Page 39 of Claiming My Grumpy Ex

I glanced at Jake, who was too busy dunking a roll in gravy to notice. “I’ve been thinking about using my dad’s hardware store in Beaver Creek,” I admitted. “It’s an idea I’m tossing around. It’s a solid location, and the town could use the boost. But I haven’t brought it up to my dad yet. I need to gauge his reaction first.”

Elena's eyes narrowed slightly as she picked at her meal, lost in thought. "Beaver Creek, huh? That's nottoofar from here," she mused.

I caught the hint in her words and nodded knowingly. "It's manageable. Distance won't keep me away from Cedar Cove. You and Jake are my anchors."

Her lips curved into a gentle smile. "I hope we'll still have our share of moments together. Jake has already formed a bond, and... well, so have we."

Reaching out, I gently clasped her hand with mine. "Don't fret, Elena. You and Jake come first. No matter where my work takes me, you two will always be my priority."

After dinner, Jake jumped up from his seat, his face glowing with excitement. “Can we do s’mores now? Please?” he begged, barely waiting for us to answer before darting toward the back door.

Elena laughed softly, gathering the plates. “Guess we’re doing s’mores,” she said, looking at me with a sparkle in her eye.

I stood, grabbing the bag of marshmallows and chocolate from the counter. “Lead the way, kiddo!” I called, following Jake outside.

The firepit sat in the middle of their yard, surrounded by a ring of chairs. Jake was already there, carefully stacking firewood like he was building a masterpiece. “Can you light it, Dad?” he asked, looking up at me with hopeful eyes.

I froze briefly, the word hitting me square in the chest. Dad. It wasn’t the first time he’d called me that today, but somehowit felt just as powerful as the first time several weeks ago. Elena caught my eye, her smile warm and reassuring.

“Of course, buddy,” I managed, crouching down to get the fire going. As the flames flickered to life, Jake cheered, bouncing on his heels.

Once the fire was roaring, we settled into our chairs. Jake handed out the sticks, instructing me on how to roast a marshmallow properly as if he were the expert and I were the rookie. I played along, making a show of turning my marshmallow too slowly and letting it catch fire.

“Dad!” he yelled, laughing so hard he nearly dropped his own stick. “You’re burning it! You have to turn it faster.”

“Oh, is that how it’s done?” I teased, blowing out the charred marshmallow and holding it up for him to inspect. “What do you think? Too crispy?”

He shook his head, grinning from ear to ear. “Way too crispy. Try again!”

Elena sat back, watching us with a contented smile as she worked on her own perfectly toasted marshmallow. The sight of her in the firelight—her hair glowing, her eyes full of quiet happiness—was enough to make my chest ache. This was what I wanted. Not the mansion, not the foundation, not even the cabin. This.

Jake leaned over, handing me his perfectly toasted marshmallow sandwiched between a piece of chocolate and two graham crackers. “Here, try mine. It’s the best.”

I took a bite, nodding in approval. “You’re right. Best s’more I’ve ever had.”

He beamed, leaning back in his chair, and everything felt… whole. The fire crackled, the stars sparkled above, and the three of us sat together, savoring the sweetness of the chocolate and marshmallows and the assurance of something far deeper.

As the fire died down, Jake’s eyelids grew heavier. He leaned against me, his head resting on my arm. “Thanks, you guys,” he mumbled sleepily. “This was the best day ever.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, glancing at Elena, who looked just as moved as I felt. “Anytime,” I whispered, wrapping an arm around him as the night wrapped around us all.

After Jake finally crashed for the night, I carried him to his bed. His head lolled against my shoulder, and his arms hung limp, still sticky from marshmallows and chocolate. I laid him down gently, pulling the blanket to his chin while he mumbled about football. For a little while, I just stood there, watching him breathe, the innocence of his sleep tugging at something deep inside me.

Elena waited in the hallway with her arms crossed loosely as she leaned against the doorframe. When I stepped out, she gave me a soft smile, her eyes glistening. “He really adores you, you know.”

I nodded, my chest tightening. “I adore him too.”

We walked together back to the porch, the air cool and still. The firepit outside had burned down to glowing embers, casting a faint orange hue across the yard. We settled onto the swing, her head leaning lightly against my shoulder. For a while, the only sound was the rhythmic creak of the swing, lulling us into a comfortable silence.

“I’ve been thinking about something,” Elena said, breaking the quiet.

I glanced at her. “What’s on your mind?”

She hesitated, tucking her legs beneath her. “We haven’t talked about kids… and I realized I hadn’t really thought about it in a long time. Honestly, I haven’t had a reason to. Jake’s been my world. But now, with you back in our lives, it’s… different.”

My heart thudded. “Different, how?”

She sighed, staring out into the darkness. “I guess I’m saying I’m open to the idea, but I think we need time to figure out who we are now and what this looks like. For Jake, for us.”

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