We stay wrapped around each other for what seems like forever. Her breath warms the side of my neck, her fingers tangled in my shirt like she’s afraid I’ll disappear if she lets go.
The house is quiet except for the whirr of the furnace and the faint creak of footsteps on the stairs. A moment later, Alec appears in the doorway. He doesn’t say anything at first—just stands there, hands in his pockets, his expression soft but full of gravity.
His eyes flick to where Olivia’s still curled in my lap, her cheek pressed against my chest, and then back to me. “She’s sleeping. Paige will be okay.”
Relief surges through me, sharp and sweet. I want to see her and will but not now. I nod, swallowing past the tightness in my throat.
Olivia exhales, a long shaky breath, and her body loosens against mine. “Thank you.”
Alec nods, his gaze lingering on us a beat longer than necessary. He’s studying me, assessing as if deciding whether Bas would approve of what he sees. Whatever conclusion he reaches, it brings a faint, satisfied smile to his lips.
“Good… That’s good.” He shifts his gaze to Olivia. “You should get some sleep, chère fille. The both of you should.”
There’s a fatherly warmth in his tone, but also his quiet authority that never really needs volume to be heard.
Olivia tries to get up, words spilling from her about taking Drew’s bed and she needs to get Alec towels. I hold on firmly and quiet her with a gentle kiss on her temple.
“I’ll figure it out.” Alec turns toward the door, but not before resting a hand on my shoulder and giving it a firm squeeze. It’s the same gesture Bas used to give—a silent, grounding reassurance.
“Take care of them.”
“I will.”
When he heads upstairs, the house settles back into stillness. Outside, the wind howls softly through the trees, brushing against the windows like a lullaby. Olivia’s fingers tighten around mine, her body melting farther into me.
“Sam?” she murmurs, half-asleep already.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you…for coming back.”
My chest swells, the words lodging deep. I press a kiss to her hair and whisper against her temple, “Always.”
Because I would. Again and again. No matter the distance, the doubts, the mistakes.
She’s it for me.
And sitting there in the dim quiet of her living room—with her heartbeat steady against my chest and Alec’s words still echoing in my head—I know one thing for certain.
Bas would be proud.
37
OLIVIA
Ipull into my driveway, and the day’s victory fades fast as I catch sight of Pete standing halfway up the drive. So much for a clean ending to the day.
Since I found out about Erin, he’s been trying to talk—calls, texts, messages relayed through Paige—and I’ve ignored every one of them. It’s not my business who he sleeps with anymore, least of all my former friend. But seeing him here, waiting…
For a fleeting second, the thought of Sam finding Pete on my doorstep skitters across my mind, sharp and unsettling. The idea alone sends a prickling rush down my spine. Sam showing up last night stunned me, but it also brought immense relief. Just seeing him, hearing his voice, it was like air after drowning.
We hadn’t had a chance to really talk, not with Alec and Paige around, though I sensed he wanted to. Paige was thrilled to have them both here, basking in their attention. It did my heart good to see her laughing again.
Preparing myself for the inevitable confrontation, I mentally catalogue my day to steady my nerves. It had gone well.
Mrs. Preston signed off on the final designs, the orders are placed, and everything is set to arrive on time. For once, the universe seemed to be aligning in my favor.
And now…this.
