Her shoulders relax a fraction.
I step into the hallway and pull the door mostly shut behind me. The house smells like pine and firewood and leftover sugar cookies. Christmas, but the real kind. Not the staged version.
“I just wanted to check in,” Susan says. “An Uber’s taking me home. I’ll be back in the morning to grab her. We’re heading up to the Cape—my friend Irene’s.”
I nod. “Sounds good.”
She studies my face for a long moment. Not suspicious. Measuring.
“I’ve got this,” I say, meeting her eyes. “Merry Christmas.”
Something soft passes through her expression. Approval, maybe. Or relief.
“Merry Christmas, Leo,” she says. Then, as she’s turning away, I add?—
“Can I… come too? Tomorrow to the Cape?”
She pauses.
Looks back at me.
A slow, knowing smile curves her mouth. “We’ll see.”
And then she’s gone, the door closing quietly behind her.
I stand there for a second longer than necessary, listening to the house settle. To the wind outside. To Jade’s steady breathing through the door.
For the first time in a long time, I don’t feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Chapter 25
JADE
I wake up confused.
Not panic-confused. Just… slow. Heavy. Wrapped in something warm that doesn’t belong to my bed.
There’s a fire popping somewhere nearby. A low, steady crackle. The faint smell of pine and sugar and smoke. And arms.
Arms around me.
I freeze for half a second.
Then I remember.
Leo.
Last night comes back in fragments. Cookies. Terrible movies. Laughing so hard my stomach hurt. His shoulder under my cheek. Me saying I’d just rest my eyes.
Apparently, I lied.
I shift slightly and realize I’m curled against him, my back to his chest, his arm draped over my waist like it’s always been there. Like it belongs. We’re both still in the ridiculous matching Christmas pajamas. My feet are tucked between his calves for warmth.
I’m… comfortable.
Dangerously comfortable.
