Page 189 of When a Soul Cries

“This little girl been fucking up my emails for ten minutes.”

“She can’t type.”

“She just sent Kai a message that said ‘jjjjjjjj.’”

I laughed.

“Probably made more sense than whatever Kai sent you.”

His mouth curved.

“That ain’t saying much.”

Halo reached for him.

Without hesitation, Rome closed his laptop and lifted her into his lap.

She immediately settled against his chest.

And something inside me tightened.

There it was again.

Too comfortable.

Too natural.

Too easy.

But this time, I couldn't pretend all of that fear belonged to Halo.

I watched Rome's large hand spread across her little back. Watched him absently rub it while she rested against his chest.

And for one dangerous second, the picture looked right.

Not temporary.

Not like a man helping a woman who had nowhere else to go.

Like home.

I hated how badly that thought scared me.

Because a small part of me wanted it.

Halo didn’t understand what Rome and I were.

Hell, I didn’t understand what Rome and I were.

She only knew that when he walked through the door, she smiled.

That when he picked her up, she felt safe.

That when she reached for him, he reached back.

And apparently, I wasn't much better.

Because when he walked through the door, something in me relaxed too.