I stay close without hovering, hands ready just in case. Mason is gentle, careful, narrating everything he does to the dog like Argyle understands every word. Something in my chest loosens watching it. The noise in my head quiets.
This is easy.
Not the situation. Not the history. But being here, in this space, with a kid who laughs easily and a dog who demands affection without conditions. I catch myself smiling without meaning to and don’t immediately hate myself for it.
Maybe Carlie’s right. Maybe happiness isn’t something you have to earn.
Theo calls Mason over to show him the fire pole, explaining the rules with exaggerated seriousness. Mason listens like it’s the most important briefing of his life, nodding solemnly even though he’s vibrating with excitement and still petting Argyle, who is now leaning onto the kid’s leg.
I’ve always wanted kids.
I swallow it down like I always do, because wanting something doesn’t mean you’re entitled to it. Wanting something didn’t stop me from breaking Harper’s heart six years ago, and it won’t magically make me safer now.
But for the first time all day, the self-loathing eases just enough to let something lighter take its place. And I don’t hate myself for that either.
Mason bounces between stations like the building was designed specifically to hold his attention.
Benny lets him brush Argyle for exactly thirty seconds before the dog decides this has gone on long enough and flops onto his side, demanding belly rubs instead. Mason obliges enthusiastically, narrating the entire process in a stream of delighted commentary that makes a few of the guys laugh as they pass by. Theo shows him the lockers, explaining what goes where and why everything has a place. Even Garrett reins himself in long enough to answer questions without being an ass.
I stay close, close enough to intervene if I need to, far enough back that Mason feels like this is his adventure and not something being managed for him. It’s instinctive. Protecting without smothering. I hadn’t realized how naturally that settles into my bones until I’m doing it.
The whole time, Harper wears the strangest expression.
I catch her watching me again, still unreadable. There’s a tightness around her mouth that wasn’t there earlier, something working its way to her face, whether she wants it to or not. I don’t look away this time, and she takes it for an invitation, so she sidles up to me.
“This place is… a lot,” she says quietly when Mason darts ahead with Theo.
“It can be,” I admit. “But it’s good chaos.”
She hums thoughtfully. “Mason would thrive on that.”
He would, my mind supplies immediately. He’s curious. He listens. He thinks before he acts. He asks questions because he wants to understand, not because he wants attention. I picture him older, taller, still asking why things work the way they do, still lighting up when he figures something out.
I force the thought away before it roots too deeply.
Chief Morales appears then, materializing at my side like he always does when he wants a word without making a production out of it. He watches Mason for a moment, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Harper, seeing my boss come over to me, leaves to speak with Mason about his latest discovery—our boots.
Morales folds his arms over his barrel chest. He’s a short man, thick, but none of us would ever mistake him for being out of shape. I am certain he can still outperform the rest of us, even in his late fifties. His usual grumble is quiet this time. “That’s a good woman. And that kid adores you.”
He’s right. But I don’t know what to say.
“That’s the woman from way back? The one you nearly got fired over?”
I snort at that. “You weren’t going to fire me?—”
“Like hell I wasn’t. You came back with your head so far up your ass that we couldn’t deal with you. I told Lizzie to fix it or else. If she hadn’t gotten you to calm the hell down by beating your ass in the boxing ring, you woulda been out.”
Every type of truth has a certain flavor to it. Biting truth is bitter, and at the moment, I taste chicory. “She’s got a hell of a right hook.”
He nods once, then pats my shoulder. “I wouldn’t go up against her.”
I chuckle at that. “Do you believe in second chances, Chief?”
“When something is burnt, it’s burnt. There’s no un-burning it.” He gives the two of them a long look. “But I don’t think you set this thing on fire just yet.”
“How come?”
