He’s leaning against the frame, hair a mess, shirt half-on, eyes still heavy with sleep, and absolutely smirking.
Zach appears behind him a second later, quieter, more grounded, his gaze immediately finding me.
“Morning, baby,” he says softly.
“Morning.”
Jackson pushes off the doorframe, walking in fully now, his gaze flicking between us before settling on me.
“Just gonna say,” he adds casually, “that was not a quiet night.”
I blink. Then narrow my eyes slightly.
“Jackson.”
“What?” he grins. “I’m just saying, it made it real hard to sleep. In more ways than one.”
Elijah rolls his eyes, his hand tightening slightly on my thigh.
“Have some restraint.”
Jackson laughs.
“Funny coming from you.”
Zach steps in before it can go further, his hand brushing lightly over my shoulder.
“Come on,” he murmurs. “Let’s get you some food.”
“I’m fine.”
“No,” he says gently but firmly. “You need to eat.”
There’s no edge to it. Just care and I don’t argue.
The kitchen feels… normal.
Quiet movement.
The soft clink of plates.
Jackson moving around with far more confidence than I expected, pulling things together while muttering under his breath.
Zach guides me to a chair, pressing a kiss to my temple before placing a plate in front of me.
“Eat,” he says softly.
Elijah sits beside me, his hand settling back on my thigh like he’s not second-guessing it anymore.
Like he’s not holding himself back.
And that alone makes something in me settle even further. Jackson glances over his shoulder.
“You’re welcome, by the way,” he says. “Nothing burnt.”
I smile faintly.
“I’m impressed.”
