"I swear I couldn't love you more than I do right now, and yet I know I will tomorrow." – Leo Christopher
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Chapter 76
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Maggie

The next morning, Luke held me tightly in his arms. I shifted to get a look at his face, hearing his voice hum my name in a melodic tone. His lips brushed my neck, electrifying my senses.

"Good morning, beautiful," he mumbled against me. I smiled and glanced over my shoulder, replying, "Good morning."

Pressing another kiss to my neck, he loosened his arms, but only to turn me around so that I was facing him. His fingers began to stroke at the skin on my stomach with love.

Concern drowned his eyes until they were full as he observed me over. "How are you feeling after last night, baby?"

"Nope." I smiled, softly. His touch sent shivers through me. I reached for his jaw. "You first, pretty boy. How was your mom?"

His mouth twitched with amusement at me. "Fine. I felt better seeing her for myself, and when the doctors told me they got her awake, too."

Relief washed over me as I stroked his jaw. "I'm so glad. Did you talk any?"

"We talked a bit, then ate dinner together. She told me happy birthday, gave me my card, and even had some gifts she had ordered for me a while back."

"A while back?"

"Mhm. My dad never let me spend my birthdays with her before, and I didn't even know until yesterday that this entire time, she's been sending my birthday and Christmas gifts to the mansion ever since I was a baby, but my dad never told me to make me think that no one got me anything. He's been hiding them from me this entire time."

Anger rushed into my system, quickly. "Are you fucking serious?" I shouldn't even be surprised, but fuck. I had never wanted to hit a motherfucker the way I wanted to hit Ryan Vaudest. "That son of a bitch."

Luke's head bobbed. "My mom figured it out after a while, and had been saving my gifts for me over the years, but could never get them to me, because of my dad. She told me where to find them last night, though. I did, and we opened some of them together. It was exciting, and they were all sweet as shit." A genuine, relieved smile came over his face that made my heart melt in return. That made me so happy to hear. "She asked about you, too, which didn't help me much, because I was already missing the fuck out of my girl, but she suggested you come and eat with us next time, too."

My heart softened at that; my answer was an automatic yes. "Of course I will." I kissed his cheek. "And, you better be showing me your presents the second we get home." I wanted to see them all, and I would sit there the entire time while he showed me. I knew how much it probably meant to him, and it made my soul warm to see him get it. "How are you feeling, though?"

Luke's gaze met mine, and his eyes sparkled with affection. "Better. Way better, honestly."

My heart swelled with warmth as I held him closer, wrapping my leg around his. "I'm glad. I know it must have been hard to hold all of that in."

His hand went to my leg to stroke it. "It was, but I just..." His eyes lowered to my stomach in thought, before raising to mine with a sense of relief inside. "I've never gotten a real chance to just let my shit out. I've never trusted anyone enough to do it around them or to give that part of myself to them. Not before you."

"Thank you for trusting me with it." My throat tightened into an ache the longer I watched him. "As well as everything else. It's meant the world to me ever since we met."

Luke squeezed my leg, gratitude outlining his expression. "Thank you for letting me, Maggie. And I mean it. Like I said, I've never really had a chance to be open or anything before..." His eyes lowered to collect his words, and I gave him the time and support to do so by kissing his head, and squeezing his hand. When his eyes raised, they were full with honesty. "Being vulnerable is scary as shit, and in all honesty, I thought my dad had gotten all of it out of me a long, long time ago." Darkness reached his expression, but it didn't last for long, his gaze on mine. "But ever since I've been around you, I've learned that I could be anything I wanted, including vulnerable and open, and that it's okay to do it, too. And, I never realized how fucking good and freeing it could feel to do it, either. It was all new to me, but being with you made it more effortless than it's ever been."

Tears blurred my vision, just as emotional as my smile. "I'm so glad." I said, softly. "You've been giving bits and pieces of yourself to me ever since we've met, and I've cherished them all the same. All of you. Each time, I've only fall even harder for you." Bliss crawled up my backside the longer I stared into his eyes. "I know that when it comes to you, loving and caring about anything you show me of yourself will happen before anything else."

Luke's gaze wielded all of his appreciation, a hand lifting to cup my jaw the way I was doing his. The skin he was touching lit up with a million torches at once, until I was putty in his hands.

"I know how much I've already said it, but I don't care," he said, softly. "You changed everything for me, Norris. You made me feel good shit, happy shit, and fucking amazing, kind of scary but just as beautiful shit, for the first time in my life. You made me trust and open up and shit like that in a way I never thought possible. And, I know I'm saying shit a lot but..." His head dipped with a chuckle.

I laughed, softly. "You are, but it's okay." I loved every bit of it, as mentioned in his jar of hearts. "I still get it, I promise."

"I mean it, though." His thumb stroked over my chin softly, a wholehearted emotion clogging his eyes up. "You gave me a home in a person, and you made me love and trust that home more than any other. You helped me realize that I deserved it, even when I thought I'd never even need the realization. You give me everything in the world just by being in it, Maggie."

By the end, I was barely hanging on. And, the barely was barely. A tear had already slipped down my cheek, but was caught by Luke's thumb.

I stroked a hand through his hair, but it was so trembly. His confession was beautiful to me, as well as the trust he had in giving it to me the way I had him. In our lives, this was our first time doing feelings, and not just the ones that were bland or hateful. It was the one that brought life to us when we thought it lost.

My heart was running in my chest, and it wouldn't ever slow down. The torch had set off into a hot, lick of a flame that would never settle inside of me.

My words were soft, but as genuine as ever, much like the meaning behind them, "You're every single thing that makes me whole, and I know, without that, I wouldn't be the same. Life wouldn't be the same, because you make mine make all the sense in the world." My gaze softened as I admired him over. "You're the halves to my everything, and that means every part of you. Forever, Luke."

Luke's gaze deepened with my own, his thumb tracing hearts into my cheek. "Forever, Norris."

We both went for the other off the same leapt of desire. Our lips clashed in a song with a melody behind it that our brains ran behind, one that only we would know.

The hand on my cheek curled itself into my hair, stroking its way into a pot of satisfaction for me. My own went to his backside, running up the bridge of muscles until Luke's soft groan echoed all of the way down my throat.

We didn't stop the kiss until we had gotten our message through to one another. Love. Trust. Good. We had brought it out of each other when we thought it gone, and there wasn't any type of gratitude like it.

Luke, sporting the most dazed smile of all time, casted if my way until my cheeks were red. He squeezed my waist. "Your turn, now." His smile stretched even further until his dimple deepened. "How are you feeling, though? From last night?"

It took me a moment to settle down my emotions, but with him, they were always afloat. In between it, I managed to let out a sigh of relief. "I'm honestly still in shock. The girls don't hate me. They weren't mad or anything, just..." A calming smile drifted over my lips. "Understanding. They understood and listened to everything. They still love me."

"They're not alone," he said, a prideful smile following. "I'm proud of you, angel."

"Granny will be, too. She's gonna be upset I lied to them, but more happy and proud than anything that I still told them, I hope." I was sure of it. Years ago, when I came home from the diner after meeting Kimberly for the first time, granny had told me to trust myself and them, and I'd see something beautiful blossom from it. She was right.

"We'll go by the hospital first thing in the morning, if you want. Buy her breakfast, talk, and shit like that," Luke suggested. By the time we get back tonight, granny would most definitely be asleep, so I nodded in agreement, and added, "Then we can come back later on to have dinner with your mom. We can play games or watch movies after we eat until she falls asleep. Does that sound good?"

He grinned. "That sounds perfect, baby."

My smile grew as I nodded. "Guess what else happened?"

"Jesus, Norris," he teased, drawing out a groan for emphasis. "Don't give me a heart attack just yet, women. I don't know of how much more I can take." Despite his claim, he pulled me closer and sat me down on top of him.

Our laughs mingled until I leaned down to his chest. "I was in the dark with Kimberly and Raven. I woke up in it, but didn't lose my shit this time. I remembered our lessons, instead. I only stayed for a couple of minutes, but it was still cool."

"Cool?" Luke returned with disbelief. "That's fucking amazing, Maggie." Cupping my cheek, he leaned forward to kiss one. "I'm gonna get you a cake when we get home to celebrate. Flowers, too. The Madonna ones or whatever they're called." He waved it off.

I thumped him in the forehead with a finger, giggling. "Belladonna lillies, you asshole." I swept my amused gaze over his. "Wait, though. You're going to get me a cake for doing something that a literal five year old can do?"

He passed a scowl to me. "I don't care who else can do it. My girl did it when she thought she couldn't, and I'm proud as shit of her for it. That's a huge ass accomplishment, and for that, I'm getting her a cake and flowers."

My amusement built at him until I rolled my eyes. There was no use in arguing with him. "Fine. How about cupcakes so that we can share, though?" I paused before adding, "Half your favorite flavor, and half mine?" His grin widened, and he nodded like an eager child. "Hell yeah."

At my laugh, his smile grew back at me. It settled into his next question.

Rubbing at his eyes, he used his free hand to stroke my arm. "You ready to go?"

The break of my expression answered for him.

Luke took its meaning, immediately, his own softening with reassurance. "Everything's going to be fine, Maggie."

I nodded, but it didn't do much. Not today of all days. My father was getting released tomorrow evening.

Everything had led up to this point, and we were here. Luke knew it, too.

We had already talked about, as well as set precautions and suggestions to ensure my safety. Luke was skeptical to voice some of them since he didn't want to come off as controlling or bossy, so I added some suggestions myself since I knew they were for the best, right now. Once the danger was gone, those precautions would be, too, but for now, they were needed. With my dad and the others, nothing was too protective or going too far.

Luke caught my shift seconds in. He turned us until we were on our sides, and facing the other. His big hand cupped the back of my head to turn me to him.

"Norris." His eyes snatched mine right up in conversation. "They've tried to get you, but they haven't succeeded for a reason. And, now that I'll be with you, I promise you that they still won't." He kissed my eyes until they drifted shut, then pulled me in for a hug. "Your dad won't get you. They won't get you. No one will, you hear me?"

My head moved, but I didn't find the strength for words. Instead, I leaned back into him, and wished for this moment to never end.

If only.

Luke placed his chin on top of my head, one hand reaching under my shirt to stroke the skin over my back. "If you want some more sleep, then you know you can get it, angel. We can wait a couple of hours to leave."

I shook my head; it was best to get it over with. "I'll be fine." My eyes darted to the door, then back to him with a smile. "You can go ahead and get our shower started; I'm gonna get a quick drink. Do you want anything?"

"Nah, I'm fine." His hand fell from my back, and went to my waist to squeeze. Cushioning a kiss against my forehead, he lifted the blanket from us. "I love you, baby."

I kissed his cheek. "I love you."

Despite everything, those three words provided a sense of tranquility for me. I never thought them to one day be mine, but now that they were, I knew I'd never tire of them.

I was the first to get out of bed, despite how cold it left me. Luke held my hand, and linked our fingers until he couldn't, earning a laugh from me at his groan when our link broke.

I climbed the stairs two at a time until I made it to the ground level. On the trip, I caught the scent of pancakes, but with a hint of smoke to finish it off.

Instead of lingering in my curiosity, I headed straight to the kitchen. The sight I saw was one I definitely hadn't expected.

The kitchen island was covered with clumps of flour, and spilled liquid contents. There were at least four or five full bowls and cups on top of the counters, but some were spilling over the edges, as were other opened bottles, which only increased the mess. Smoke was rising from the oven, and spreading across the room like a blanket. It was a miracle the smoke detector hadn't been triggered, yet.

"Found it!" came from my side. "Move, move!"

Levi came barreling in from the other side of the kitchen, a fire extinguisher in hand. Kade was right behind him with a towel, waving it around the room to try and clear the smoke.

Kimberly and Raven were in the center of it all. They hadn't noticed my presence, yet since their backs were facing me.

"Candy," Kimberly hissed, waving a hand over Raven, who nearly slipped over the flour as she went to follow up on the demand.

On her turn, she saw me. Her eyes widened before she smacked Kimberly in the arm, who swept around with the same mirror of shock. "Shit."

I had to rub at my eyes a number of times to try and piece together the image in front of me, but it still wasn't happening.

"Uh..." I chuckled, slowly. "What's going on?"

Levi jerked around. "Well, shit." He lowered the extinguisher with a sigh. "There goes the surprise."

"Surprise?"

Kimberly groaned, using her wrist to push her glasses up. "Yes, surprise." Her fingers were coated with powdered sugar or flour; I couldn't tell too well. "It's ruined, now, though."

I took another step into the kitchen, careful to avoid the flour. "What was it for?"

"We were going to make you your favorite breakfast," Raven, who was just as disappointed, answered. Kimberly sighed, adding, "We wanted to wake you up with it, just to give you a reminder of how much you mean to us."

Now that I was closer, I did see the M&M's for the pancakes and the ingredients for the French toast. They were my favorite breakfast items.

"It all went to shit not even ten minutes in, though," Kade commented, still swinging the towel around. "Levi forgot to butter the pan and had the heat way too high. The batter wasn't even ready, yet so it started a—"

Levi shot a glare his way. "I was distracted, okay?"

Kade shrugged, stepping over the space to get to Kimberly. "I know they may overlap for you, but being distracted and being a dumbass aren't the same thing." Levi scowled, aiming the fire extinguisher at Kade with a threatening glare.

"I'm sorry." Kimberly, who had to take the fire extinguisher from Levi, stepped closer to me, an apologetic expression following. "It was supposed to be perfect, but—"

I shook my head, immediately. The very thought and attempt meant the world to me. They knew how emotional my confession was on me last night, and wanted to ease the tension from my shoulders. It was so sweet that they did.

My blurry eyes draped over either girl in a loving glance. "Thank you guys so much. This was so sweet." I moved closer until I had them in a hug.

"Don't thank us." Raven kissed the side of my head. "No, but literally don't. We fucked up so bad that we only got two pancakes out of it."

"One piece, now," Levi corrected, munching on one of my pancakes. He had ripped it in half to give to Kade, who shrugged before taking a bite.

"Levi," Kimberly groaned at him, who offered a sheepish smile in return. "Sorry, I couldn't help myself." He looked to me, next. "I'll buy you and Luke breakfast when we're all back in town, though."

Chuckling, I glanced between him and Kade over the girl's shoulders. "Thank you guys for helping." They both smiled back, even Kade, despite it being small and short-lived. He soon gave a shrug to cover up for it.

I leaned back from the girls, who stared back at me with expressions full of love. I smiled at them both. "How about we make up more batter so that we can all eat? Or, we can wait until we get back into town and have breakfast as a group?"

"Definitely the first option," Kimberly decided once she had a nod from Raven. "I'm way too hungry to wait, so let's do it."

Softly laughing, I nodded. The boys went to go and clean up since they had somehow gotten the worst of the batter spill, then it was just the girls and I. I would quickly help make the batter, then head up to Luke for our shower.

Kimberly swept over the island with a rag for a fresh start. "How are you feeling from last night, hun?"

I stepped to the fridge, where a broom and dustpan was propped up. Raven was focused on cleaning the wasted batter from the stovetop.

"Fine," I responded, softly. "Much better than I expected, honestly."

"That's good," Raven smiled back at me over her shoulder. "We know it was a lot to hold in, especially for so long, but we just wanted to remind you of our love and support. That we're here for you, and always will be."

Kimberly nodded in agreement. "We won't tell you every single minute of every single day since we know you'll probably get annoyed and try strangling us..." We all laughed since it was true. Kimberly picked up with the same reassuring smile. "But, regardless...know it's there. Our respect, trust, and love in you. Our friendship. Every single day, of every single minute, it'll be there. It won't ever go anywhere, and neither will we."

My expression softened over, and that familiar warmth crept over my soul that I thought to forever be frozen solid. With their love and reassurance, though, the belief was proven false. This was the outcome I had always dreamed of when I envisioned myself telling them.

I sniffled around a choked chuckle. "I honestly don't know what I did to deserve you two."

"We are pretty amazing, aren't we?" Raven teased, knocking into my shoulder. At my laugh, both of theirs joined before we all went back to cleaning.

Soon, we started on the batters, and decided to half it between us by the toppings. The timing didn't matter much.

"Enough about me," I started up, again, glancing between them. "Tell me what's been going on with you two." My comment was mainly directed at Raven, which Kimberly noted since I saw her gaze switch over. "Any drama?"

Raven paused on the stirring of her batter. Her bright eyes settled on the island before she sighed. "Guys."

We both looked up.

"I know what you're doing, and why you're doing it, but..." she sighed, her throat bobbing under a gulp. She shook her head. "It's too much to tell. It's something that I just...can't tell. Not right now."

Kimberly nodded, nibbling at the corner of her cheek in thought. We both kept up with our mixing before Kimberly spoke, "Can you let us in on the obvious, then?"

Raven raised her eyes. I didn't expect the conflict behind them, but it was present.

I offered a smile to her. I didn't know what was going on, but whatever it was, I didn't like her to think that she had to hide it from us. As someone who used that tactic for the past two years, it never worked out.

"Raven," I said, softly. "You know we're here for you."

She nodded, letting red strands curtain her face. I still caught the darkening expression behind it.

"I didn't cheat on Levi," she admitted, softly. "I didn't fuck Wyatt or Justin, or anyone else. I didn't cheat. I'd never cheat. I'd never hurt Levi like that, especially with Wyatt."

Kimberly and I swapped looks of confusion and understanding. I hadn't completely believed her cheating to be true, but then again, she had admitted it to Levi in their fight. For what, though, I had no idea.

Kimberly grasped Raven by the hand. "Raven, hun, then why did you say you did?"

I nodded, voicing my own curiosity, "And, why did Levi find those messages in your phone?" It wasn't Kimberly and I being accusatory or judgmental. It was just us voicing our concern, and sometimes, that involved bare questions.

Raven scooted her bowl to the side, then used the same spot to rest her elbows. A frustrated expression followed as she buried her face in her palms.

"I wish I could tell you," she mumbled out. "It's all fucked. So fucked."

"Fucked is kind of our thing if you haven't noticed," I attempted to joke.

"Exactly." Kimberly chuckled, squeezing Raven's hand. "But, so is being strong as shit and getting through it, no matter what." She passed me a look that I took with a grateful smile since I knew she was aiming it toward me, too. "That's just what we do."

I hadn't realized Raven's eyes had gone so glossy until she raised them to us. I could see something poking through the barrier she had built, but it quickly built at whatever else was going on.

Sniffling softly, she leaned back. "I have to go to the restroom," she murmured. "I'll be right back."

Kimberly and I watched her leave. A mix of confusion and sympathy strung through the air, since whatever was holding her down so deeply had to be something deep. Whatever it was, though, she wasn't planning on giving it to us.

Sighing, Kimberly turned to face me. The same concern remained, but she forced a smile, anyway. "Ready for pancakes?"

I laughed, softly. "Let's do it."

***

Luke glared into my very soul as I leaned closer to the deck. "I swear I'll walk the fuck out, right now, if you have a—"

When I threw down my third plus four, Luke didn't even spare it a second glance. Placing his burger down, he jumped up, and started to head for the front door.

I laughed, pulling him back by his hand before he got too far. "Wait." He let me tug him along, relaxing his limbs so that I had a better chance against his strength. When I had him back, I tugged him down in between my legs. My laughter doubled at his sour expression. "You're such a sore loser, you know that?"

His frown only deepened before he let it morph into a groan. His glare fell to the cards, and after throwing the rest of his burger back, he began to sift through our deck.

My amusement built. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to find the exact spots you cheated at," he mumbled, a scowl crossing his lips at the sight of the plus four cards I may have slipped into my hand when he went to grab our food. "There's no way in hell I've lost this many times off coincidence."

Around the straw of my milkshake, I teased, "It's never a good idea to throw around false accusations, Luke. It can end real bad real quick."

They weren't exactly false, though. I had been cheating for the past hour, but that wasn't his business. I was clever enough to play my cheats into wins, and that was my own work. It counted for something.

We had gotten home from the mountains a couple of hours ago. Luke hadn't left my side, since he knew how heavy tomorrow would be for me emotionally.

On the way home, we picked up Fang, who had greeted us with a new attitude and friends he dragged us through the room to meet. I had started crying, again at the sight, much to Luke's humor.

After we ate our cupcakes, he and I had fallen asleep until we were woken up by the thunderstorm. It was three in the morning, now.

When I opened my eyes, Luke's were staring back into mine. Then, he voiced how badly he wanted cheeseburgers and fresh fries. A part of me knew then, at that moment, that this man was destined to be my soulmate, because when I heard it, my stomach very loudly agreed with him. When he heard it, he gave the biggest smile, then ordered us that, as well as milkshakes and fries.

Now, we were sitting in the living room, eating cheeseburgers and playing card games while a movie played in the background. Regardless of how tomorrow would go, I did appreciate Luke for attempting to ease my jitteriness as well as he could.

Tipping his head, his scowl grew. "Accusations, are they?"

"Accusations, bullshit, being a cry baby..." I continued to list off, cockily. I stroked Fang's backside as he walked past us. He was trying to get some sleep, but was annoyed at our presence. "It's all about the same thing with you."

"Is that right, Norris?" he shot back, the mischief growing in his voice. A sexy smirk that usually left me blushing upturned his lips. "Well, then. It's a pretty damn good thing this 'bullshitter' has security cameras that keep a week worth of footage on our phones." At my smiles fall, his smirk only grew. "I'm gonna guess it still has the last hour, too, then, don't you think?"

I froze at that. My eyes widened at him.

Luke cocked a grin. "You good, baby?"

I tried to swallow back the rest of my milkshake. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Already reaching for his phone, he flicked his head at me. "Good, because I'm—" Placing my milkshake down, I covered the space, quickly.

Luke caught me in his arms, sending us both back over the couch. The deep vibration of his laugh sent waves of satisfaction through me, but I couldn't focus on the beautiful melody, right now.

"Give me the phone," I demanded, stretching my hand out for it. "Stop—"

Luke locked an arm around my waist to stop me from falling. He stretched his other out so that I didn't have a chance of getting to it. "No way. I'm about to see a cheater in her prime, Norris."

I scowled down at him. "Loser accusations go to my bullshit category, automatically." I smacked his chest, with only built his chuckles back up. "Give me the phone."

"Come on, baby. You can do better than that." Without a care in the world, he laid his head back on the pillow to have a full view of me. The sexy grin on his face made my skin redden, and his muscles were a tempting sight the longer I had them around me. "Let me hear a please or two from those pretty lips of yours, Norris."

I rolled my eyes. "You wanna know what you can hear?"

"It's probably not gonna be the nicest thing, so probably not, no."

"Please..." I started, earning a smirk in return from him. My own built as I continued, "Suck it the hell up and get over having your ass handed to you for the past hour."

With the beginnings of a scowl, he shook his head once, but that was the last sight I caught from my position. Tightening his arm around me, he flipped us over until I was on my backside.

"I'm done with this attitude of yours, Norris." Lifting the hem of his shirt I had on, he didn't stop until my stomach was visible. I knew his intention, then. A tickling match that would surely get him kicked across the room if he weren't careful. "I'm gonna get it right out of you."

"Luke." The laughter was already building at the back of my throat while I writhed from under him. "Don't make your bed like this."

I felt the tips of his fingers trailing my sides, already. His grin built. "As long as you're laying in it with me, then I'm always more than willing, Norris."

Just as I lifted my own hands to get him back, a buzz made the both of us stop. The disappointment in Luke's eyes made me chuckle in both relief and amusement.

"I don't know who the fuck that is, but don't answer," he teased, pressing a kiss to either of my flushed cheeks as the ringtone continued on. "Don't think that's your way out, Norris."

I laughed, running a hand over his throat. "I'm gonna use it as one, anyway." I knew it was my phone since his was on the charger inside of our room.

Luke left a kiss to my lips that made them tingle. I thanked him with a smile when he reached over to grab it for me, glancing over the caller ID.

It was probably a spam caller. "Who is it?"

He passed it to me. "Your brother."

My lips fell. "That's weird." Luke thought it over before shrugging, "Maybe he wanted to check in with you after the trip or something."

That would make sense if he hadn't done so hours ago, and not only that, he was supposed to be at work, right now. Luke and I had invited him over for dinner, but he had declined because of his shift, so we moved it to tomorrow night.

The drop of my stomach was undeniable. I met Luke's eyes, and used his to center myself back to reality. I was probably being overdramatic.

Accepting the call, I placed it to my ear. Luke tugged my shirt back down, then lifted himself so that he was sitting across from me. Grasping my hand, he squeezed it in his, and continued to watch over me.

I offered a smile, then focused my attention on the phone. "Jax?"

I heard rustling, lots of it. It made me frown. Jax was never too far from the phone, rather it be seconds or hours into a call.

Luke caught the fall in my mood. His brows shot up at me before he lifted our hands, and pressed a kiss to the back. As soon as he dropped them, he mouthed, 'Everything okay?'

I didn't nod nor shake my head. I didn't like not knowing, either.

"Jax," I repeated, a bit louder this time. "Are you—"

"Mags."

I paused.

A simple nickname I had heard a million times over, but this time, it stood out amongst the others. It was a drop, instead of a rise. It was a saddened note, not a call or a scorn. It was...sad.

I heard him sniffle into the phone. At it, my insides shrunk with panic. "Jax, hey. What's wrong? Is Tony—"

"She's gone, Mags."

I frowned, then felt it deepen and deepen until it couldn't. "What?"

A part of me knew the answer before he voiced it. I did, but I didn't want to believe it.

I never wanted to believe it.

"Maggie," he whispered into the phone, his voice cracking over my name in a way that made me want to discard of it. "Grandma..." His words folded back into a sample of a sob before he got out, "She's gone."

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So, I had to choose between Granny and Luke's mother to go. 😭 And as much as I love, worship, and absolutely ADORE Dixie Reeves, I couldn't bring myself to take Luke's only parental guide/figure from him, but I'm still sorry lol.🤍