Page 19 of Louder Than Words

I shake my head, still laughing, and lean back into him.

“Oh, I wish I had my camera,” my mom says from the doorway, making us both jump.

I turn to see her standing there, hands over her heart, eyes glistening.

“At this point, I’m just going to tie it around your neck,” I joke, resuming my sway with Jax. “You always say you need it and never have it.”

Before she can fire back, both girls come barreling into the kitchen.

“I wanna dance too!” Charlotte shouts, bouncing on her toes.

Jax throws me a look, then drops his arm from around me. “Sorry, love,” he says, winking as he steps away. “You get your turn tomorrow at the release party.”

Then he scoops her up like she weighs nothing and starts swaying with her.

Lydia waddles in next—bunny tucked under her arm, hair a wild mess from her nap. I scoop her up and fall into step beside Jax, matching his pace. And just like that, the disaster of this morning fades into barely a memory, replaced by something softer.

Something that feels a lot like home—exactly where thefourof us are meant to be.

10

Jax

I slept like a baby last night.

For the first time in three months, I actually slept. I guess that’s what happens when you get used to falling asleep next to someone. A whole month of her beside me—my arm around her waist, our whispered conversations in the dark until one of us passed out, just feeling the heat radiating off each other. Addicting doesn’t even begin to cover it.

But once her vacation ended, so did all of that. There were no more sleepovers. No more late-night confessions under a silk sheet.

We’ve had to tiptoe with everything going on, especially with the custody shit. And don’t get me wrong, I get it. I really do. But that doesn’t make the empty side of the bed any easier. The quiet from her side has been louder than anything I could’ve imagined.

But last night? Last night, she was back in my arms. Back in the city where we found each other. Right where she belongs.

“You think they’ll be much longer?” James asks from beside me, antsy as ever.

I offer him a tight-lipped smile but don’t bother answering. There’s no telling how long it’ll take those three to get ready for a night like tonight.

James turns to start complaining to Desmond, but I don’t hear a word he says over the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. Honestly, I’m surprised my eardrums haven’t blown yet.

I start pacing in front of the elevator—back and forth, over and over—probably carving a nice little track into the hotel lobby carpet. But I can’t get myself to stop. I’ve never done this before. What am I even supposed to do? Stand there and smile? Mingle? Pretend I’m even remotely interested in this side of business? Because I’m not. Not even a little bit.

I’m not the type who gets excited about dressing up, showing up to some big, fancy party in the city, pretending I belong there while sipping free overpriced cocktails.

Okay—fine. The free alcohol part? That I can handle.

But socializing? Fake small talk, the forced smiles while I pretend my throat isn’t tightening just thinking about the fact our record dropstomorrow?

God, that’s weird to say.

My brain’s in the process of turning to actual mush when I feel a slight tug on my elbow. I turn and see James standing there with the biggest grin I’ve seen tonight.

“You ready, mate?” he asks, wiggling his eyebrows.

Before I can answer, the elevator dings—and I lose my breath.

I freeze.

Allie steps out, and for a second, it’s like the whole world stops spinning. Like the universe itself is holding its breath, savingthis one perfect moment so everyone can truly take in how beautiful she is.