Page 168 of Smoke and Glitter

I press my lips together, and Sam catches me.

"Don't start."

I lift both hands while Colt guides Wren into his arms.

And Sam goes still.

Sam's hands are rarely still. Behind a bar or in a kitchen, they move with the certainty of someone who usually knows what comes next. Wrapped around Wren, they look enormous.

Sam adjusts one hand beneath her head. Wren shifts against his chest, makes a tiny offended noise and settles again.

He relaxes.

"There you go," Summer says. "She survived."

Sam doesn't look away from her. "Her head is the size of my hand."

"She doesn't have much choice about that."

"She doesn't have a neck."

Colt starts laughing.

Wren's fist works free of the blanket, and Sam catches her hand against the center of his palm without thinking. Her fingers curl around one of his.

His expression softens.

His eyes lift and find mine.

He smiles.

The answer arrives before he ever asks the question.

If Sam asks me to marry him, I'm saying yes.

Chapter thirty

Chapter Thirty

Autumn

Aweek after Wren is born, Summer texts the group.

Summer: Family dinner. bring nothing. i mean it.

Before I can answer, another message appears.

Summer: colt says bring snackies

By the time Sam and I get to the house, Marisol has filled half the kitchen island with food.

Summer is in an armchair with a blanket over her legs and Wren's monitor beside her. She looks at the containers covering the counter, then at Marisol.

"What did you bring? Share with the class."

Marisol kisses the top of her head on the way past. "You're going to eat it regardless."

Summer looks at me. "See what my life is now?"