourne the whole time since leaving Kaden?”
Her eyebrows shoot up, clearly surprised by the fact I have this information. “What… umm… how…”
“It’s okay, Kaden told me everything.”
She lets out a heavy sigh, looking relieved that she no longer has to carry such a big secret. “Skylar told me everything too. It was a real shock. I mean, what are the odds that those two would cross paths again, but in a completely different city?”
“I was definitely surprised when I found out. I never would’ve guessed that the usually shy and reserved Skylar had started a whole new life on her own. That takes a lot of courage. I’m just relieved to know she’s happy and doing well.”
“Yeah,” Mila says, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“She’s doing much better now than she was a few months ago.
And it’s comforting to know that she’s already made some friends.
I’ve always hated the fact that she was all alone over there.
I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, Jase. She didn’t want to risk Kaden finding out, so she made us promise not to tell anyone. ”
I wave her off, brushing aside her apology. “Nothing to be sorry for. I get it. I’d do the same if it were my sister. Kaden hasn’t exactly been in the right frame of mind lately. It was a smart move not saying anything that could get back to him. Not that I would’ve told him anyway.”
She stares blankly at the TV again, lost deep in her thoughts. Then, shaking her head, she huffs out a dry, humourless laugh. “Boy, don’t we Rivera sisters know how to pick ‘em.”
“Hey.” I reach out, gently sliding her towards me until she’s nestled against my side, my arm wrapped around her.
“Don’t for a second think that any of the terrible things that happened were your fault.
Men like them will never be worthy of women like you and your sister.
You don’t even realise how extraordinary you are, how incredibly fortunate anyone is to know you.
You’re among the most beautiful and selfless souls I’ve ever met, Mila, and I’m endlessly grateful to have you in both my life and Jake’s. ”
She looks at me with those warm, whisky-brown eyes, and I feel myself getting lost in their depths, as if mesmerised.
“That’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me,” she says, her voice soft with emotion.
“Thank you, Jason. Not just for your kind words, but for everything you’ve done for me.
You’ve become the friend I never knew I needed, and I’ll always be grateful—for you, and for Jake. ”
I lean down, pressing a soft kiss on her temple, and she snuggles in closer to me.
If time could stand still, I’d want it to be right here, right now in this moment with Mila nestled comfortably and safely in my arms. The way she fits so perfectly against me makes it feel like she’s always belonged here—with me.
When we finally settle on a movie, some new release I’ve never even heard of but sit through anyway because it’s what Mila wants, we stay curled up together, neither of us eager to move or break apart.
After an hour and a half, she drifts to sleep in my arms, her soft breath warm against my chest. Careful not to wake her, I rise and carry her upstairs to the guest room, easing her beneath the covers and tucking her in gently.
I linger a moment longer, silently watching her sleep. Her body lies relaxed and still, yet I have never seen her look so beautiful, so utterly at peace—as if the wounds she endured only days ago have left no mark on her at all.