He tells me about school between levels—how Jenny is annoyingly good at math, how his group project partner never does his share. I tell him about Quinn. About shopping. About how weird it is having people carry your bags.
He laughs at that. "Dad never carries his own bags either."
"That tracks."
Henry explains a game mechanic I missed in my last playthrough. I show him a shortcut through the forest level that saves ten minutes. We debate whether the final boss is harder than the secret boss.
It's easy.
And fun.
And I don't realize how much time has passed until I hear the front door open.
Arthur is home.
He stops in the doorway, watching us.
I glance up mid-sentence, controller still in hand, and freeze.
His expression isn't guarded. Or analytical.
It's… soft.
Henry doesn't notice, too focused on the screen. But I do.
I see the way Arthur's gaze moves between us—between his son, relaxed and laughing, and me, sitting cross-legged on the floor like I belong there.
Something flickers across his face. Surprise, maybe. Or relief.
Or something deeper that I don't have a name for yet.
I force myself to look away, heart pounding for no logical reason.
"We're almost done with this level," I say quickly. "Then I'll get out of your way."
Arthur shakes his head. "You're not in my way."
Henry pauses the game, finally noticing his father. "Dad, Lindsay knowsLegends. Like, actually knows it."
Arthur's mouth twitches—almost a smile. "I gathered."
Henry beams, then unpauses the game. "Okay, watch this move—"
I refocus on the screen, but my awareness stays locked on Arthur.
On the way he lingers in the doorway, with a slight smile hovering on the edge of his lips.
Twenty minutes later, we finally clear the level.
Henry whoops, throwing his hands up in victory. I laugh, setting the controller down, stretching muscles I didn't realize I'd tensed.
"Okay," I say, standing. "I need water."
"Me too," Henry says immediately, already scrambling to his feet.
We head toward the kitchen together, Henry chattering about the next boss fight, and I realize Arthur has moved.
He's no longer in the doorway.
