Chapter Twenty-Seven

December 6, 2024

Reeva was on the phone with Megan, her voice light with amusement as she listened to the animated retelling of Megan's date the night before. Megan had been on a date with Naio, Jacob's cousin and the brother of Zilla and Arthur, and it was clear that Megan was still caught up in the excitement of it all.

"Is the whole family funny? Because he had me laughing all night," Megan said, her voice filled with energy.

"They all got the funny bone," Reeva responded, thinking about how much she loved Jacob's family.

They had a unique brand of humor, an infectious kind that made even the darkest days feel like sunshine. When she was around them, it felt like everything was brighter, and lighter, as if laughter could chase away even the hardest times.

"Oh, by the way," Reeva continued, switching gears with a smile in her voice, "since you missed Thanksgiving with us, my mom said you definitely have to stay the week with us for Christmas. You can't say no, because she'll come get you herself."

Megan's laughter on the other end was warm and genuine. "Tell Auntie April I'm not missing Christmas. I'm still recovering from her cursing me out for Thanksgiving."

Reeva burst out laughing. "I told you, she'd curse you out if you skipped it. But you thought you could sweet talk your way out of it."

"I know, but at least it wasn't Uncle Phil who cursed me out. That would have me crying all month," Megan said, her voice tinged with mock horror.

"For sure," Reeva said, the two of them laughing together.

Megan was someone who had been through the same kind of loss and understood what it was like to miss the ones who should have been there. Their bond was special, something Reeva held close.

"So, this compound," Megan said, a new note of curiosity in her voice. "I've been hearing a lot about it. What made you guys decide to get one?"

Reeva took a deep breath, memories flooding back. The compound wasn't just a place; it was a symbol, a promise. "When I was sixteen or seventeen, Phil made me sign a contract. He said that if I ever got married, we'd all have to live on a compound. He couldn't bear the idea of us drifting apart, of being abandoned like we had in the past. We got it because Kayla's convinced I'm going to be married by 2025, so Phil said let's speed up the process."

Megan's surprised laughter tickled Reeva's ears. "Honestly, I'm shocked he didn't volunteer to live in the guest room."

Reeva snorted. "He said he doesn't want to know what's going on in my house with my man, but he wants to be close enough to visit whenever he wants."

"God, you guys make me so happy. Seeing y'all bond is just... I don't know, it's a reminder that families don't have to be made up of just blood."

The words hit Reeva in a tender place. Megan had lost her parents a few years ago, and Reeva knew that the ache of that loss never truly faded. They both understood what it was like to feel the void, the absence of people who should have been there. But in that void, they had found each other, and now, with Phil and April's kindness, Megan had a piece of that family she missed so much.

Reeva's voice softened. "And you know Phil and April are more than happy to share that bond with you, Meg."

Megan's response was a heavy sigh. "Yeah, but sometimes I feel guilty accepting that from them because of my parents. I feel like I'm replacing them."

Reeva's heart ached for Megan. She knew that guilt well. It was that whisper in the back of your mind, the one that told you that finding love again was a betrayal of what you'd lost. "But you're not. Think of it as having Godparents," Reeva said, the words wrapping around her friend like a warm hug.

There was a pause, and then Megan's voice, softer now, came through. "I know, but it still feels that way sometimes."

They talked for a few more minutes, weaving stories and laughter between their words, before Reeva finally ended the call. The house was quiet for a moment as she set the phone down, the weight of the conversation hanging in the air. Megan's happiness and the way she missed her parents reminded Reeva that she was not the only one who needed to find a balance between holding on and letting go.

Reeva went to the kitchen, her stomach rumbling as she thought about lunch. She pulled out some leftovers from the fridge and began to heat them up, her mind drifting to the noise and laughter she knew would soon fill the space.

As she stirred the pot, the sound of voices from the entryway caught her attention. Jacob, Journey, and Lance were walking in, the heavy tread of their boots announcing their arrival before their voices did. Reeva felt a smile stretch across her face as she heard the familiar teasing and laughter.

"Reeva!" Journey called, sliding into the kitchen with an exaggerated flourish. He kissed her cheek before grabbing a plate and starting to heap food onto it. "Oh, I love you, sister-in-law. You don't know what you do to a man's soul."

"Journey, please, don't get sentimental," Reeva said, rolling her eyes but unable to hide her smile. She knew Journey loved to be the life of the party, always bringing a laugh to any room he entered.

"Come on, Reeva, don't leave me hanging," Jacob teased, taking a seat at the kitchen table and giving her an expectant look as he grabbed his own plate.

Reeva shook her head, a playful grin on her face. "The man of the house has to eat first," she said, giving Jacob a sideways glance.

"Ha! Not happening, bro," Journey said, grabbing the plate Jacob was reaching for. The two men struggled over the food for a moment, laughing and shouting, until Lance strolled in, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Are you two really fighting over who eats first?" Lance asked, popping open a soda and leaning against the counter.

"Don't even get me started," Jacob muttered, but the smile in his voice said everything. He turned to Reeva. "So, how did Megan's date with Naio go last night?"

Reeva's eyes lit up. "It went great. She said he had her laughing all night."

Journey's eyes widened, and he let out a low whistle. "Naio? That guy's got jokes. Didn't think he'd have that in him."

Lance rolled his eyes, taking a sip of his drink. "Naio's got more than jokes. He's the whole package."

Reeva laughed, loving how easy it was to talk about Megan and Naio with the guys. "Yeah, they're planning to go out again soon," she said, taking a seat at the table with her own plate. "Megan's already talking about it."

Jacob's eyes sparkled with pride. "See? I told you I was a great matchmaker."

Lance snorted. "You're not that great, man. You just got lucky this time."

Journey's grin turned sly. "Hey, at least you're not the one who's got to deal with all the family gossip if it goes south."

Reeva rolled her eyes at the two of them but couldn't help the warmth that spread in her chest. This was what family felt like—ridiculous, messy, loving, and full of laughter.

reeva ✓ 1h

The evening air was crisp and carried the subtle scent of the sea, a hint of salt, and the cool tang of a winter breeze. He looked across the table at Reeva, who sat with her hands folded, a small smile playing on her lips.

It was a smile that made his chest tighten, the kind that could turn his world upside down with just a flicker. Tonight was theirs—no interruptions, no family drama, just them, a little bubble of warmth in the middle of the bustling restaurant.

The restaurant was tucked away on the edge of the town, an unassuming little place with wooden beams, flickering candlelight, and a menu that felt more like an invitation to a culinary adventure than a list of food.

Jacob had picked it on a whim, one of those places that had been talked about in hushed tones, the kind that seemed like a secret only locals knew. He knew Reeva would appreciate it, the way she appreciated the quiet moments, the unassuming details, the things that made life beautiful.

"You really think we'll get in trouble for sitting here?" Reeva asked, a playful lilt in her voice as she glanced around the dimly lit room.

Her eyes sparkled under the soft light, her hair pinned up in a way that left a few curls free, brushing against her collarbone. Jacob couldn't stop staring at them, those curls that seemed so soft, like a whisper of a touch.

"Trouble? Nah," Jacob said, feigning nonchalance as he took a sip of his drink. He smirked at her, a challenge in his eyes. "But if we do, it'll be worth it."

Reeva's smile deepened, and she rolled her eyes, but not with annoyance—no, this was the playful kind, the kind that set something alight in Jacob's chest, but tonight there was something different. There was an electricity between them that he couldn't ignore, an energy that hummed in the air and whispered of possibilities.

"I'm not sure the chef would appreciate us causing a scene," she teased, her voice dipping low, the teasing tone turning flirtatious.

She leaned forward, the movement drawing his attention to the delicate line of her collarbone and the curve of her neck. He swallowed hard, a heat crawling up his neck.

"The chef should be glad he's got the two best customers in the house," Jacob shot back, leaning in just enough that their faces were close, close enough that he could feel the heat radiating from her. He caught the flicker of surprise in her eyes, a mix of amusement and something else, something deeper that sent his pulse racing.

"Best customers, huh?" Reeva said, lifting one eyebrow in the way she did when she was teasing him. "I thought we were here for the food."

Jacob leaned back, trying to hide the grin that threatened to break across his face. "The food is just a side note. This—" he gestured between them, letting his fingers trail over the edge of his glass. "—is the real reason."

Reeva's eyes widened just a bit, but her smile only grew. She shifted in her seat, legs brushing against his under the table in a move so casual that it took his breath away. He felt that touch as if it were branded into his skin, and suddenly, all the noise around them faded into nothing. The soft jazz playing in the background, the clinking of glasses, the quiet murmur of conversations—it was all reduced to a dull hum as he focused on her, on this.

"You're impossible, Jacob," Reeva said, the words a challenge, a dare.

He let out a short laugh, one that was a little too self-assured. "You love it."

Reeva's expression softened, and for a moment, Jacob could have sworn he saw something more in her eyes. But before he could read it, she glanced away, staring at the candle in the center of the table, the flame flickering and dancing with the rhythm of their conversation.

"I think I might," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. There it was—the crack in her armor, the soft confession that warmed him from the inside out. It wasn't just the flirtation; it was the realization that they were treading on a line they hadn't dared cross before. But tonight, that line felt like it had been drawn in the sand, ready to be swept away by the tide.

"Do you?" Jacob asked, leaning in so close that the space between them seemed impossibly small. "Love me, I mean."

Her eyes met his, and for a split second, it was as if time paused. She didn't look away, didn't break the gaze, and Jacob felt the weight of her response settle into his chest like a promise.

"Maybe," she whispered, a small, unsure smile playing on her lips. And then, as if she were daring herself, she closed the distance, her hand finding his across the table, fingers brushing his as if testing the water before plunging in.

Jacob inhaled sharply, the touch sending a jolt through his body, a spark that ignited something deeper, something he hadn't realized he was holding back. The room seemed to shrink as he felt her warmth radiating through the contact, the soft pressure of her fingers against his, the simple but electrifying truth of this moment.

"I'm going to take that as a yes," he said, his voice low, husky in a way that made her breath hitch.

Reeva scoffed, but there was no real bite to it. "You're hopeless, Jacob."

"And you love it," he repeated, the grin spreading across his face as he watched her roll her eyes again. But this time, she didn't try to pull her hand away; she left it there, her thumb brushing over his knuckles, sending a shiver up his spine.

They were moving dangerously close to something that could change everything between them. Jacob couldn't find it in himself to care. If anything, he wanted to keep walking this edge, to see where it led them. He'd never been the kind of man to take risks, not like this, not with his heart. But for Reeva, for this moment, he would.

"So, what's your plan here?" Reeva asked, a teasing glint in her eye as she leaned back, pulling her hand away but letting her fingers linger just enough that the heat of her touch still left an impression. The tease was back, but it didn't feel like the same playful banter they were used to. This was something new, something charged.

"I'm thinking I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing," Jacob said, letting his eyes drop to her lips, then back up to her eyes. "And if you're smart, you'll keep letting me."

Reeva laughed, a rich, full sound that made him want to do whatever it took to hear it again. "We'll see about that," she said, the challenge in her voice both a warning and an invitation.

Before he could say anything else, the waiter came over, interrupting their bubble with a polite cough and a smile that spoke of knowing more than he should. Jacob and Reeva quickly separated, the air between them charged and crackling with the energy they'd just shared. It took Jacob a second to remember that they hadn't even ordered yet. The moment felt too precious, too fragile to be broken by the real world.

They ordered in a flurry of quick, whispered words, both of them glancing at each other and trying to act normal, but Jacob could see the slight blush in her cheeks, the way her eyes danced whenever they met his. When the waiter left, Jacob reached for her hand again, this time without hesitation, and she let him.

"Reeva," he said, his voice soft, almost vulnerable. "You know I've wanted this for a long time, right? You're not just a temporary moment in my life."

She didn't pull away, didn't shy from the confession. Instead, she smiled, her eyes shining with the same mix of hope and uncertainty that he felt. "I know, Jacob. I've wanted it too."

It was like the first step into the unknown, a step they both knew would lead them somewhere neither of them could predict. But at that moment, with her hand in his and the warm light casting soft shadows across her face, Jacob knew one thing: whatever came next, he was ready. And if she was too, they'd figure it out together.

As the evening carried on, the flirtation continued, playful and tender, and Jacob let himself believe that maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something beautiful. The restaurant, the candlelight, and the laughter felt like the beginning of everything he'd ever wanted, all wrapped up in one perfect night.