Bill’s POVThe second we step into the warehouse, I know this is going to get messy.It’s quiet—too quiet. The air is thick with oil, dust, and something else, something metallic that makes my stomach tighten. The place is huge, dimly lit by flickering overhead lights that cast long, eerie shadows a
Stevie’s POVThe call comes in just after midnight.I almost don’t answer.Elijah finally went down an hour ago, and I was hoping for maybe one solid stretch of sleep. But my phone vibrating on the nightstand sends a jolt through my system.No one calls this late unless it’s bad news.I grab my phon
Serena’s POVI don’t move from Bill’s side.The hospital room is dim, the only light coming from the monitors next to his bed, casting a soft glow over his face. His breathing is steady, but the sound of it isn’t enough to calm me. The machines beep in slow, measured rhythms, a reminder that he’s st
Calvin’s POVI should’ve done this sooner.For months, I’ve been playing defense, trying to keep my family safe while Sterling takes shot after shot. I’ve been reacting, scrambling to patch the holes he punches in our lives.But that ends now.Bill is in a hospital bed because of him.My son was nea
Stevie’s POVThe four of us sit in Bill and Serena’s living room, the weight of everything pressing down like a storm cloud.No one speaks at first.Bill is in a wheelchair, recovering from the gunshot wound that was meant for Calvin. His face is pale, drawn tight with exhaustion, but his eyes are s
Bill’s POVPain.That’s the first thing I register. A deep, dull ache pulsing through my ribs, spreading through my chest like a slow burn. It’s not unbearable, but it’s enough to remind me that I’m not at full strength. Not even close.I blink against the morning light filtering through the curtain
Serena’s POVThe house is finally quiet.I stand by the twins’ crib, watching their small chests rise and fall in slow, steady breaths. Their room is dimly lit by the soft glow of the nightlight, casting gentle shadows along the walls. For the first time in what feels like forever, they’re both asle
Calvin’s POVThe study smells like coffee, old paper, and exhaustion. The kind of exhaustion that doesn’t just sit in your bones but in your mind, making every thought feel heavier than it should. The desk lamp flickers slightly, casting uneven light over the chaos of blueprints, files, and scattere
Sunset Barbecue & Forever LoveSerena’s POVThere’s something about a perfect summer evening that makes me feel like we’ve done something right.The sun is just starting to set, casting that golden glow over our backyard, and the smell of barbecue fills the air. Kids’ laughter rings through the spac
The Sleepover from HellBill’s POVI don’t know how I got roped into this.One minute, I was minding my business, thinking about kicking back with a beer and watching the Lakers game. The next?I’m hosting a damn sleepover.Collin—our sweet, energetic, too-smart-for-his-own-good son—managed to convi
When Serena Got DrunkBill’s POVIt started out as a normal night.Just me, Serena, and a rare moment of freedom—no kids, no responsibilities, and no reason to be in bed by 10 p.m.I should’ve known it was going to get wild when she ordered her first margarita and said, “I deserve this.”By the thir
The Twins’ First Birthday BashSerena’s POVI told myself we were going to keep it simple.Something small, just close family and friends, maybe a cake, a few balloons, and a couple of presents. Nothing over the top.But I should’ve known better.Because the moment Calvin found out we were celebrati
The Worst Date Ever (And the Best Night After)Serena’s POVTonight was supposed to be perfect.A night just for us—no kids, no work stress, no last-minute interruptions. Just Bill and me, dressed up, out on the town, basking in the kind of luxury we rarely get to indulge in anymore. A night where w
Couples Therapy (Because Why Not?)Bill’s POVI have done a lot of things for my wife.I have sat through terrible rom-com marathons. I have held her purse in the middle of crowded shopping malls. I have eaten kale.But this?This might be the worst.Because somehow, someway, I have let Serena drag
When Serena Got JealousSerena’s POVI am not the jealous type.I am not the kind of woman who gets territorial, who glares at waitresses for being too friendly, or who overanalyzes every interaction Bill has with another woman.But this?This is different.Because Bill’s new assistant is young, fli
The Great Twin EscapeBill’s POVThere are few things in life more terrifying than waking up in the middle of the night to an eerie, unnatural silence.That’s what does it—the silence.When you’re the parent of three kids, you develop a sixth sense about these things. Normal nights come with backgro
Teaching Collin About LoveSerena’s POVIt starts at bedtime.Collin is curled up under his dinosaur blanket, his stuffed triceratops tucked beneath his arm, when he suddenly tilts his head and asks, “Mommy, how do you know when you love someone?”I pause, his question catching me off guard.From wh