Fourteen days. No word. No message. No call. Just silence.
Erin was unraveling. Cass tried to help—distracting her with Broadway, baby plans, pizza, anything to keep her from breaking. But every night, Erin curled up with Detective Chuckles, whispering a prayer she was scared no one could hear:
“Please be okay, Jay.”
And then… 📱 “Hey babe… still remember me?”
A breath. A sob. A trembling video call. He’s alive. He’s tired. And he missed her.
But the light in his eyes? Dimmed. The smile? Fragile. And under the teasing… Erin can feel it—he’s not okay.
So she pushes. She listens. She fights to keep them in the light.
Until the truth comes out: 🧠 A mission that changed him. 🧸 A bear that’s seen too many tears. 💬 A confession: “You weren’t part of the equation… and now I don’t know how to be without you.”
And just when her heart starts to steady, Cass knocks on the door. Erin sends her away. Because tonight? She needs Jay more.
But even with love burning across the distance… Even as they talk about kids, about laces, about someday— The pain is still there. The ghosts. The guilt. The past.
She wants to help. But he’s still holding back.
🔍 Do you think Jay’s ready to open up fully? 🧸 What do you think Chuckles heard during those 14 days? 👀 Did you catch how much Erin's starting to hope for more?
📖 Read Chapter 10 now:
🔗 Read on AO3 🔗 Read on FF.net 🔗 Read on Wattpad
