He looks up first.
His eyes soften.
“You’re up.”
The simple, steady way he says it makes something melt inside me.
Finn looks over his shoulder.“Morning, sunshine.”
Atlas doesn’t look up, but his voice is low.“You sleep?”
I nod, stepping fully into the hallway.“I did.”
Finn grins triumphantly like he personally tucked me in and stood watch like a knight of the round table.“Knew it.Kael said the house’s HVAC system was too loud.I said nah—she’ll sleep.”
Kael lifts a brow.“I didn’t say too loud.”
“You implied,” Finn fires back.
Atlas grunts.“Both of you shut up.”
For the first time in what feels like months, I laugh.It’s soft and small and brief, but it’s real.Finn beams like he just won something.Kael hides a smile in his coffee mug.Atlas goes still—not confused, but listening to the sound like it means something.
“Food?”Finn asks.“We’ve got eggs.Toast.Fruit.Leftover pasta from last night which Kael claims he’ll eat but I know he won’t because he’s secretly a snob—”
Kael cuts him off.“I eat pasta.”
Atlas stands, finishing the last roll of the air mattress like he’s strangling a particularly stubborn snake.“You eat the same three things.”
Finn nods.“Which are—?”
“Chicken.Rice.Broccoli,” Atlas says.
“Exactly!”Finn seems delighted to have backup.
Kael sets his coffee down.“I’m surrounded by children.”
I smile again.Maybe bigger this time.
Finn sets a plate in front of me—a perfect omelet with herbs and a ridiculous swirl of sriracha shaped like a heart.“Chef Finn, at your service.”
I stare at the plate, emotion pushing against my throat like pressure behind my sternum.“Thank you.”
He shrugs, trying to play it cool.“You’re welcome.”
Atlas slides my coffee toward me.“Not too strong.You seemed like a medium roast person.”
The fact he observed that...
Something tightens pleasantly in my chest.
Kael taps the counter once.“After breakfast, we’re taking you out.”
I blink.“Taking me out?”
Finn throws his arms wide.“Boston!You live here now, but you haven’t actually seen anything except your apartment and the rink.”
“That’s not true,” I say weakly.
