Sophia sniffled. “Don’t mind me.” She waved a hand, wiping away a tear that fell while she looked at her daughter, who apparently had the same mood swings because she was already calmly minding her own business. “You’re the fucking baby whisperer…”
“Come here,” he said, opening his arm for her to cuddle beside him, and kissed the top of her head. “You’re the one who showed me how to calm her down so fast. Here. Hold her.” Marc gently turned Arya around and passed her to Sophia, both of them immediately smiling. He loved the connection they had. It was pure fantasy how this little girl already recognized the ones who would burn the world for her. “See? She’s just so smitten with her mom.”
“She’s the best baby.”
“That she is, but don’t tell the others I agreed with you.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.”
“Good.” Marc grinned, looking at his niece once again while her eyes followed the gentle sway of the drawstrings of his hoodie.
Big fucking sigh.He wanted a thousand like this, but knew that if the universe decided to work its magic and allowed him to be with the man he loved, chances were he’d never become a dad. Chris was surprisingly good with kids—they adored him—but he didn’t want that kind of responsibility, said he’d rather be the cool uncle.
“So what is it that has you so… sad?” she whispered.
“It’s just Chris.”
He hadn’t needed to tell her he was into his friend. Every time they’d performed in Hamburg, their mom had the entire crew crashing here to keep her company, and Sophia knew him all too well to not have noticed.
“You fought with him again?”
“What? No. Actually…” He bit the inside of his cheek. “I think we’re making progress.”
“That’s great. What’s the problem then?”
“He still acts… weird. There were a few nights back in Australia when we slept together—”
“A few.” Sophia snorted.
“I meansleeping.”
“Okay, okay.” She giggled.
“He was so against it at the beginning, so I have no idea what’s gotten into him. He was okay with cuddling at night, but still doesn’t want to call us a couple.”
“He can say whatever he wants, but from the things you’ve told me, that dude is sold on you.”
Marc chuckled bitterly. “A part of me thinks so, too, but… Maybe I’m just not it for him, no matter how much he likes me.”
“Bullshit. You’re the best human alive, if you weren’t my brother—”
“Don’t fucking end that sentence.” He cringed.
Sophia snickered. “You know what I mean.”
“Yeah. But that’s you, and we’re not all the same,” he said, drawing circles on her shoulder mindlessly.
“How long are you gonna keep putting up with this, Marc?”
“Until he tells me he’s found someone, I guess.” He shrugged, blankly staring ahead of them. “Have nothing better to do and no one else I wanna be with.”
“You can also be alone.”
“Yeah, nah. I’d rather keep being friends who fuck than just friends.”
“You’re such a masochist.”
“And you’re probably right.”
