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His mom dropped her hand back to her lap, and Cass looked up again. She was still smiling at him, and then she blinked and gave him a weak nod. She, too, seemed like she wanted to say more, but she just twisted slightly to look at Cass’s dad.

“I’m pretty tired,” she said.

His dad nodded, leaned in and kissed her forehead, and then stood and slowly started helping his wife off the couch and into her wheelchair. “We’ll see you in the morning,” he said to Cass.

“Yeah.” Cass kissed his mom good night and gave his dad a nod. Then he stepped out of the way to give his dad room to push his mom’s wheelchair down the hallway to their bedroom.

It wasn’t that late—just after 8:00 p.m.—but he locked the front door and turned out the lights in the living room anyway before padding down the hallway toward his own bedroom. The squealing and giggling from the bathroom had stopped, and the bathroom door was open, the light turned out. Quiet murmuring from the guest bedroom carried just outside the door, which was open a few inches, and Cass stepped up to the doorway and paused, his heart full.

Ash sat on the floor cross-legged, straightening Bri’s pajama shirt as she bounced in place. Her hair curled in all directions, and her smile lit up as she clapped her hands together.

“Book!” she declared, and she clapped again. “Book, book, book!”

“Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right, sweet girl. It is book time,” Ash agreed, his voice so soft and caring that Cass could feel every bit of love Ash had for his niece just from those few words.

Bri bounced up and down, clapping. “Yay yay yay!” She looked up over Ash’s shoulder. “Cass! Cass, book! Book!” She hopped up, toddled over, and grabbed Cass’s hand. “Un-ca Ash, Cass, book!” she said definitively, tugging Cass along with her into the room.

Cass grinned and followed, letting Bri lead him over to where Ash still sat, now looking up at Cass with an amused smile on his face.

“Uh, sorry, I . . .” Cass laughed and shook his head as Bri plopped down onto the ground next to Ash, pulling Cass with her.

“Cass book!”

Ash pursed his lips as though trying to hold back laughter. “I guess you’re reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar for us tonight,” he teased, reaching over to take a book out of Bri’s purple backpack.

Cass settled cross-legged next to Ash, and Bri crawled up into his lap and clapped.

“Ca-piar! Cass book! Cass book!”

“Okay, okay, yes, I would love to read the book to you tonight, Bri,” he said, laughing.

She clapped again, clearly quite excited. Cass grinned and mouthed she’s adorable as his eyes met Ash’s, and Ash’s smile widened. With a nod, Ash held out the board book, its thick white cover painted with a familiar, colorful caterpillar. Their fingers brushed together with the handoff, and Cass paused, heat rushing to his cheeks. His heart thrummed, and he let his fingers linger there, barely grazing Ash’s, for what seemed like several long seconds.

Then Bri settled back into Cass’s lap, tipping her head to rest on his chest. “Book?”

Ash’s face reddened, which was also absolutely adorable, and he coughed and pulled his hand back. “Yep, yep. Cass is going to read for us, right, Cass?”

“Ah, yep,” Cass said, and he shifted a bit to make himself more comfortable, positioning the book out in front of him so Bri could see.

Ash scooted closer as Cass cleared his throat and then started to read. It had been years since he’d picked up that particular children’s book, but he still remembered the words and story well. And, to his surprise, Bri sat quietly in his lap, watching and listening without reaching out to touch the pages or clapping or trying to read or any of the other cute things he’d sort of expected her to do.

When Cass finished, Bri yawned and snuggled up against him and mumbled, “Book?”

Cass glanced over at Ash, who smiled softly and shook his head.

“She’ll be asleep before you’d even start a second time,” he whispered.

Sure enough, just as Ash finished those words, Cass felt Bri slump into him more. He set down the book and then slowly shifted Bri up to cradle her in his arms. Her head rested against his shoulder, and she sighed contentedly, her eyes now closed. With a smile, he lifted his gaze back to Ash and shrugged.

“You called it,” he said quietly. “So, uh, how do I . . . ?” He let the question trail off as he tipped his head toward the portable crib set up next to the bed.

Ash huffed a soft laugh. “Very, very carefully.”

Cass rolled his eyes, which made Ash smile again, and then he gathered his legs up underneath him and stood—very, very carefully. Bri sighed again but didn’t wake, and together, Cass and Ash got her settled into her crib with her octopus stuffie. Just like they had earlier in the day, the two of them stood there for a moment over her crib, watching her sleep. This time, however, Ash didn’t tense up or start trembling and breathing too fast, and Cass didn’t have to lead him down the hallway, supporting him as they went and hoping that he hadn’t done or said anything wrong or triggering or in some other way ruined their weekend. This time, Ash moved closer until their shoulders were touching, and his hand tentatively slipped into Cass’s, their fingers lacing together as though it were the easiest and most natural thing in the world.

It felt amazing.

Cass blew out a short breath and squeezed Ash’s hand gently. Ash squeezed back. Then, silently, they left the room together, Ash flipping off the light switch on their way. They left the door cracked a couple of inches and then continued down the hallway, pausing in front of Cass’s open bedroom door. Cass turned to face Ash fully and took Ash’s other hand, lowering his eyes to watch their fingers thread together. He smiled.