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Sloane: Yeah.

Hudson: You went somewhere.

Sloane: I was just watching your family.

Hudson: That sounds threatening.

Sloane: I’m gathering intelligence.

Hudson: About bedtime negotiations?

Sloane: Actually, yes.

Hudson: Caldwell likes predictable routines.

Sloane: It’s nice.

Hudson: What is?

Sloane: How everyone takes care of him.

Hudson’s gaze lifted from his phone to drift toward the far side of the lawn where Byron had carried Caldwell a few moments before.

My phone vibrated again.

Hudson: He’s easy to take care of.

I stared at the words on the screen, my thumbs hovering over the keyboard as I struggled to find the right way to say what I meant.

Sloane: I don’t think that’s true.

That made him turn. His green eyes locked onto mine in the dim, flickering light of the projector, searching my face for a long beat before he looked back down at his phone.

Sloane: I mean, I don’t think anyone is easy all the time. You just don’t act as though needing something makes him a burden.

Hudson: He isn’t one.

I looked toward the movie screen before my face could reveal too much. The radioactive lizard had entered the final battle.

Hudson’s shoulder pressed against mine again. This time, I leaned into him. Only slightly. Enough to acknowledge the contact.

He relaxed beside me.

I allowed myself to pretend. I pretended I belonged in the chair beside him. I pretended my presence at family events didn’t depend on a lie. I pictured more movie nights. Dinners. Group-chat arguments that continued in person. Hudson showing me the ridge trail. Patty bringing over half-finished art projects. Caldwell asking me to draw.

The fantasy expanded too easily.

Hudson’s leg rested against mine. His hand was near my elbow on the shared blanket. Every few minutes, one of us sent another message, though the jokes became less frequent as the awareness grew between us.

When the scientist saved the city by broadcasting whale songs from a helicopter, I barely reacted. I was too busy wondering what would happen if I turned my hand palm-up. Would Hudson take it? Would he hesitate?

Would enhanced senses allow him to hear how hard my heart was beating?

The credits began before I found the courage to test that. People stood almost immediately. The sudden movement broke the private world around us. Chairs were folded. Blankets were shaken out. Teenagers stretched their arms overhead while children argued about whether the monster had survived.

I remained seated for a moment longer, disappointed by how quickly reality returned. Hudson stood and held out one hand.

I took it.