30. JAXON
JAXON
How Dare She?
The call comes in just as I’m leaving the rink.
I almost let it go to voicemail.
Practice ran long, and my head is still full of systems, line rotations, the rhythm of the ice.
I’ve got Simone texting me about media, Nate asking about adjustments for tomorrow, and a dozen other things pulling at my attention.
Then I see the number. It’s the school.
Shit.
Zara should already be there, so why are they calling?
I answer immediately. “Halberg.”
“Mr. Halberg, this is Ms. Keller from Lily’s school.”
Her voice is measured.
“Is Lily okay?”
“Yes—yes, she’s safe,” she says quickly. “She’s with your wife right now.”
That’s something.
“Okay, what’s going on?” I ask.
There’s a small pause. Paper rustling. Like she’s choosing how much to tell me.
“Your daughter’s mother came to the school for pickup today,” she says. “She attempted to take Lily with her.”
What in the—?
“What do you mean attempted?” My voice drops.
“She was not authorized for pickup. Mrs. Halberg intervened and ensured Lily remained with her. We stepped in as well.”
My jaw clenches so hard I feel it in my temples. “She tried to take her?” I ask, making sure I understood correctly.
“Yes.”
“Is Lily okay?”
“There was no physical escalation. But Lily was… I think you can understand—upset and confused.”
I close my eyes for a second, forcing myself to breathe. “Is Rachel still there?”
“No. She left after the incident. We’ve documented everything.”
Good. Because if she were still there—
No. Focus.
“Where are Lily and Zara right now?”
“They should be on their way home.”
“Good.” My voice sharpens. “I’m on my way.” I hang up.
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
My hands curl into fists at my sides.
I’m angry. More angry than I’ve ever been. Angrier than when the custody battle started. Angrier than when Rachel cheated on me.
It coils in my stomach, tight and vicious. I want to hit something.
How dare she cross that line?
I move.
By the time I get into the car, my pulse is pounding, my thoughts racing ahead of me.
I start the engine and pull out fast.
My grip tightens on the steering wheel as I drive.
Images flash through my mind, unwanted and immediate.
Lily standing there. Rachel talking to her. Reaching for her.
My chest tightens.
No.
She doesn’t get to do that.
And then I think of Zara. Of course I do. She handled it. I don’t even know how I could love her more or owe her more than I already do—but somehow, I do.
I press the accelerator a little harder.
The drive home feels like it takes forever and no time at all.
By the time I push open the apartment door, I’m sweating, jittery.
Zara stands in the kitchen, wiping down the counter.
The second I see her, something in my chest loosens.
I don’t say anything. I just cross the distance between us and pull her into me.
Hard.
She exhales against me as my arms wrap around her, one hand coming up to cradle the back of her head, pressing her into my chest.
“Are you okay?” I ask, my voice low, rougher than I intend.
“I’m okay,” she says immediately, her arms tightening around me. “Lily’s okay.”
I close my eyes for half a second.
Thank God.
“Did she touch you?” I ask.
Zara pulls back slightly, her brows knitting. “No. Nothing like that. She tried to take her, but I stopped it.”
I let out a slow breath. “You did exactly right.”
Her eyes search mine. “She tried to—she tried to make Lily choose.”
My jaw tightens again.
“Yeah,” I mutter. “That sounds like her.”
The words hang there for a second. Heavy. Ugly.
Then something shifts in my chest—sharp and immediate, cutting straight through the anger.
“Zara, I don’t know how to thank you.” My voice comes out rough. Hoarse.
Her expression shifts instantly, something almost startled flashing across her face. “Jax—”
“I mean it,” I cut in, the words dragging out of me. “I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been there.”
She shakes her head, like I’m making it bigger than it is. “Anyone would have done that.”
“No,” I say quietly. “There’s only one person who could have been there for Lily like that. There’s only one Zara.”
Zara swallows.
Without thinking, I pull her back into me again.
“Thank you,” I murmur against her hair.
She exhales softly, her arms sliding around me.
“You really don’t have to thank me,” she says.
“I do.”
She rolls her eyes, but there’s warmth in it.
“Come on,” she says softly after a second. “She’s in the living room, listening to a podcast.”
I don’t wait. I move past Zara, down the hallway.
Lily is sitting on the couch, small and quiet, her legs tucked under her, her backpack still on the floor beside her.
“Hey, bug,” I say, keeping my voice light as I step closer, like this is any normal afternoon.
Her head snaps up. “Dad.”
She’s off the couch immediately, running toward me.
I catch her easily, lifting her into my arms, holding her tight. She clings to me.
“Hey,” I murmur, pressing a quick kiss to her hair. “What’s going on, huh?”
She shrugs against me, a little uncertain. “Mommy came to school. I didn’t know what to do.”
I nod like that makes perfect sense. “Yeah?”
“She said we could go,” Lily says, pulling back to look at me. “She said it was a surprise.”
“I heard,” I say, keeping my tone calm, almost conversational. “That must’ve been confusing.”
She nods.
“I didn’t want to make her sad,” she adds.
A sharp surge of anger hits me, hot and immediate, but I push it down.
I shift, sitting down on the couch with her in my lap, turning her slightly so we’re facing each other.
“Hey,” I say gently. “Can I ask you something?”
She nods.
“What did you think in that moment?” I ask. “Like, what felt right to you?”
She frowns, thinking. “I… looked at Zara.”
My chest tightens just a fraction.
“And?” I prompt softly.
“And she said we were sticking to the plan,” Lily says. “So I stayed.”
I nod, like that’s the most natural thing in the world. “That makes sense.”
She watches my face carefully. “Was that okay?”
“Yeah,” I say easily. “That was a really good decision.”
Her shoulders relax just a little.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” I add, keeping it simple. “You just followed the plan. That’s exactly what we want you to do.”
“Okay,” she says, a little more certain now.
“And if something ever feels confusing again,” I continue, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, “you can always take a second, look for one of your grown-ups, and stick with what we talked about. Sound good?”
She nods. “Yeah.”
I smile at her. “Good.”
There’s a beat. Then she leans into me again, a little more like herself.
Zara steps closer, quiet, steady, and Lily reaches for her without even thinking about it.
Zara takes her hand, squeezing gently. “You handled that really well,” she says softly.
Lily glances between us. “It was a little weird.”
I huff out a quiet breath. “Yeah. Sounds like it.”
“But not bad-weird,” Lily adds quickly. “Just… weird-weird.”
I nod. “I get that.”
She seems satisfied with that explanation.
Then, just like that—
“Can we have a snack?” she asks.
Zara laughs softly. “Of course we can.”
I shake my head. “Impressive recovery time.”
“I’m hungry,” Lily says, like that explains everything.
“You usually are, bug.”
We head into the kitchen together, the energy already shifting.
Zara starts pulling things together, moving easily through the space. Lily climbs onto a stool, swinging her legs like nothing out of the ordinary happened today.
“Can I have the crusts off?” she asks.
Zara glances at me. “Of course you can.”
I lean back against the counter, watching them, and it hits me how quickly Lily settles again.
Later, the three of us end up back on the couch.
Lily wedges herself between Zara and me, fitting perfectly into the space like it was made for her.
She leans against me, her hand reaching out blindly for Zara’s.
Zara takes it without hesitation, her fingers curling gently around Lily’s.
“I like when we’re all together,” Lily murmurs, already half-asleep.
I glance at Zara.
She looks back at me.
And something settles deep in my chest.
“Me too,” I say.
Lily shifts closer, her breathing evening out.
Zara leans into my shoulder.
I wrap an arm around both of them, pulling them in just slightly.
Holding them there.
Safe.