She shouldn't know me well enough to know what I need.
39
VIOLET
I standbeside Drew on the front porch, waving as Ivy and Sebastian head toward the driveway. His arm is around her waist, and she laughs at something he says.
He gazes down at her with complete adoration.
They’re so damn cute.
That will be Drew and me.
Soon.
I adjust Luna in my arms, then turn to Drew.
He’s staring at me with an odd expression on his face. His gaze drops to Luna, then lifts to mine.
And for a moment, he looks… smitten.
But then it’s gone.
He steps back and holds the door, gesturing for me to go inside.
“You’re probably tired after helping me move. Probably have better things to do?—”
“Actually, I’m not,” I say calmly. “And I don’t mind staying a little longer and helping Luna get settled in.”
He blinks at me, like he wasn’t expecting that. “Oh…um… okay.”
I follow him back inside, noticing the stiff set of his shoulders.
I set Luna on the floor, and she resumes sniffing.
Drew watches her, his body tense.
I move closer, lightly touching his arm. “Relax. She’ll be fine. She’s just adjusting.”
His gaze moves to my fingers. He swallows hard before his eyes meet mine. “Yeah.” He forces a smile. “I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
Translation: he's not sure she'll be fine at all.
Don’t worry, Drew. She’ll be fine as long as I’m here.
And I have no intention of going anywhere.
An hour later,Luna has finally stopped exploring every corner and claimed the arm of the couch like she’s lived here her whole life. Her tail flicks lazily as she watches us, unimpressed.
Drew sits beside me, shoulders slightly slumped, the tension from earlier still lingering in his posture.
He looks… tired.
Not just physically.
Something deeper than that.
Without saying a word, I go to the kitchen and return a few minutes later with his favorite snack—a bowl of kettle corn and two sodas.
