I smile into my pillow, my heart squeezing in my chest.
This is my life.It still doesn’t feel real sometimes.For so long, I didn’t have anything.No home.No family.No one who stayed.And now?Now I have everything.
“Mommy!”a tiny voice calls, followed by the bedroom door creaking open.“You awake?”
I roll onto my back as my daughter climbs onto the bed, all wild curls and bright eyes.
“Barely,” I mumble, pulling her into my arms.“What time is it?”
“Morning,” she says seriously, like that explains everything.
I huff out a laugh and press a kiss to her temple.“Helpful.”
Heavy footsteps sound in the hallway, and Knox fills the doorway.My breath still catches when I look at him.Five years later, and he still owns every part of me.
He’s barefoot, wearing nothing but a pair of low-slung sweats, his chest bare, his hair messy like he’s been running his hands through it.Flour is smeared across his shoulder, which means?—
“You’re cooking?”I ask, eyeing him suspiciously.
His mouth quirks.“Attempting to.”
Our daughter gasps.“Daddy burned the eggs!”
“I did not burn them,” he grumbles, stepping into the room.“They’re just… crispy.”
I snort, pushing up onto my elbows.“You mean inedible.”
“They’re fine,” he insists, but a smile tugs at his lips as he comes to the bed.
His eyes find mine, and something shifts, something deep.I try to hold his gaze, but I’m so tired.
I smother a yawn, sitting up in bed and dangling my legs over the edge.I wince at the ache in my breasts and smile at our daughter.
“Are you going to cook?”she whispers.
“Uh-huh,” I whisper back.
I look at Knox.His gaze softens and darkens as he steps closer, brushing his fingers along my cheek.
“You feeling okay, little one?”he asks quietly.
I frown slightly.“Yeah.Just tired, I think.”
His jaw tightens almost imperceptibly.Then he nods.“Okay.”
It’s not convincing, not even a little.
I narrow my eyes at him.“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Knox.”
He exhales, rubbing the back of his neck.“Eat something first.”
That’s when I know.Something is definitely going on.
I take his hand when he offers it to me and grab Rosie’s hand with my free one.We head downstairs, and by the time we reach the kitchen, I’m more awake.And more suspicious.
