Chapter 57: Rising Flames

Maya I observed Jackson as he slept peacefully, his light snores signaling that he had finally succumbed to a deep slumber. Coaxing him into sleep had proven to be a challenge—a big one; he had been darting around the house all day like a cat, his energy seemingly boundless that stressed me out. It was his birthday, and I couldn't find it in me to ask him to slow down. Nate, his best friend, mirrored the same relentless energy—like a six-year-old kid. They were like two children, and adding Tyrone, Kael, and Liam to the mix only intensified the chaos. Handling just one kid was tough enough, let alone four more. A small smile played on my lips at the thought of Nate, but I quickly shook it off, feeling a blush creep onto my cheeks. I was out of my mind.  I pressed a gentle kiss on Jackson’s cheek before pulling away, grabbing my empty water bottle, and descending downstairs. Closing the door cautiously behind me, I made sure not to make any noise that could disrupt my baby's slumber. He