Chapter 27
Callahan makes himself at home in Chloe's apartment way too fast.
By the time I shut the door behind us, he's already leaning against her kitchen counter, sipping coffee like he pays rent here.
"You know," he says casually, "if you'd told me six months ago you'd be cooking breakfast in a woman's apartment while holding a baby, I would've assumed you suffered a head injury."
I flip him off without looking up from the pan.
Ava is tucked against my chest in the carrier now, half asleep and warm, while I finish making pancakes.
Callahan watches me for another second.
Then:
"You even wear the baby correctly."
"She likes this one better than the sling."
His eyebrows shoot up immediately.
"You know the preferences now."
I realize my mistake instantly.
Callahan looks delighted.
"Oh, this is incredible."
"Shut up."
"You're learning equipment loadouts for infants."
"She spits up less in this carrier."
He stares at me in genuine awe.
"Kane," he whispers, "you're nesting."
"I'm going to kill you."
"Not while holding the child."
I sigh heavily.
Unfortunately, he's right.
Ava makes a tiny sleepy noise against my chest.
Instantly, my hand moves automatically to rub slow circles against her back.
Callahan points at me like he's discovered evidence in a murder case.
"That. Right there. That's father behavior."
"She's tired."
"You said that in the softest voice I've ever heard."
I glare at him.
He grins harder.
Then his expression shifts slightly as he glances toward Chloe's bedroom.
"Is she still asleep?"
"Yeah."
"Is she okay?"
The teasing fades enough for me to answer honestly.
"Exhausted."
Callahan nods slowly.
He knows enough now not to joke about that part.
The apartment falls quieter after that.
Just the sound of coffee brewing and Ava's tiny, sleepy breaths.
Then the bedroom door opens softly.
I look up automatically.
Chloe steps out still half asleep, wearing an oversized shirt that hangs off one shoulder and tiny sleep shorts, hair messy from bed.
For a second, she doesn't notice Callahan at all.
Her eyes go straight to Ava.
Then to me.
And something in her expression softens instantly.
Warm.
Safe.
Automatic.
She walks toward us without hesitation.
No nerves.
No overthinking.
Just sleepy instinct.
She presses a soft kiss against Ava's head first.
"Morning, bug," she murmurs.
Ava immediately makes a happy little sound.
Then Chloe tilts her face up toward mine and kisses me gently.
Soft.
Sleepy.
Familiar.
Like she's already done it a hundred times.
And for one perfect second, I completely forget Callahan exists.
Until...
"Well," Callahan says loudly from the kitchen. "That was domestic as hell."
Chloe jerks violently.
A startled gasp leaves her as she spins toward the voice, eyes wide.
I catch her automatically before she trips backward into the counter.
"Easy," I murmur immediately.
Her hand grabs my arm instinctively while she stares at Callahan in horror.
Callahan raises both hands.
"In my defense," he says, "that was adorable, and I panicked."
Chloe goes bright red instantly.
"Oh, my God."
I bite back a grin.
She turns toward me slowly, mortified realization dawning.
"There's a person here."
"Observant," Callahan says.
"Mason!"
Now I do grin.
Because she looks personally betrayed.
"You didn't notice him," I point out.
"I thought we were alone!"
Callahan snorts loudly.
"That makes me feel way less weird about what I just witnessed."
Chloe hides her face briefly against my shoulder.
I feel her embarrassment radiating off her in waves.
Honestly?
It's a little terrifying how much I enjoy this.
I slide a hand against the back of her neck gently.
"Breathe," I murmur near her ear.
That earns me an immediate glare.
Which is fair.
Callahan walks closer, still grinning like an asshole.
"You must be Chloe."
She straightens slightly beside me, still red-faced but recovering fast.
"Uh.. yeah."
Callahan sticks a hand out dramatically.
"Liam Callahan. Mason's long-suffering best friend."
"Mason has friends?"
"I ask myself that daily."
I snort quietly.
Chloe laughs before she can stop herself.
Callahan immediately points at her.
"Oh, you're funny too. That's why he likes you."
Chloe flushes again instantly.
Ava chooses that moment to reach grabby hands toward Chloe.
She immediately takes her from me automatically, settling Ava easily against her hip.
The movement is so natural now that it barely even registers anymore.
Callahan watches the exchange carefully.
Then looks at me.
Then back at Chloe.
Then back at me again.
His grin turns downright smug.
"Oh, you are absolutely done for."
"Callahan," I warn.
"No, seriously." He gestures wildly between us. "You two already act married."
Chloe nearly chokes.
"We do not."
"Mason literally just caught you by the waist like a romance movie lead."
"That was because you scared me!"
"You kissed him before noticing I existed."
Chloe goes completely silent.
I look away before she sees the smile threatening properly now.
Callahan notices anyway.
"Oh my God," he says. "He's smug about it."
"I'm not smug."
"You look one step away from building IKEA furniture together."
Chloe laughs helplessly this time, embarrassed but softer now.
And standing there in the middle of her kitchen with Ava between us and sunlight spilling through the windows, it suddenly feels terrifyingly easy to imagine.