My eyes burn and I blink hard. “I smiled yesterday.”
Harper smiles back. “See? Baby steps.”
I laugh softly, wiping at my cheek like it’s just an itch and not emotion trying to wreck me. My gaze flicks upward—straight into Gavin’s.
He’s standing near the edge of the room, watching us. Watchingme.
And the look on his face is so intense it makes my breath catch.
Not just protective.
Not just attracted.
Something deeper.
Something that scares me, because it mirrors what’s happening inside my chest.
Like he can see me here—on the floor, next to Harper, watching the babies—and he’s imagining it too.
A future.
A life.
A home.
My heart stutters.
I look away fast, because if I let myself stare too long, I might start believing in things I’ve never believed in before.
Like happy endings.
Like safety.
Like love.
Aidan grabs Poppi’s sock now, and Poppi squeals again, kicking her legs wildly like she’s starting a tiny wrestling match.
Chase leans down from behind me. “We should probably place bets.”
Harper shoots him a look. “No betting on babies.”
Chase sighs dramatically. “This place used to be fun.”
“Your idea of fun is harassing Rhett,” Wyatt calls.
“That’severyone’sidea of fun,” Chase fires back.
Even Rhett’s mouth twitches again.
And I laugh. I really laugh. Because for the first time in what feels like forever, I can picture it.
Not running.
Not hiding.
Not flinching every time a car door shuts outside.
I can picture waking up here.
