Chapter 49
Laney
The baby finally sleeps.
Not the fragile, might-wake-up-any-second kind.
The real kind.
Deep.
Peaceful.
The kind that makes the entire cabin feel quieter.
Saint sits on the floor beside the couch, his back resting against it like he’s standing guard even while he rests.
His eyes are closed.
But I know he isn’t fully asleep.
He never is.
I watch him for a moment before I speak.
“You should sleep.”
One eye opens.
“I am,” he says.
He shifts slightly.
“Just… horizontally challenged.”
A smile slips out before I can stop it.
I move from the couch and sit down beside him on the floor.
Not touching.
Just close.
The cabin is quiet except for the fire crackling softly in the stone hearth.
Outside, the wind moves through the trees.
For a few minutes, the world doesn’t feel like it’s closing in on us.
“She loves you,” I say softly.
Saint snorts quietly.
“She has poor judgment.”
I laugh.
The sound surprises both of us.
It feels strange.
Light.
Like something we forgot how to do.
Then it fades.
“I don’t know what we’re doing,” I admit.
Saint doesn’t pretend otherwise.
“Me neither.”
The honesty is oddly comforting.
Silence settles between us again.
Not awkward.
Just… real.
“I never expected you to stay here with us,” I say.
He glances at me.
“I never expected to want to.”
The words land between us like something fragile.
Something that could break if either of us moves too quickly.
“I’m not ready for… anything,” I say quickly.
“I know.”
“And you don’t owe me—”
“I know,” he repeats gently.
I turn and look at him.
Really look.
“You don’t treat me like a mistake,” I whisper.
Saint frowns slightly.
“You’re not.”
“And the baby?”
“She’s not either.”
Something tight inside my chest finally loosens.
We sit there quietly.
Not touching.
Then my head tips against his shoulder.
Just for a second.
Saint freezes.
Completely still.
Then slowly…
Carefully…
He relaxes.
Neither of us moves.
Neither of us names what this is.
But when I close my eyes…
I feel safe.