Hadley
Cal left at eight that morning for a full day.
Recording session first. Therapy at two. Then a meeting with the label about tour dates that might stretch into evening if negotiations got ugly, which, knowing Cal’s label, they probably would.
He moved through the bedroom like he always did on workdays, efficient, quiet, contained. Jeans, black shirt, leather jacket tossed over his shoulder like armor he wore automatically. I sat on the edge of the bed, pulling on socks that didn’t quite fit around my swelling ankles anymore, watching him without making it obvious.
He came over when he was done. Leaned down. Kissed my forehead. The kind of kiss that lingered half a second longer than necessary.
His hand rested on my bump.
Stayed there.
Two seconds.
Maybe three.
The baby shifted beneath his palm like she recognized him. Or him recognizing her. I still didn’t know which way that connection worked.
“Text me if you need anything,” he said.
“I will.”
He nodded, but he didn’t move immediately. His eyes lingered on mine like he wanted to say something bigger. Something heavier. His mouth parted slightly...
Then he exhaled instead.
“See you tonight.”
The door clicked shut behind him.
Silence flooded the room almost instantly. The kind of silence that didn’t feel peaceful. Just… hollow.
Eli had already left for school. The house staff moved quietly downstairs, their footsteps distant and careful like they respected the fragile emotional ecosystem living inside the mansion walls.
By ten-thirty, the quiet started pressing in on my chest.
My phone buzzed against the nightstand.
Kei.
Hey. You free today? I’m drowning in old band photos and lyric scraps. Could use another set of eyes.
I stared at the message longer than necessary.
There was nothing wrong with it.
Nothing inappropriate.
But something in my chest tightened anyway.
Cal wouldn’t be home until late. Eli had after-school tutoring. The house would stay echoingly empty until dinner.
I typed back before I could overthink it.
Sure. What time?
The three dots popped up instantly.
