Page 96 of Break Me

"You absolutely will."

"Maybe a little,” he says with a grin.

"But you'll still watch every single one with me."

"Every single one."

The words paint pictures in my mind so vividly that I can almost see them. A tree glowing in the corner. Stockings hanging from the mantel. Snow piling against the porch while we stay tucked inside, wrapped in blankets and each other, with nowhere else we'd rather be.

"This feels like where everything begins," he says.

I believe him.

Standing there in his arms, with autumn giving way to winter and tomorrow waiting just beyond the trees, I can't imagine there will ever come a Christmas that doesn't belong to us.

Later, the day settles into an easy rhythm. I curl up on the couch with a book while Sam sits beside me, boots on, absently scrolling through his phone. Our knees brush now and then, neither of us bothering to move.

A familiar wave of exhaustion rolls through me, heavier this time. I blink hard, trying to focus on the page, but the words begin to blur together.

The corner of Sam's mouth lifts. "You're done."

I glance over at him. "I am not."

He reaches over and gently closes the book in my hands.

"You're falling asleep sitting up."

A sleepy laugh escapes me. "I've been running on adrenaline for so long, my body's finally realized it doesn't have to anymore."

"Then let it."

I don't argue. I curl against him, his arm sliding around my shoulders as naturally as breathing.

The steady rise and fall of his breathing lulls me to sleep. Within a few minutes, I close my eyes and let go, trusting him.

Trusting a future that feels so ordinary it doesn’t occur to me to doubt it.

Raven

Dad’s already there when I walk in, seated at a corner table, his back to the wall. Old habits. He looks up, scans the room out of instinct, then grins when he spots me.

"Thought you stood me up."

"Not a chance."

I smile and lean into the hug he offers.

When he pulls back, his expression softens. "You look tired."

"I slept half the afternoon yesterday."

A knowing smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. "Good. Wolf better be taking care of you."

"He is."

He gives a satisfied nod before gesturing toward the chair across from him.

"Come on. Sit down and tell me what's been going on."