Page 35 of Diesel’s Second Chance

"I was drunk."

"You were honest." His thumb strokes across my knuckles. "I stayed up another hour after that call, thinking about you in this city all alone, struggling through exams and homesickness. Wished I could've been here to help."

"You were there. Every phone call, every text. You and Tommy both kept me sane from three hours away." I squeeze his hand. "I wouldn't have made it through without you."

"Yeah, you would have. You're stronger than you think."

"Maybe. But I'm glad I didn't have to find out."

Tommy starts squirming in Jackson's lap, bored with sitting still. Jackson sets him on the bench seat beside him and pulls out a small toy truck from his jacket pocket, always prepared.

"You're good at this," I observe, watching Jackson keep our son entertained.

"At what?"

"Being a dad. Being present. Knowing what he needs before he asks."

Jackson's ears go slightly pink. "I'm just making it up as I go."

"We both are. But you're really good at it." I take a sip of hot chocolate. "Our son's lucky to have you."

"I'm lucky to have him. Both of you." He looks at me over the rim of his mug. "Three years ago, I never thought I'd have this. A wife, a kid, a family. Figured I'd spend my life alone working in that garage."

"What changed?"

"You." Simple. Direct. "You changed everything, June."

My chest tightens with emotion. "The war changed everything."

"No. You did. The war just forced my hand." He sets his mug down. "I would've kept hiding my feelings forever if I hadn't been facing death. But you… You made me want to be brave. Made me want more than just existing."

"Jackson…"

"I mean it." He reaches across, tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "You saved me, June. Long before I ever told you how I felt. Just by being you. By staying in my life even when it was hard. By choosing me when you didn't have to."

"I'll always choose you."

"Good. Because you're stuck with me now."

"Mama crying?" Tommy asks, looking concerned.

"Happy tears, baby." I wipe my eyes, smiling. "Mama's just really happy."

"Happy!" Tommy repeats, then goes back to his truck.

We stay for another hour, finishing our hot chocolate and watching our son play. The shop fills with afternoon customers: college students mostly, looking just as stressed and tired as I once was. I watch them and feel a strange mix of nostalgia and gratitude. Grateful I survived those years. Grateful they led me here.

Before we leave, I pull out my keys and find the smallest one, the key to our house, the one Jackson gave me when we got married. I find a clear spot near the edge of the table and carve something.

*J.R. + J.R. + T.R.*

Jackson Reed, June Reed, and Thomas Reed.

"Our family," I say, showing him. "Officially part of this place now."

Jackson studies the carving, then takes the key and adds something below it.

*2026*