Watching something that mattered.
A familiar voice came from just behind Caitlin. “Thought I was seeing things.”
Izzy looked up.
“Scout,” she said, a grin breaking through the emotion as he stepped into view.
He pulled her into a quick, solid hug of his own, careful and warm.
“Hell of a night to show up, Moreno,” he said. “Leave it to you to turn a birthday party into an event.”
“So I’ve heard,” she said, laughing a little as she drew back. “Caitlin’s kept me fully updated on your romantic life, by the way. Agent Quinn? Really?”
Scout smiled, something softer in his eyes. “Yeah. Really.”
“Good,” Izzy said, no hesitation. “I’m so damn happy for you.”
Whatever had once been sharp and complicated between them flickered and settled into something steadier. Gratitude. Affection. History. Nothing that asked for more.
Burke stood a few steps back, hands on his hips, watching Caitlin like the rest of the world didn’t exist.
Worth it.
All of it.
Grant didn’t look at Burke.
Didn’t look at anyone else.
He watched Izzy.
The way her expression changed—softer, deeper, something real and unguarded he hadn’t seen before.
Caitlin finally drew back, wiping at her face, laughing a little through it.
“You’re staying, right?” she said immediately.
Izzy smiled. “For a little while.”
“Good. You don’t get to leave again.”
“Bossy.”
“You love it.”
“I do.”
Caitlin caught her hand and turned, already pulling her into the center of everything.
“Come on. You have to see this—he did all of this?—”
Izzy let herself be pulled.
Laughing now.
Alive in it.
Grant exhaled slowly.
