So I kept my hands on the counter and swallowed the urge.
“You look tired,” she said, softer now.
“Long night,” I admitted.
Her gaze dipped—slow, knowing, deliberate. “Same.”
My pulse kicked hard against my ribs. I hoped she didn’t notice.
An awkward silence settled over us, but not the bad kind. The kind that meant we were thinking a lot, maybe the same thing, maybe not, but both of us were too unsure to say it out loud.
I cleared my throat. “I, uh… gotta head in soon. Wednesdays are heavy.”
She nodded. “Big practice day.”
“Yeah.”
Another beat of quiet.
I wanted to kiss her again. God, I wanted to. She was right there—sleep-warm, soft-eyed, wearing my clothes like she belonged in them. But I wasn’t risking pushing her before she was ready.
“Lunch is on the counter,” I managed. “If you want it.”
“I do,” she said gently. “Thank you again.”
A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, tired but warm. It landed square in my chest. “Hey,” I said, nearing her and fighting every impulse to kiss her. “Do you have plans tonight?”
That wrinkled appeared again. “What do you mean?”
“I want to spend time with you,” I said, cupping her face and running my thumb over her bottom lip. She sucked in a breath, eyes widening as I licked my lips. Her skin was so damn smooth and soft. “I can’t take you on a nice date or a fancy dinner. Not with Miles now, but I can cook for you. Put on your favorite show.”
“Noah,” she said, smiling as she leaned into my hand. God,my hand almost covered her entire face. She was so fucking cute. “I don’t want a nice date or fancy dinner. That’s not me.”
I couldn’t stop the smile. “Yeah, you’re more ramen in the library or pizza on paper plates on the floor, aren’t you?”
Something flashed across her face, and I couldn’t catch what it meant. I wasn’t sure if her expression was embarrassment or worse. But I didn’t get a chance to react. Small, loud footsteps thudded down the hall, and Em slipped out of my hand, her face pink with a blush.
“Uncle Miles! I rode a dragon with mom! She-she-she was there and told me she loved me.”
Fuck. Every mention of my sister was physically painful in my gut. And Em sucked in a breath, reaching out to grip my forearm in warning. Sassy’s tail thumped hard on the floor as Miles skidded to a halt in his Batman pajamas and messy hair.
“Hi, girl!” He bent down to pet her, and Sassy was overjoyed. Her tail thumped harder as she got up and kissed and snuggled Miles to the point he giggled. “She loves me! Uncle Miles, watch me! She loves me! Em do you see this!”
“I sure do!” Em crouched and grabbed Sassy gently by the collar to remove her from Miles’s lap. “You know, people say that dogs are the best judge of character.”
“Judge?”
“Yeah, like they determine who really good people are and they only love and snuggle the good ones.”
“Like me?”
“Exactly like you.”
Miles beamed and hugged Sassy hard. I moved to stop it, but Sassy took the hug and laid her head on top of Miles’s shoulder. Em met my eyes, her gaze softening with emotion as Sassy seemed to hug Miles back.
God, my eyes prickled seeing how this damn dog was bringing Miles’s joy back to life. There was no way he couldhandle Sassy leaving. I cleared my throat and moved to him, holding out a fist. “Hey, buddy, you gonna be good for Ms. Em today?”
“Oh yes. Adventures, right?”
