The silence hangs for a moment, heavy but comforting. I stretch on the couch, wrapping the blanket tighter around me. “Movie’s over anyway,” I say, glancing at Carter.
Once inside my room, I close the door and take a moment to breathe, Carter leans against the bed frame, watching me with that soft, golden retriever grin, and I start braiding my hair with the elastic band looped around my wrist.
Carter’s gaze follows the movement. “You really always braid it before bed huh?”
I nod. “Unless I want to wake up looking like I got into a fight with the pillowcase.”
“Can I… do it?”
My brows lift. “You want to braid my hair?”
He shrugs, but there’s a bashful flush rising to his cheeks. “I wanna learn.”
I twist around and hand him the brush. “Okay. First step is detangle, gently.”
He laughs under his breath as I scoot forward on the bed, settling between his knees, facing away from him. He starts brushing carefully.
“You’re doing good.”
“I’m terrified,” he whispers back. “Your hair is magic. If I mess it up, Tate will probably hex me.”
His fingers slow as he finishes brushing. I reach back and grab three small sections, holding them up over my shoulder. “Okay. Take these. Left, middle, right. You start by crossing the right one over the middle. Like this—”
He mirrors me carefully. “Got it.”
“Now the left over the new middle. Keep alternating, and keep them tight or it’s gonna fall out like my will to live during a ten-hour stream.”
Carter snorts. “You’re so dramatic.”
“Says the guy who full-body sighs when he loses in casual.”
I feel him smile against the back of my neck. “You’re distracting me.”
“Good. Now focus.”
His fingers are a little clumsy at first, but he gets the rhythm. His hands settle, warm and confident. He leans in slightly as he works, his breath soft against the shell of my ear. He finishes the braid with a final twist and ties the band around it. “Okay. Done. I think.”
I reach up and feel it, it’s slightly uneven, a little loose, but definitely recognizable. I twist around to face him. “Not bad for a first try.” He beams.
For a long second, we just sit there like that. Then he tugs me into his lap, tucking my legs over his, arms around my waist. “Come on, baby,” he murmurs against my temple. “Let’s go to sleep now.”
He pulls me close without a word, one arm snug around my waist, the other tucking under the pillow. His breath is warm against the back of my neck, his chest pressed to my spine.
“You sure you’re okay Haven?”
“I don’t know,” My fingers curl around his forearm where it rests against my stomach. “It’s all starting to feel… big. Bigger than me. The tournament, the fans, the rumors, theexpectations.” I swallow hard. “I didn’t think it would get this far. I didn’t plan for this.”
His nose brushes the back of my shoulder, a soft kiss following. “You don’t have to carry it alone.”
“I know.” My voice is quieter now. “But I also don’t want to let you down., or Tate. Or everyone watching.”
Carter shifts, propping himself up on one elbow so he can look at me. His hand finds my cheek, thumb brushing gently along my jaw. “Haven. You’ve already made us proud. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone.”
I blink up at him in the dark. “Even if I choke?”
He smiles. “Especially if you choke.”
A shaky laugh bubbles out of me. “You’re theworstat pep talks.”
