Like he'd done it a thousand times before.
He had, I realized. Years ago, this was how we moved through the world. His hand on my back, my body angled toward his, two people who fit together without trying.
The table was already crowded when we arrived. Captain Rodriguez and his wife, Maria, had claimed the corner booth, Martinez and Kowalski were arguing about something sports-related, and Brian was waving us over while Ava saved two seats.
"Sloane! You made it!" Brian pulled out a chair for me.
I slid into the seat, feeling the shift in the room.
I'd been around these people before, at fire scenes, at the station, during the Lang investigation. But that had been professional. Colleague territory.
This was different. This was drinks after hours, easy laughter, the inner circle opening up.
"Sloane, you've met Maria?" Rodriguez gestured to his wife, who had warm eyes and a ready smile.
"I haven't, actually." I reached across to shake her hand. "It's nice to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine." Maria's handshake was warm and firm. "I've read your work in the Times. The Lang investigation, the Vickers exposé—very impressive. I'm honored to finally meet you in person."
"Thank you. That means a lot."
I caught Garrett's expression from the corner of my eye. He was watching the exchange with something that looked almost like pride—the corner of his mouth turned up just slightly.
"Where's Shane?" he asked, scanning the table.
"Home with Maya," Brian said. "She wasn't feeling well tonight."
"Is she okay?"
"She's fine. Just the pregnancy hitting her hard. Fifth month and all." Brian shrugged. "Shane didn't want to leave her alone. You know how he is."
The word landed like a stone in still water.
Pregnancy.
I kept my face neutral. Smiled. Nodded.
Somewhere in the background, the conversation continued without me.
"The kids are with my mother tonight," Rodriguez was saying, settling back with his beer. "First night out in weeks. I intend to enjoy it."
"Lucia and Marco are withAbuela, and suddenly he remembers he has a social life," Maria teased, patting his arm.
Laughter rippled around the table. Martinez said something about Rodriguez being whipped. Kowalski disagreed. Brian was flagging down a server for another round.
But I wasn't really listening.
I was thinking about another pregnancy. Another future we'd planned.
The nursery Garrett and I had started imagining. The names we'd whispered in the dark. The life we'd been building together before it all fell apart.
Garrett's hand found my shoulder. Warm. Steady. A question disguised as comfort.
Are you okay?
I smiled up at him. Nodded.
His hand lingered for a moment. Then he returned to the conversation, seamlessly jumping into the debate about whether Rodriguez was whipped, drawing the attention away from me.
