My eyes flick past her to Grayce and widen.“Maddie… look,” I whisper.
She turns.
Grayce grips the couch cushion, in a standing position like she was at the park.Her legs quiver, face scrunched in fierce determination as she glances at Maddie, then at me, as if she’s asking for permission.Maybe looking for support?
Before I can cheer her on, she lets go.
Once again, we hold our breath as she sways, and then… she takes one step.
Her arms flail, but her other leg moves forward.Another step.
Then a third step.
You can see the realization on her face that she’s done something monumental, and a sliver of shock passes through her eyes.I watch as she considers her options—go forward or fall down.
She takes another step.
Maddie and I cheer so loud, she startles, entire body jolting with eyes wide before plopping down on her butt.She stares at us, stunned by her own gravity.
“She walked!”Maddie’s shout cracks high, her hands flying to her mouth.
“She walked!”I shout, the words tearing out of me like a goal call.
Maddie starts clapping, hopping on her toes like she can’t hold the energy in.Grayce stares at her with round eyes.
I don’t even think—I grab Maddie by the waist and spin her once, both of us laughing too hard to breathe.When her feet hit the ground again, we’re still tangled close, her hands braced on my chest, my grip firm at her hips.
The laughter ebbs, but the closeness doesn’t.We’re nose to nose, breathless, hearts pounding with the same wild rhythm.Her eyes lock on mine, wide and shining, and the whole world shrinks to the air between us.
I don’t think.I move.
My mouth finds hers.
It’s soft for a second but then her lips part, and heat roars between us—hungry, desperate, like we’ve been waiting weeks instead of seconds.My hand fists in her hair, hers grip my arm, anchoring herself as much as me.
Grayce squeals, followed by a bubbling laugh, and we break apart.I glance to see our kid crawling for the stuffed lion again.
“What the hell was that?”Maddie blurts, and I turn to face her.My gaze goes between her and Grayce, who now looks up at us.
I don’t answer Maddie but go to our daughter and pick her up.I set her down in her bouncy chair, give her a teething ring, then turn to Maddie.I grab her hand and pull her to the hallway so Grayce doesn’t see or hear this.Not that she’d understand it.
Maddie pulls her hand away and spins on me.“I repeat… what the hell was that?”
I swipe a hand over my mouth, voice rough.“A kiss.”
“Yeah… a kiss.”She puts her hands on her hips.“You kissed me.”
“Yeah,” I say evenly, not willing to be the one at fault here.“And you kissed me back.”
Her cheeks flush hot.“That was—it was the excitement.Grayce walked.We were just caught up.”
I should let it go.Hell, I should walk away right now.Instead, I take two steps and cover her mouth with mine again.This time it doesn’t start soft.It’s volatile from the start, full of the truth I’ve been biting back.She stiffens for a fraction of a second, then melts, kissing me back with equal fire.
When we break apart, we’re both breathing hard.Her fingers are curled in the front of my T-shirt like she forgot how to let go.
“This is…” Her voice cracks, breathless.“Atlas, this is a terrible idea.”
“Yeah,” I rasp, forehead dropping to hers.“The worst.”
