Catalina wipes at his cheek, smiling through her own tears. “I love you so much.”
A dull, lingering ache hits me in the chest, one that never fully goes away.
Across the room, Maverick still has Leo strapped to his chest, pacing. Amelia trails behind him, trying to coax him into sitting down.
“Baby, he’s fine,” she says, laughing.
“He’s too quiet,” Maverick says, peering down at Leo. “That’s suspicious.”
Amelia raises a brow. “He’s sleeping.”
“Exactly,” Maverick says grimly. “He’s planning something. Probably another blowout.”
Catalina bursts into laughter, and Carter groans. “Christ, Mav, sit down before you drop him.”
“I got this,” Maverick says, confidently, right before Leo starts fussing.
This putrid smell hits, making Catalina gag.
“Oh my God!” Catalina squeals, pinching her nose.
“Oh, no,” Maverick says, going pale. “Not again.”
Amelia groans, already rolling up her sleeves. “I told you he was fine.”
“He’s not fine!” Maverick’s voice cracks. “He’s leaking! Oh my God—Catalina, do something!”
Catalina’s doubled over laughing. “Hell no! Auntie duties are closed for tonight.”
Amelia unstraps Leo from Mavs chest, picking him up, muttering, “Babe, I swear!” as she heads down the hall.
Maverick calls after her, dramatically clutching his chest, as he follows suit. “Hold on, dollface! You’re so hot when you yell at me.”
I sit there, smiling faintly, but it doesn’t quite reach. My chest feels heavy, full of everything I won’t say. It all becomes too much, and I excuse myself, hiding out in the kitchen.
Ducking into the kitchen, I brace my hands on the counter, trying to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth, attempting to swallow the sting crawling up my throat.
I’m still catching my breath when I hear soft steps behind me, already knowing it’s Layla.
“You disappeared,” she says softly, edging a little closer.
“Crowded room,” I mutter, turning towards her. “Needed a minute.”
“You sure?” she asks, voice low, eyes searching my face as if she’s worried she might find the truth.
I laugh under my breath, humorless. “I’m fine.”
She moves closer. “Reed... you don’t have to be okay with me.”
Her words hit harder than they should because she’s the last person I should let in.
After what happened between us last night, her trembling against me, my name slipping from her lips, I’ve been terrified that seeing her in daylight would make everything too real.
It does, and God, I wish I could call her mine, even if it were only for one damn day.
She wets her lips as her hands twist nervously at her sides. “Are you… regretting it?” she asks, her voice small.
My head jerks up. “What? No. Fuck, no.”
