Page 51 of Six of Hearts
"Holy shit," she finally said, laughing breathlessly.
"That was..."
"Yeah." I helped her down from the counter, steadying her when her legs wobbled. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I held her close, breathing in the scent of her hair.
"Stay tonight?" I asked quietly.
"I was hoping you'd ask." She smiled against my shoulder.
I led her down the hall to my bedroom, our fingers intertwined. As much as I'd enjoyed the spontaneity of the kitchen, I wanted this too—the quiet intimacy of bringing her to my bed, of holding her through the night.
We climbed under the covers, and she curled into me, her head on my chest, one leg thrown over mine. My hand traced lazy patterns on her back.
"Ethan?" she said after a while.
"Yeah?"
"This means something to me. You mean something to me."
My throat tightened.
"You mean something to me too," I said, the words feeling inadequate for what I actually felt. "More than I expected."
She tilted her head up to look at me, and I saw my own feelings reflected in her eyes. "Good," she whispered.
I kissed her, slower this time, tender. When we finally broke apart, she settled back against my chest with a contented sigh.
Within minutes, her breathing had evened out, and she was asleep in my arms. I lay there in the dark, holding her, and felt something shift inside me.
This wasn't just about the incredible physical connection we had—though that was undeniable. It was about the way she made me laugh, the way she cared for Leo, the way she'd somehow become essential to my life in just a few months.
My ex-wife and I had never had this. The passion, yes, but also the ease. The feeling that I could be completely myself, and it would be enough. More than enough.
I was falling in love with her. Maybe I already had.
Whatever complications lay ahead with this unconventional arrangement, whatever challenges we'd face, I knew one thing for certain: I was in this for the long haul. And I was pretty sure she was too.
Noah
I didn't hear Aria come in. I was too focused on the spreadsheet in front of me, the numbers blurring together as I tried to make sense of the shared custody schedule for next month. Someone had a work trip. Someone else had a conference.
Mila's recital conflicted with Leo's soccer tournament, and I was the one who had to figure out how to make it all work.
I was always the one who had to figure it out.
"Noah?"
I looked up to find Aria standing in the doorway of my home office, her hair pulled back in a messy bun, wearing one of my old t-shirts that hung to her thighs. She looked soft and warm and concerned.
"Hey," I said, forcing a smile.
"I didn't know you were still here."
"The twins fell asleep during the movie." She stepped into the room, her bare feet silent on the hardwood.
"I was going to head out, but then I saw your light on.”
“Just catching up on some work." I gestured at the mess of papers and sticky notes covering my desk.
