Chapter 12 After the Storm
When I opened my eyes, the storm had finally stopped. The cabin was quiet, and all five men were still asleep around me like the storm had knocked them out harder than it had me. Josh had me pulled tight against his chest. Jake was curled behind me, warm and soft, with his knee resting against the back of my thigh. Drew was sprawled at the foot of the bed again, like he had never learned how to sleep in a normal direction. Mike was half-slumped in the chair beside the bed, head tilted back. Patrick was on the couch near the window, boots on the floor, arms crossed, like he had tried to stay awake and failed.
I tried to sit up. Nothing moved.
I sighed. “I am never getting out of this bed.”
Josh’s voice was barely awake. “You do not need to.”
“Morning,” Jake mumbled at the same time, his voice warm against my shoulder.
I smiled. “Morning.”
Drew lifted his head, hair a mess. “What time is it?”
“No idea,” I said.
Mike blinked slowly like his brain needed a minute to load. “I hate that chair.”
Patrick opened his eyes but did not move. “Then stop falling asleep in it.”
Mike groaned and rubbed his face. “You try staying awake during a storm while watching everyone breathe.”
I snorted. “You all slept harder than I did.”
Josh finally loosened his arm enough for me to sit up. “You needed the rest.”
“I think you all needed it more,” I said.
Jake pushed his hair out of his face and looked at me for a moment. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I am better this morning.”
His shoulders relaxed a little, almost like he had been holding his breath. “Good.”
The boys stretched and moved around slowly, half awake and still warm from sleep. I stood up and wrapped my blanket tighter around myself. Patrick watched me for a second.
“You want coffee,” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes.”
That was all he needed. He stood, walked to the kitchen, and turned the machine on like he had done a thousand times in this house. Mike followed him, complaining about his neck. Drew stretched and shook out his arms. Josh stayed close to me, one hand lightly touching my back.
“You look better this morning,” he said.
“I feel better. Last night just hit me weird.”
“You handled it,” he said simply.
Jake came to my other side and bumped my shoulder with his. “You did. I was proud.”
My cheeks warmed. “You were proud that I did not melt into a puddle of panic.”
“That too,” he said with a grin.
Patrick handed me a mug. The coffee smelled amazing. “Drink.”
I took a sip and sighed. “Thank you.”
Josh raised a brow at Patrick but kept whatever comment he had to himself. Patrick gave him only a small shrug, saying he wasn't giving up the role of designated coffee provider.
Everyone moved into the kitchen, waking up one at a time. It felt easy, like we had done this for years instead of days. Drew grabbed the eggs. Mike grabbed bacon. Jake held the toast hostage again.
“Please do not burn anything,” Drew said without looking.
Jake looked offended. “I can handle toast.”
“You cannot,” Mike said.
I tried to hide my laugh behind my mug. “I believe in you, Jake.”
He brightened instantly. “See. She believes.”
“She believes in you, not the toast,” Patrick said.
I almost spat out my coffee.
Josh slid a plate toward me once the food was ready. “Eat before the chaos gets worse.”
“I resent that,” Jake said.
“You proved the point yesterday,” Drew added.
Jake opened his mouth to argue, then shut it and took a bite of bacon instead.
Halfway through breakfast, Jake tapped his fingers lightly on the table, then looked at me with a softer expression.
“Can I ask something?” he said.
“Sure.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I know storms get to you. Last night, I worried I had not done enough. I wanted to help more, but I did not want to overwhelm you.”
I blinked. “Jake. You did enough. All of you did.”
He nodded, but his eyes still held that quiet concern he always tried to hide under jokes. “Okay. I just needed to hear it.”
“You helped,” I said, touching his hand. “You always do.”
His whole face softened at once. “Good. I want to be someone you go to. Not someone who makes it worse.”
“You do not make anything worse,” I said. “You make things easier.”
He smiled like I had just handed him something delicate and important. Josh watched him for a second, then looked at me with a warm, approving smile.
Patrick set his fork down. “Storms do not bother us. But we know they bother you. So next time, we'll set everything up earlier. Lights. Blankets. Space where you want it. Whatever you need.”
I swallowed. “You do not have to do all that.”
“We want to,” Drew said quietly.
“And we will,” Josh added.
Mike nodded. “You are ours. We take care of ours.”
It hit me all at once. Not in a dramatic way. Just a soft, heavy certainty that settled behind my ribs and stayed there.
I looked around the table at all five of them and felt something steady unfold inside me.
“I am okay,” I said. “Really.”
Jake nudged my knee under the table. “Then today we go outside.”
I blinked. “Outside, where?”
“Anywhere,” he said. “Snow. Sun. Freedom. No storms.”
Mike grinned. “We can take her sledding.”
Patrick raised an eyebrow. “She will break a bone.”
“I will not break a bone,” I said.
Josh sighed. “Yes, you will.”
Drew smiled at me. “We will keep you upright.”
Jake looked proud. “Adventure day.”
And just like that, the storm was a memory.
And I felt ready for whatever came next.