Crossing the line

Bonus Chapter: 1

AVA

Twelve years had flown by in what felt like the blink of an eye. As I stood in the kitchen, the familiar smell of pancakes wafted through the air, bringing back memories of our early mornings together. I flipped the last pancake onto the plate, my heart swelling with love as I listened to the sounds of our family bustling in the living room.

"Carson! Turn that down!" I called, trying to be heard over the music blasting from her room.

"Mom! It's not too loud!" she shouted back, but I could tell it was just a cover for her moodiness. Being sixteen came with a whirlwind of emotions, and I was currently navigating through the stormy seas of teenage drama.

Jake walked into the kitchen, his hair tousled and a sleepy smile on his face. He looked so effortlessly handsome, even in his worn-out t-shirt and sweatpants. "What's with the noise?" he asked, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"Just Carson being... well, Carson," I replied, rolling my eyes playfully. "She's got that new boyfriend, and I think she's trying to drown us all out."

Jake chuckled, shaking his head as he leaned against the counter. "Ah, the joys of teenagers. I remember when I had to deal with you at that age."

"Hey!" I laughed, nudging him with my elbow. "I was way less dramatic than she is!"

"Sure you were," he teased, raising an eyebrow.

Just then, Callum walked in, his hair a wild mess, clearly not having woken up all the way. "What's for breakfast?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"Pancakes! Grab a plate!" I said, trying to muster enthusiasm. I could already sense the grumpiness that lingered in the air, and I was determined to lift the mood.

After breakfast, I headed upstairs to Carson's room. She was sitting on her bed, scrolling through her phone, her mood evident in her crossed arms and furrowed brow. "Can I come in?" I asked, knocking lightly.

"Sure," she replied, her voice lacking enthusiasm.

I sat down on the edge of her bed, trying to gauge her mood. "You okay? You seem a little... off today."

Carson sighed, dramatically flopping back on her pillows. "It's just stupid. Dad's annoying. He doesn't get it."

"What's he doing that's annoying you?" I prodded gently.

"He just thinks he knows everything about relationships because he's 'been there, done that,'" she scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"Carson, he cares about you. He just wants to protect you," I said softly. "And he has a point. You're still figuring things out. This is your first boyfriend, right?"

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing!" she shot back, sitting up again, her face flushed with frustration.

I sighed, knowing it was a delicate balance to maintain with her. "I get it. I remember my first boyfriend, and how much I wanted to prove I could handle everything on my own. But the truth is, it's okay to ask for advice or guidance. It doesn't mean you're weak."

Carson crossed her arms defiantly. "I just want him to trust me, you know? Instead of treating me like I'm a kid."

"I understand, but trust goes both ways. Just give it some time. He'll come around," I said, hoping to ease some of her frustration.

"Fine," she mumbled, but the fire in her eyes dimmed slightly, which I took as a small victory.

Just as I was about to leave her room, there was a knock on the door. Jake stepped in, a smirk playing on his lips. "You ready to have some fun, kiddo?" he asked, looking at Carson with that playful charm he always had.

She shot him a glare. "Whatever."

"Hey, come on! I'm offering a chance to beat me in basketball. You know you want to take your dad down," he said, his tone light.

"I'll beat you one day," she shot back, her mood softening just a bit.

"That's the spirit!" Jake beamed, his confidence contagious. "Get your shoes on; I'll be downstairs."

As he left, I turned back to Carson. "You know he's just trying to connect with you, right? He loves you."

"Yeah, I know," she said softly, a hint of guilt creeping into her voice.

"Okay. Just be patient with him. He was a teenager once too, believe it or not," I added with a playful grin.

As I left her room, I couldn't help but smile at the thought of how our family had grown. Liam had married Olivia a few years back, and they had two adorable kids of their own-Ellie, who was twelve, and Jakob, who was eight. Our family gatherings were filled with chaos and laughter, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Once downstairs, I found Jake already warming up by shooting hoops in the driveway. It was a sight that always made my heart swell. He was still as competitive as ever, his determination evident in every shot. Callum joined him, and soon the two were laughing and playfully teasing each other.

"Hey, can I join?" Carson said, walking down the stairs, her tone lighter.

"Of course!" Jake exclaimed, his face lighting up. "Just don't cry when I win, okay?"

Carson rolled her eyes, but a small smile played at the corners of her lips. The tension from earlier had faded, and I felt a warmth spreading through me. Watching them interact, I was reminded of the bond Jake had with both of our kids-how he truly stepped into the role of a father and a friend.

As the game continued, I slipped back inside to prepare for dinner. My thoughts drifted to how quickly the years had gone by and how much I loved our little family. I glanced at the pictures on the wall-snapshots of us through the years: the first days with Carson, the chaos of Callum's arrival, family vacations, birthday parties, and quiet evenings spent together.

The sound of laughter broke through my thoughts, and I smiled, knowing that Jake had that incredible ability to make everyone around him feel at ease, even during the ups and downs of parenting.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange, I called everyone in for dinner. We gathered around the table, the chaos of teenagers and little ones mingling together, laughter filling the air. I glanced over at Jake, who caught my eye and smiled, that warm, tender smile that always made my heart flutter.

After dinner, while the kids argued about whose turn it was to choose the movie, I found a moment to pull Jake aside. "Hey," I said softly, leaning against the wall.

He turned to me, concern flickering across his features. "What's up?"

"I just wanted to say thank you. For being you. For being such a great dad," I said, my voice sincere.

Jake stepped closer, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into a warm embrace. "I couldn't do it without you, Ava. You keep us all grounded."

"Just doing my part," I whispered, feeling so grateful for this life we had built together.

We stood there for a moment, just enjoying each other's presence until Callum's voice interrupted us. "Mom! Dad! Hurry up! We're missing the best part!"

"Coming!" Jake called back, but not before leaning down to place a soft kiss on my lips.

As we returned to the living room, I couldn't help but think about how far we had come. The road hadn't always been smooth, but every twist and turn had only made our love stronger. I watched as Carson rolled her eyes at her brother, and Callum retaliated with a playful shove, a smile creeping onto my face.

No matter how moody the teenagers got, how messy life became, I knew we'd navigate through it together, just like we always had. And I couldn't wait to see what the next chapter held for our beautiful family.

I know. I said that was the last chapter but I had to give a little more. Sorry not sorry. <3