Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
Moving Out
Claudia
We decide to walk back to the Jeep and try to get back to Nalani’s new place so the movers know where to put every box, making it easier on us.
My phone rings in my pocket, and I pull it out, seeing the picture of Lydia and Maya holding Savannah.
“The Aunties?” Nalani asks, and I nod. “Answer.”
I swipe to answer, already smiling. “Hey, Lydia.”
Her voice is warm, familiar, and until now, I didn’t know how much I missed her.
“We got your text. The City is stunning. I haven’t been there since my own internship.
” She continues, “Just wanted to make sure you’re okay with all the changes.
You’ve been juggling a lot, but from the pictures you’ve sent lately,” she sighs. “You look good, Claudia. Happy.”
“I am,” I say softly. “Mostly. It’s been a lot, but it feels right.”
“That’s all I needed to hear.” There’s a smile in her voice. “And that little one, don’t even get me started. Savannah looks like she’s doubled in size since the last picture you sent from Maui. Look at those cheeks! I swear she’s growing faster than my hydrangeas.”
I laugh, glancing down at her. Savannah’s half-asleep in her stroller, cheeks round and pink, fist clutching her blanket. “She’s definitely not slowing down.”
“I bet. You sound lighter, too,” Lydia says. “Settled.”
I don’t tell her I’m crashing at people’s places, no need to worry her. “Yeah, it’s… going well. Good, different, almost easy.”
There’s a pause on the other end, soft and full of care. “Well, keep it that way, okay? You deserve easy for once.”
“I’ll try,” I murmur, smiling. “But you know me.”
She laughs. “Yeah, that’s why I’m saying it out loud.”
I can’t help but laugh, too. “Thanks, Lydia. For checking.”
“Always,” she says. “Now, send me another picture of that kid before she’s taller than me.”
I glance down at Savannah again, her tiny lashes fluttering as she sleeps. “Give it a few months,” I say quietly.
“We may decide New York for Thanksgiving or Christmas.”
“That would be amazing. Chat soon.”
When I hang up, I’m in my head, and after a few moments, Nalani asks, “Talk to me.”
“Lydia and Maya mentioned coming for Thanksgiving or Christmas.”
“That’s cool…” She shakes her head as she looks at the expression I did not manage to school. “But no?”
“It’s amazing. They are amazing. But I don’t know if the apartment will be done, and I would of course want them to stay—”
“Koa has plenty of room.” I must pull another face. “But no?”
“I want them to see me settled. That all the time they have put into me, was warranted. I want them—”
“Not one person who has spent more than five minutes with you doesn’t admire or envy your strength and grace. They spend time with you because they care and because you’re freaking awesome.”
Nalani puts the Jeep in park, and we get out.
I grab Savannah’s carrier and balance it against my hip.
Trying not to gawk at Deacons’ gorgeous ass, I scan the area and see Paul near the truck, gesturing animatedly at two movers like a retired general giving orders.
Deacon’s beside him, phone tucked to his ear, one hand braced against the side of the truck.
When Paul sees me, he waves. “You girls wanna direct these fellas?” Paul shakes his head. “I cannot believe how much you girls have acquired in such a short amount of time.”
I shake my head, smiling. “I packed light.”
He eyes the stack of boxes being rolled down the ramp. “Then someone's been doing some shopping.”
Deacon hangs up his call, pocketing his phone as he walks over. He gives a short nod, all quiet professionalism, but his eyes catch mine for just a second too long. I feel that flicker—familiar now, making it even hotter. I glance away before I forget there’s an audience.
Nalani comes around the car, looping an arm through mine like she’s claiming me back. “You’re not lifting a thing, we’re directing.”
“I’m fine with doing my part,” I protest, but Savannah stirs, making a soft sound of complaint, and I stop moving. “Okay, maybe after I feed this one.”
“Smart woman,” Paul says, patting a mover on the shoulder. “You heard her. Handle those with care—one wrong move, and she’ll fire all of us.”
Deacon’s laugh is low and quick, “He’s not wrong.”
Nalani leans in, voice low enough that only I hear her. “You know they already think you hung the moon, right?”
I glance toward the truck—Paul steady and bossy, Deacon quietly efficient—and let out a slow breath. “Yeah. Feelings mutual.”
“Brooklyn called, we answered, and we’re staying.” To that, Savannah starts fussing.
“Sounds like someone else is calling too.” Deacon chuckles.
“Yeah,” I murmur, brushing Savannah’s cheek with my thumb. “Nap time ended about ten minutes ago, apparently.”
“I’ll bring the rest in,” Paul calls jokingly from behind us.
“Don’t overdo it,” I tell him over my shoulder, already halfway up the first step.
Deacon grumbles just loud enough for me to hear, “Says the woman hauling a kid and a diaper bag the size of a hockey net.”
I can’t help but smile as I head up to the room Nalani told me was mine.
The air upstairs is warmer and softer. Nalani’s place smells like cinnamon, pumpkin, and cedar, faint traces of laundry soap and perfume clinging to the air. Savannah’s little head rests just below my chin, her breath feathering against my skin as she tries to rut in.
Our room sits at the end of the hall, sunlight spilling in across the hardwood floor.
It’s simple and spare but beautiful—white bedding, a small crib tucked into the corner.
It’s perfect, yet I still can’t wait to have a place of my own.
A place where I can host a girls’ night in.
Where I can hang pictures and place all the things I have left in virtual shopping carts across the web.
Nalani offered to set up the crib —another purchase of Koas— in the room beside this one, but I'm still not ready to have her anywhere but beside me.
I set Savannah down on the bed long enough to peel off my sweater, her eyes following every move like a little hunter trying to find her food. “You and me, kid,” I whisper, adjusting her blanket. “Whole new chapter.”
The door eases open as I sit in the rocker beside the window and drape the blanket over me. “Knock, knock,” Deacon’s voice comes, quiet and low.
He walks in with two boxes balanced in his arms, sleeves rolled up, the faintest sheen of sweat at his temples. He crosses the room in a few strides and sets them down carefully beside the closet.
“You didn’t have to carry those up,” I say, straightening.
He shrugs. “Didn’t feel right letting you do all the heavy lifting. You have much more important things to do. Besides, if I need help, Paul’s downstairs pretending, he’s still twenty-five.”
I laugh softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “He’s got heart.”
“Yeah, he does.” Deacon glances toward Savannah, whose small hand is reaching lazily into the air.
He leans against the dresser, arms folded loosely. “You okay?”
“As good as anyone can with a four-month-old and half their life in boxes and a threat looming.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” he says. His tone isn’t flirtatious, just honest, in that quiet way that it makes you believe it.
For a second, I just look at him, Savannah between us, the light hits him from the window. His eyes too intense for someone pretending to be casual.
“Thanks for helping,” I say finally, needing to break the stillness before it breaks me.
He gives a slight nod and straightens. “Anytime.”
When he turns to leave, his hand brushes the doorframe, and his voice softens. “You’re doing good, Claudia. Better than you think. You need anything, you let me know, even when I’m out of town.”
“Deacon?” He turns and looks at me. “I need you never to make promises like that because you’ll one day have to break it and that will mean that things like last night, they can’t happen again.”
Three strides and he’s across the room, lips on mine, tongue pushing in and tasting me. He breaks the kiss as fast as he gave it and looks down at Savannah, “See you soon, little one.”
The words hang there long after he’s gone, and God help me, I believe him.
We finished unpacking by the time Koa returned home from practice, and I am in my room, wanting them to have some alone time, before the team flies out tonight at nine to head to their game in Colorado.
My phone buzzes, and a part of me hopes it’s a text from Moretti, but when I glance at the screen, it reads, Everett her whole face lights up.
A soft, breathy sound bubbles out of her, somewhere between a squeak and a giggle, and I freeze.
“Oh, little one.” My voice breaks on the whisper. I can’t help it, laugh. “You think that was funny, huh? Mommy begging your Aunt Lydia for help again?”
She kicks her feet, the tiniest laugh spilling free, and the sound hits me right in the heart. For weeks, packing, goodbyes, and plans that never seem to stay steady. But this, this tiny burst of laughter is pure, unshakable proof that we’re doing okay.
“Yeah,” I say softly, pressing my forehead to hers. “We’re doing just fine.”
“Was that?” Koa slides into the bedroom, nearly busting his ass. “Did she laugh?”
“She did,” I say, unable to stop tears from welling up in my eyes.
Nalani walks around him and hugs me, “Happy tears?”
I nod, “Yeah.”
“Are you going somewhere?” She asks.
“Just have an errand to run. We won’t be gone long.” I look at Koa. “But long enough.”
“We can watch her,” he offers.
I pick her up, “You two deserve some time together before you head out. We won’t be gone long.”
I start toward the bathroom, and Nalani laughs, “Well, at least let us hold her while you pee.”
I hand her Savannah.
“You need a ride?” Koa asks.
“I ordered a car.”
“We can—”
I cut Nalani off as I head into the bathroom, “Nope, you two need couple’s time. You have years to make up for.”
“We have a lifetime,” Koa says as I shut the door.