Page 135 of Your Only Redemption
Before I could say anything, Charlie was suddenly by my side. Her eyes swept over the tense group, assessing the situation.
Jeremy nodded slowly, his shoulders slumping slightly, but there was no anger, only acceptance.
“Maybe not today,” she said gently, her voice steady but firm. “Maybe this can happen another time. You deserve all the happiness in the world.”
She knew. I’d told her about Jeremy, about Luna and Dirks, and the complicated knot that tied them all together. Nova had filled in the gaps too. Charlie understood what this moment was, what it meant, and what it didn’t need to become—at least not today.
Jeremy looked at me directly, his voice steady. “Congrats, man.”
His words were earnest, and I didn’t know how to respond. I nodded, watching as he turned and left, the door closing softly behind him. The tension in the room lingered for a moment longer before Charlie slipped her hand into mine, pulling me back into the present, back into the safety of her.
Luna swallowed hard, her eyes darting between all of us, before quickly excusing herself. She walked over, gave my shoulders a brief squeeze, muttering a quick “Congrats” before slipping out the door.
Dirks shrugged, his usual nonchalance masking whatever he was thinking. He followed her without another word, clapping me lightly on the back as he passed.
Nova lingered, her expression strained as she glanced between me and Charlie. “It’s complicated,” she said finally, her voice low. “The three of them. Together.”
Charlie nodded, her lips pressing into a thin line. She didn’t ask any questions, though I could tell her curiosity burned. Instead, she walked back to her friends, letting the moment defuse naturally.
Ollie and Nova gathered Scarlette, the little girl giving hugs to everyone as they said their goodbyes. “See you soon,” they promised, and I nodded, watching them head out.
Eventually, Charlie’s friends and my mom trickled out, leaving the house quiet and still. She stepped up beside me, slipping her hand back into mine.
“A dad? Really?” I whispered, the words barely making it past the lump in my throat.
“Again.”
“I love you, Charlie. For everything you are and for the person I get to be with you.”
“I love you too,” she replied, her eyes shimmering as she looked up at me. “For all the mended pieces.”
I leaned in and kissed her deeply, pouring everything I couldn’t put into words into that moment.
“How about we take this upstairs, Mrs. Hart?” I teased, sliding my hands down to her hips and gripping her just enough to make her gasp.
Her laugh came soft and sweet as she rolled her eyes, but before she could say anything, I scooped her up into my arms.
“Austin,” she protested, though her arms tightened around my neck.
“Better hold on, wife,” I murmured, already heading for the stairs. “We’ve got some celebrating to do.”
As I carried Charlie up the stairs, her laughter soft and warm against the quiet, I thought about how far I’d come. Sobrietywasn’t just about quitting—it was about facing every messy, broken part of myself and learning how to live again. There were moments I thought I’d never make it, but here I was, with a woman who saw the best in me and a family I never dreamed I could have. The journey hadn’t been easy, but it brought me here, to this love, this life, this future. For the first time, I wasn’t just surviving—I was living.
