Page 133 of Just Like That

We stared as the strongest woman we knew nearly crumbled.

“But you’ve always been our mom,” Sylvie said, her voice firm, cutting through the heavy silence.

There was no hesitation in her words, no doubt. The rest of us nodded, and a chorus of agreement filled the room.

“Bug, you were more of a mother to us than anyone else ever could’ve been,” Abel added, and for once, his usual gruffness softened.

Whip leaned in, nudging me with his elbow, his grin appearing despite the tension. “Yeah, you definitely fed us more sugar than was good for us. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.”

We all chuckled, the mood lightening, and Bug’s eyes misted over as she looked at each of us, her makeshift children.

“Damn straight I did,” she replied with a proud sniff. “And I’d do it again.”

In that moment, as the laughter and warmth spread through the room, the weight of Russell’s death didn’t feel so suffocating.

It didn’t matter what happened to his ashes.

What mattered was here, in this room.

Us.

The evening breezeruffled Hazel’s hair as we strolled through the quiet streets, the fading light painting everything in soft pastels. Teddy ran ahead, his laughter ringing out as he hopped from stone to stone on the sidewalk, chasing the last of the fireflies.

Watching him, my chest tightened with a warmth I couldn’t fully explain. He had no idea how much he’d changed my life.

“You know, I’ve always loved this time of day,” Hazel said, her voice carrying a soft, thoughtful note. “Everything feels perfect, like the universe finally stopped spinning so fast, and I can just breathe.”

I glanced over at her, the sight of her pretty face in the dusky light nearly stealing my own breath.

She was right. Everything about that moment felt right. But it wasn’t just the quiet town or the fading sun.

It was her. And it was Teddy.

Hazel’s hand slipped into mine, and I squeezed gently, feeling that familiar spark of connection. She was always talking about the universe and its signs, but tonight, for once, I could see she wasn’t looking up at the stars for answers.

She was looking at me.

“JP,” she started, her voice hesitant, “I was thinking—maybe it’s time we make this official.”

I stopped walking, turning to face her fully. “Make what official?”

She rolled her eyes, but there was a playful glint in them. “You know what I mean. This ... us. Maybe Teddy and I should officially move in. I mean, it’s not like we’re going anywhere. And let’s be real, my skoolie doesn’t exactly scream ‘long-term family planning.’”

I grinned, feeling the familiar warmth bloom in my chest. I caught the way her eyes softened as she looked up at me. There was something different about her now, something more certain, and that made my heart pound even harder.

“And that’s what you want, Hex?” I asked, searching her face, needing to hear her say it.

Her lips curved into a soft, knowing smile. “It is. I want this. I want you. I want Teddy to have the life he deserves. I want us to be a family.”

My heart swelled at her words, but I knew this was my moment. “I love you,” I murmured against her lips, sealing the words with a kiss.

She giggled. “I love you too.”

“I meant it.” I stepped closer, cupping her face in my hands, feeling her lean into my touch. “I need you to know something. I’ve spent my whole life wondering if I could be the kind of man who deserved a family like this. But when I met you, everything changed. You and Teddy ... you make me want to be better. You’ve shown me what it means to love someone with everything I have.”

Her eyes glistened, her breath catching slightly. She wasn’t used to hearing these kinds of words from me, but I’d spend the rest of my life changing that.

She had been so focused on protecting Teddy, on keeping her own heart safe, that she hadn’t let herself imagine this kind of love.

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