Chapter 39Eden
39
Eden
E den woke to the smell of bacon wafting through the air. She let out a sleepy groan, her stomach instantly chiming in with approval. Stretching out with a satisfied sigh, she reached for Ronan—only to find empty sheets. Blinking herself awake, she frowned. Where had he gone?
Following the scent and her grumbling stomach, she made her way to the kitchen. He was standing at the stove, flipping a pancake. The batter sizzled as it hit the pan, and Eden couldn’t help but admire the way his arms flexed with every move. He was wearing an apron with "Kiss the Chef" embroidered on it. She found herself gaining a newfound appreciation for a man who could cook and looked incredibly good doing it. Damn ... she wanted more than a kiss.
"God Eden, please avert your eyes. I can't tolerate you leering at him like he's something to eat. I might hurl the pound of bacon I just ate," Sadie said with a disgusted shiver. She leaned over and grabbed another piece of bacon from the plate on the island.
"Good morning, Sadie. Are you always this pleasant in the morning?" Eden asked, a teasing smile gracing her lips.
"Oh, absolutely. I am extra pleasant in the morning, especially before coffee." Her response elicited a hearty laugh from Eden. Eden knew that she and Sadie were bound to become fast friends.
"Breakfast is served, nerds!" Ronan announced, setting down a plate of fluffy scrambled eggs on the kitchen island.
With a smirk, Sadie muttered under her breath, "Pot calling the kettle black." Meanwhile, Eden whispered, "Says the biggest nerd ever." They both started laughing and they shared a quick high-five.
Ronan's eyes darted between them. "I'm in danger, aren't I?" he asked, a playful grin spreading across his face.
"Obviously," Sadie quipped with a grin as she strolled towards the fridge. As Ronan approached Eden, he leaned in to plant a quick kiss on the top of her head.
"Good morning, gorgeous," he whispered against her hair. His right arm was wrapped around her waist, pulling her gently into his arms.
"Last night was the first night without nightmares since the accident," he murmured softly into her hair, his voice filled with warmth, "I dreamt of you instead." His minty breath spread over her head and face. She tilted her head slightly, meeting his gaze with shy eyes, her heart fluttering at his words.
A wave of warmth rushed to her cheeks. Ronan's fingers traced gently over her cheek, his touch sending shivers down her spine. His eyes followed the path of his fingers, a smile playing on his lips.
“I love it when you blush for me,” he murmured, his affectionate tone making her heart feel like it might burst.
Ronan, standing there in his apron and showering her with sweet words, had her feeling like she might just melt into the kitchen floor.
So this was why Victorian women fainted dramatically when they were overstimulated. If he kept it up, she might need smelling salts—or maybe a padded room for good measure.
A throat cleared behind her, and Eden turned to find Conor and Erin standing in the doorway, both wearing bright smiles.
"Good morning, lovebirds," Conor announced, his voice carrying through the room as he strolled to Ronan's breakfast food spread. Erin followed, offering Ronan a warm, appreciative smile as she patted his arm lovingly. "Thank you for making breakfast, my love," she said, her eyes sparkling affectionately.
"Hey! I helped, too!" Sadie pouted as she poured orange juice into a glass.
"Yeah, you helped yourself to all the crispy bacon pieces," Ronan muttered under his breath.
"Once a tattletale, always a tattletale," Sadie said as she pounced on Ronan's back. "I remember you ratted on me in elementary school about the gum stuck on the couch. Don't think I forgot!"
"Back up, gremlin!" Ronan laughed as Sadie mussed up his hair over his shoulders.
"Children, behave! We have company!" Erin chimed in, her tone tender as she joined in the laughter. There was a twinkle in her eye as she watched them.
After a bit more bickering, everyone gathered around the table, filling their plates with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and fluffy pancakes. Eden had used breakfast to coax out the embarrassing, juicy details of Ronan's childhood. The stories flowed, each more entertaining than the last, leaving everyone at the table in stitches.
Sadie launched into the story of the time Ronan got stuck on a water slide at a waterpark, forcing the staff to shut it down to rescue him. She exaggerated every detail, mimicking Ronan's panicked expressions and flailing arms as he realized he was wedged in.
Eden clutched her stomach, tears streaming down her cheeks, while Erin, who had been trying to keep a straight face, finally lost it and burst out laughing. Conor was laughing so hard that orange juice shot out of his nose, which only made everyone howl even louder.
Ronan, who had been trying to maintain his dignity, finally gave in. He doubled over, laughing just as hard as everyone else.
When the laughter finally subsided, Conor, Sadie, and Ronan got up to clear the breakfast dishes. Erin stayed at the table with Eden, pulling out a stack of old photo albums. Together, they flipped through pages of Ronan and Sadie’s childhood.
Ronan’s love for filmmaking had been a part of him from the start. In nearly every photo, there he was, clutching a camera like it was an extension of himself. Sadie, meanwhile, seemed to have tried just about every hobby under the sun. There were pictures of her in colorful dance costumes, kicking a soccer ball, striking a pose in rhythmic gymnastics, and Eden’s personal favorite—Sadie balancing on a unicycle.
Flipping through the pages, Eden stumbled upon the answer to a question she’d asked Ronan just last night. He’d turned the corner into "hot" territory at eighteen, trading in his gangly limbs for solid muscle almost overnight. But it wasn’t just his looks that stood out.
What really caught Eden’s attention was the shift in Ronan’s energy captured in the photos. As a little kid, his joy radiated from the pictures, his grin so wide it was impossible not to smile back at him. But as the years passed, something changed. By his early teens, there was a quiet heaviness in his eyes, as if he’d started carrying a weight no one else could see.
"We used to call him the youngest old man," Erin said with a soft laugh, her voice tinged with nostalgia as she held up a photo. In it, Ronan looked far too serious for his age, while Sadie grinned at the camera, bursting with youthful energy. "My mom passed away when they were little. Ronan was especially close to her, and losing her so suddenly hit him hard. He was only twelve, but it was like he took on the weight of the world."
Erin’s voice grew quieter as her gaze drifted. "It changed him. He started laughing less, became more reserved. It was like his childhood got cut short. He didn’t just grow up—he took on the role of protector, especially for Sadie. I think he was scared of losing her too." She paused, her eyes glistening. "Ronan feels things so deeply. He’s always been that way."
Eden listened closely, her chest tightening as she imagined the burden Ronan had carried at such a young age. She understood the feeling all too well, that uninvited maturity forced by circumstances no child should face. Reaching over, she gave Erin’s hand a reassuring squeeze. Erin smiled sadly in return.
"Be gentle with him," Erin said softly, her eyes full of understanding. "Ronan’s biggest obstacle is himself. He sometimes can't get out of his own way. He has never allowed himself to be truly happy, never made that jump." She sighed, brushing away a tear.
Their moment was cut short by the unmistakable sound of bickering voices from down the hall, the argument getting louder by the second. Erin shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Sounds like Sadie’s stirring the pot again."
Ronan and Sadie burst into the dining room. Conor casually strolled by them and settled into the dining chair beside Erin. Sadie elbowed Ronan as they entered the doorway. In response, Ronan swiftly pulled her into a headlock, his arm wrapping around her in a gentle but firm hold while his free hand playfully ruffled her hair. Caught in her brother's clutches, Sadie released a series of high-pitched screeches that could rival a startled bird, her arms flailing in the air in an attempt to break free. Eden squeezed her lips together to hold in her laughter, it was as if they had reverted back to their childhood selves in the house they grew up in.
Ronan's family was so open and warm—it was obvious they were quick to laugh, not yell, and hugs came easier than harsh words. Being around them felt easy. But just as Eden started to relax, her mind slammed the brakes, flashing warning signs she couldn’t ignore.
She couldn’t help but think of her own childhood, where love wasn’t unconditional but something you had to earn—and could lose just as easily. Things could seem fine one moment and be taken away the next, leaving her always braced for the worst.
That creeping doubt settled over her, like a wave that wouldn’t stop rolling in. It felt like an undertow, tugging at her even when she tried to stand firm. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the ground beneath her might suddenly give way, that any moment, she’d be swept out to sea, far from the safety of the shore.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a notification on her phone—an email from Sloane titled "Eden Percy's Documentary Premiere." Her stomach dropped, and she suddenly felt as if she were on the verge of vomiting.
She opened the email; the premiere for the documentary was scheduled for the end of October, just over a week away. The realization hit her like a sudden jolt. It was ending, and now there was a concrete date for when it was over. No longer just a threat. It was happening.
This is too good to be true. Her mind screamed to run while she could still salvage her sanity. Was she really going to get fooled three times? First, her parents, then Liam, and now Ronan. He will eventually leave like everyone else did. She didn't think she could recover from that heartbreak. Getting herself back after Liam had almost destroyed her. Losing Ronan and now his amazing family might just kill her or break her beyond the point of repair. Eden abruptly pushed back from the dining table, the wooden legs scraping the floor with a loud squeak.
"I need to get back," Eden announced as she stood up, her head swirling with so many thoughts that it felt like it might burst.
"It was so nice meeting you all. Thank you for having me in your beautiful home." Eden smiled as she walked over to Conor, wrapping her arms around him tightly.
Eden’s next hug was for Erin. As she leaned in, she whispered softly, “I’m so glad you’re okay.” Erin responded with a gentle rub on her back, the fresh scent of her shampoo lingering in the air. There was something about Erin’s hug—soft, warm, and reassuring—that felt so much like a mother’s embrace. It caught Eden off guard, and her throat tightened as tears threatened to spill.
Her mom had been gone for over eleven years, and even before her passing, she hadn’t been the affectionate type. This hug felt like a glimpse of the love Eden had always craved but never truly had. She took a deep breath, blinking quickly to keep the tears at bay.
When she stepped back, Eden forced a small smile. She said her goodbyes to Sadie, who insisted she keep in touch.
Eden quickly packed her things and ordered a car, trying to hold it together as best she could.
"What's wrong?" Ronan asked behind her as she threw a pair of jeans into her bag. She couldn’t bring herself to turn around, afraid he’d see the panic bubbling inside her.
"Nothing," she muttered, shoving more clothes into her bag. She cleared her throat, trying to sound calm. "I need to get to recording soon, and I’ve got that award show in a couple days. Plus, I have a dress fitting tomorrow." Her voice came out steadier than she felt, but inside, her thoughts were a mess—like a bird thrashing in a cage, desperate to break free.
She just needed to step away, catch her breath, and get a little distance to sort through everything. Her hands shook, the motion quick and unsteady as she packed.
Suddenly, a large, warm hand enclosed her wrist, stopping her mildly frantic movement. Eden's breath hitched as a rush of sensations coursed through her. His touch was both familiar and electrifying. His other hand lightly brushed against her waist, sending a shiver up her spine. Her back straightened like an arrow as she felt the intensity of his touch.
Eventually, she managed to rejoin the realm of the living and turned to face him. His strong hands enveloped hers, the warmth of his palms seeping through her skin. As his soft eyes roamed her face, Eden felt like he was peering deep into her soul. There was an intimacy in how he looked at her as if he knew her better than she knew herself. It was as though a thin piece of glass separated them, and with each probing gaze, every question, the surface grew more fragile, forming hairline cracks that threatened to shatter at any moment.
She’d learned how to get herself out of any situation from a young age. Deflection was her shield, jokes were her diversion, and nonchalance was her disguise. But with Ronan, it was different. One touch from him and her armor fell away, crumbling to the ground.
Her phone pinged from her pocket, signaling that her ride had arrived. Ronan gently took her hands, lifting them to his lips, and kissed each knuckle with a tenderness that made her heart ache. He touched her like she was something sacred, his reverence for her overwhelming. Her chest tightened at the weight of his devotion, the way he worshiped her with such quiet admiration. It left her feeling vulnerable, like her heart and mind were at war. The ghosts of past hurts—her parents' abandonment, Liam's betrayal, the ache of every loss—flooded her thoughts, urging her to pull away, to protect herself.
But in that moment, her heart took over. She stood on tiptoe, closing the distance between them with a soft, lingering kiss. For a brief second, she allowed herself the comfort of his touch. Then, her rational mind regained its hold on her. She grabbed her bag and turned toward the door, retreating to the safety of her home.