Her shoulders rise with a slow inhale.
“Okay.”
Just that.
Okay.
My lungs unlock.
I don’t grin. I don’t pump a fist like I just scored in overtime.
I step forward and pull her into my arms.
It’s instinct.
She stiffens for half a second. Then she exhales and melts just enough to count.
She fits.
That’s the first thought.
The second is more dangerous.
This feels right.
Her cheek brushes my collarbone. My hand spreads against her back. Warm. Steady. Real.
I didn’t realize how tight my chest was until this moment.
“Thank you,” I murmur into her hair.
“For Maddie,” she says.
“For us,” I correct quietly.
She doesn’t argue.
We separate before it turns into something else.
Intentional.
“We should tell her tonight,” she says.
“Yes.”
“And we take two cars.”
I blink. “What?”
“So it makes sense when I leave.”
Right.
She thinks three steps ahead. Always.
“Two cars,” I agree.
Daisy stands and trots to the door like she’s coming too.
