Page 43 of One Night with Number Nineteen

“Mom?”

I shake myself, turn toward my kiddo, slapping a reassuring smile on my face. “Should we finish getting everything ready for the movie?”

He nods excitedly, and we spend the next couple of minutes pulling out blankets and pillows, getting everything comfy and set up just right.

Just as he’s crawling under his favorite dog-themed blanket, the front door opens and Sawyer comes back in.

Our gazes collide and he shakes his head.

Nothing was there?

Or he couldn’t find anything?

A flicker of worry knots in my belly, but I shove it down as Ollie says, “Movie time!”

Sawyer smiles and comes over, settling on the opposite end of the couch. Ollie gets him sorted with a blanket and I hit the remote, starting up the movie.

I don’t say anything when Sawyer slips out halfway through.

But I do relax when he comes back in again and softly says, “Nothing.”

Exhaling in relief, I nod, whisper, “Thanks.”

“Look, Mom!” Ollie says, tugging at my arm.

“I’m looking,” I tell him as the dogs complete a complicated water rescue.

“Isn’t it cool?”

“Super cool,” I agree.

He looks at Sawyer.

“Super duper cool,” he chimes in.

“Super duper cool!” Ollie shouts and our gazes connect again.

Only this time it’s amusement we share.

And awareness, stretching taut.

Heart skipping a beat, I turn back to the TV, forcing myself to watch the movie with rapt focus.

Which is a miracle in itself. Usually, I’m the one asleep before we make it to the halfway point.

Unfortunately, that same attention to detail hasn’t gripped Ollie.

Instead, he slowly slumps against me, the excitement of the day and last night’s sleepover drawing him into dreamland.

I don’t move as he snores softly, as Sawyer sits quietly on his other side, and there’s something about sitting here like this that feels⁠—

I shoot to my feet, slamming the door on that thought too.

“Want me to carry him upstairs?” Sawyer asks as the credits roll, his expression showing absolutely no concern over my sudden lurch upright.

“No,” I say. “I’ve got him.”

And I do.