“You know,” I teased, leaning on the counter. “A little fun. Bedtime rebellions. Impromptu ice cream trips. Maybe dancing around the kitchen?”
He gave me that look, a blend of amusement and curiosity. “You’re planning to corrupt my little girl?”
“Absolutely not,” I said, feigning innocence.
He shook his head then, and laughed deep in a way that reached his eyes.
“She’s… excited you’re going to stay with her. I think that’d helped make her feel better.”
“That makes two of us,” I said with a grin.
He tilted his head, studying me. “You nervous?”
“Maybe a little.”
“About what?”
I pretended to count on my fingers. “Keeping a small human alive. Following the world’s most detailed schedule. Accidentally traumatizing said small human by using the wrong toothpaste flavor.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “You’ll be fine. Honestly, you’re already her favorite person.”
“Yeah, well, she’s biased.”
“Not even,” he said, and his voice softened just enough to make my heart skip. “She really adores you, Dani.”
The air buzzed around us. It was not in a romantic or sweeping way, more like a quiet recognition. My heartbeat quickened just a bit, a subtle warmth spreading from my chest, grounding me in the moment.
I looked away first, then back at the folder. “Okay, let’s see. School, dance, bedtime—check. What about you? When are you heading out?”
“In a few minutes,” he said. “I’m heading out before the traffic kicks up.”
I nodded, pressing my lips together. “You ready?”
“Not even a little,” he admitted, his voice laced with a vulnerability that was hard to miss. Logan’s jaw tightened, a fleeting moment of tension that betrayed his inner turmoil. “I hate leaving her.”
I wanted to say something comforting, something eloquent, but all I managed was, “You’re coming back. She knows that.”
He gave a small smile. “Yeah. I just wish it didn’t hurt her so much in the meantime.”
“She’s six,” I said softly. “Everything feels big when you’re six.”
Logan nodded slowly as his gaze drifted toward the hallway where Harper was now singing to herself. “Yeah.”
When he finally stood, he looked at me again. “You sure you’re okay with this?”
“I am,” I said softly. “Go do what you need to do.”
He hesitated at the doorway, shoulders tense like he was trying to memorize everything before he left. Then he smiled in a small, grateful, slightly sad way.
“Thank you,” he said. “Really.”
“You already thanked me, remember?” I teased lightly. “Twice. I’m keeping count.”
He smirked, shaking his head. “Fair enough, counselor.”
We both laughed, the sound fading as our eyes met again.
It was just us.
