Harder than anything else.
“You’re not supposed to be up,” I say.
She doesn’t turn right away.
“Funny,” she replies softly. “I was about to say the same thing to you.”
Yeah.
That tracks.
I move closer anyway.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Because this—
This isn’t something I rush.
Not with her.
“Doctors say I’m fine,” I add.
She glances over her shoulder at me.
One brow lifts slightly.
“Do they?” she asks.
There’s just enough challenge in it to make me almost smile.
Almost.
“I might’ve said that before they could argue,” I admit.
That earns me a look.
A real one.
“You’re impossible,” she says.
“Been called worse.”
“I’m sure you have.”
Silence settles between us.
But it’s not awkward.
Not uncertain.
Just… quiet.
Full.
I step closer.
