Page 148 of Beneath the Quiet

She tilts her head at me, for once not returning my smile.

“Are you sick?”

I shake my head. “No, sweetie. I’m just very, very tired.” I tap the side of my head. “You ever get the feeling that your mind is exhausted even when your body isn’t?” She nods quickly. “That’s how I feel. Are you okay with me sleeping in the guest bedroom?”

“Yes.” This time, she gives me a shy smile, making my chest ache in the sweetest way. “I like it when you’re here.”

“I like being here, too.”

“You make Dad smile in a way I haven’t seen before.” She bites her lip. “And I like that he makes you smile in the same way, too.”

“Oh,” I breathe, the ache tightening even more. “I do?”

“Yeah. It’s like you share a super good secret with each other.” She puts her hand on her chest, over her heart. “I like it. It feels good right here.”

I reach for her and pull her into a hug. She wraps her arms around me at once, causing the ache to turn into warmth.

“It means the world to me that you feel like that,” I whisper. “Thank you for telling me.”

“You’re welcome.” When we pull apart, she grins up at me. “Besides, with you staying over tonight, we might convince Dad to make pancakes in the morning.”

Her grin is infectious, and this time, I don’t have to force a smile.

“Deal.”

“What are the two of you grinning at?”

I look up at Aidan walking in, joining our happy bubble, and my grin softens.

“Just making plans for breakfast,” Katie chirps and stretches her arms over her head.

He raises an eyebrow. “Do these plans end with me making pancakes?”

She nods, eyes dancing with mirth. “Yup.”

He shakes his head but then winks at me, making my tummy flip. “Yeah, I thought as much.”

She tilts her head at him. “Pink ones? Please?”

“We’ll see.” He jerks a thumb in the direction of the kitchen. “Katie, please set the table while we wait for the food to get here.”

“Okay, Dad.”

She jumps up and practically skips away. Aidan takes her place beside me and rests his arm on the back of the sofa, his hand falling on my shoulder. He starts rubbing in slow circles, and I move into his side.

“This is probably much too early to tell you this, but I adore her, Aidan.”

He stops the circles for a beat but then starts up again. “It probably should feel like it’s too early, but it doesn’t. Thank you.”

I rest my hand on his thigh, needing the comfort as much as he seems to. “You don’t have to thank me. I just…” I breathe deeply. “I just wanted you to know that I’m in, Aidan. I’m all the way in, and I’m not scared. Not of my feelings, at least.”

His other hand comes to my chin, tilting my head up. His eyes are a soft, smoky grey, glowing with a warmth that makes my belly erupt with butterflies. As he threads his fingers into my hair, I place my hand on his chest. His heart beats steadily but picks up the longer we stare into each other’s eyes.

“I’m not letting you go, Mae. And one day soon, when you’re not being chased by some sick fucker, I’m going to ask you to move in with us. You might as well get used to the idea.”

This time, my heart picks up speed. “Okay, then,” I breathe.

“And another thing…” He rests his mouth on my lips for the briefest moment, keeping our gazes locked.