In The Between

✧･Chapter 35 Well See #2

She's walking toward us through the mess of kids and noise like none of it touches her, like she's not about to completely derail my ability to function.

She's in short, frayed jean shorts and this worn-out baseball jersey that hangs just a little too loose, slipping off one shoulder like it belongs there.

Her hair's tied up in a messy bun that looks accidental but isn't, strands falling around her face, and she's got sunglasses on like she's not already impossible enough to look at.

My stomach drops.

"Oh no," I breathe under my breath.

"What?" August asks, but I don't answer him.

Because now I'm suddenly aware of everything. Of the frosting probably on my fingers, of the way I'm standing, of how long I've been staring.

She gets closer, pushing her sunglasses up onto her head, and her eyes move from the cakes to me and then she smiles.

"Hey," she says when she reaches us, like she doesn't look like that. Like she hasn't just completely short-circuited my brain.

"Hey," I manage. "I- uh, brought cakes."

Her eyes flick down to the table, then back to me, amused. "I can see that. You trying to become everyone's favorite person today?"

I huff a small laugh, crossing my arms just so I have something to do with them. "Pretty sure I already succeeded. I think I've got at least six kids ready to defend me for life."

"Seven," one of them yells immediately.

Claire grins, leaning lightly against the table, way too close, like she doesn't realize what she's doing to me. "Seven, then. That's impressive."

And I just look at her too long. Because it's not fair, none of it is. The way she makes everything feel sharper, louder, like my entire body is tuned into her whether I want it to be or not.

"Are you okay?" she asks, tilting her head slightly, and there's something in her voice is teasing, but softer than that too.

I blink, forcing myself back into my body. "Yeah, I'm fine. Great, actually."

Behind me, August makes a quiet choking sound, like he's trying not to laugh, and I resist the urge to elbow him without looking.

Claire notices, and her eyes flick past me for half a second, catching whatever expression he's making, and then they come back to me, a little more curious now.

And I feel it, that shift. That moment where something settles between us, heavier than the jokes, quieter than the chaos around us.

And it makes my chest tighten just enough to scare me, so I do what I always do, I deflect.

"You want to help me cut these," I say, already reaching for the plastic knife like I didn't just completely forget how to breathe a few seconds ago, "or are you just here for moral support?"

Claire's smile tilts slightly, that little amused expression she gets when she knows exactly what she's doing to me. "Depends. Do I get first pick?"

I roll my eyes, even though the warmth spreading through my chest gives me away. "Absolutely not."

She leans a little closer anyway, just enough that I can feel her beside me. "Wow. After everything we've been through?"

A laugh slips out of me before I can stop it, and I shake my head as I finally start cutting into the first cake. Immediately, the kids crowd closer, all of them suddenly very interested in helping despite the fact that none of them are actually helping.

"Tragic, I know," I mutter, focusing on cutting even pieces and placing them onto plates.

Claire stays beside me, watching, and I can feel her there even when I'm trying not to look, then she leans closer. Not enough for anyone else to notice, just enough for me.

"I want that piece." Her voice drops into that tone.

That damn tone.

The one that makes my brain stop working and my entire body suddenly forgets what it's supposed to be doing. I swallow, trying very hard not to let my reaction show as I glance over at her.

She's pointing at one of the pieces I just cut, a completely normal piece of cake. And yet somehow, with her looking at me like that, it feels like she asked for something completely different.

I clear my throat and pick it up, turning slightly toward her with a small grin. "This one?"

I make my voice as innocent as possible. Claire narrows her eyes at me, studying my face like she already knows I'm up to something. Slowly, she nods.

"Yes."

I hum, looking down at the piece of cake in my hand, then back up at her, and I make the worst decision possible.

Because instead of handing it to her like a normal person, I press the cake straight into her face.

For half a second, everything goes silent. Then August makes the loudest snorting sound I've ever heard in my life, and the kids completely lose it. Laughter erupts around us, loudly as I lower the plate and stare at Claire.

Her eyes are closed, and she's completely frozen. I probably should feel bad, but then she takes a slow breath, and her tongue darts out to catch the frosting on her lips before she uses her fingers to wipe the cake away from her eyes.

And that is the exact moment I realize I have made a horrible mistake.

Because somehow, impossibly, she still looks beautiful, maybe even more so. The messy bun, the sunglasses pushed up on her head, the frosting on her face, the way she's trying so hard not to smile while everyone around her laughs.

My heart stutters.

"Oh, I'm screwed," I whisper.

Claire opens her eyes, and the look she gives me tells me everything I need to know. I don't even wait, I turn and run.

I hear her laugh behind me before she starts chasing after me, her voice carrying across the field. "You better run!"

I'm laughing so hard I can barely breathe, weaving around kids and picnic tables while I hear her behind me.

"You are absolutely going to regret that!"

"I'm sorry!" I yell over my shoulder, even though there's nothing remotely sincere about it.

"You're not!" Claire shoots back immediately.

She's right, I'm not - not even a little.

I can't remember the last time I laughed like this, the kind that makes my chest ache and my lungs burn.

I'm wheezing as I run, trying to dodge around kids and parents, earning a few confused looks as I weave through the crowd like I've completely lost my mind. Which... yeah, maybe I have.

I risk a glance over my shoulder, which was a big mistake.

Claire is right there, way too close and gaining on me fast, and I yelp, whipping my head forward again as I try to pick up speed. But the second I turn back around, I nearly collide with Lucia sprinting straight at me.

I don't even think, I just react. I scoop her up in one quick motion, spinning slightly with the momentum, and hold her up against me like a tiny, giggling shield as I turn back to face Claire.

"I have a weapon!" I shout, completely out of breath.

Lucia bursts into laughter, kicking her legs and throwing her head back against my chest like this is the best thing that's ever happened to her.

Claire skids to a stop a few feet in front of us, hands braced on her knees for a second as she catches her breath, frosting still smeared across her face.

"Aunty! Your face!" Lucia shrieks, pointing at her, laughing even harder.

That does it - I lose it again, doubling over slightly as I try to keep hold of her. "Oh my god," I gasp between laughs, "I didn't even hit you that hard!"

Claire straightens slowly, wiping at her cheek with the back of her hand, though it doesn't really help. If anything, it just spreads more. Her eyes flick from Lucia to me, and there's this look on her face that's half amused and half threatening, which immediately puts me on edge.

"In my defense," I add quickly, tightening my grip on Lucia like that's going to save me, "you asked for that piece."

Lucia leans closer to me, stage-whispering way too loudly, "She looks silly."

"I know," I whisper back, just as loudly.

Claire raises an eyebrow. "Oh, you think you're funny," she says, taking a slow step forward.

I take one back immediately. "I think I'm protected."

Lucia gasps dramatically, fully committed now. "You can't get us!"

Claire huffs out a laugh, shaking her head as she takes another step closer. "You're right. I can't."

I relax, just a little, and that's my second mistake.

"Guess I'll just have to wait," she adds, her voice dropping slightly as her eyes settle on me.

My stomach flips, because that tone again. That same tone.

Lucia doesn't notice, still giggling in my arms, but I do. I feel it settle somewhere deep in my chest, warm and dangerous all at once.

I clear my throat, shifting Lucia slightly on my hip. "Yeah, well, you'll be waiting a long time."

Claire's smile widens, slow and knowing. "We'll see."

And somehow, even covered in frosting and still catching her breath, she looks completely in control of the situation.