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She nodded before the words even finished leaving my mouth. “Of course. Let’s go eat.”

She zipped up her bag and I reached out, taking it from her before she could argue. She did one last sweep of the room with her eyes, then nodded like she was ready to forget what had almost just happened.

We stepped out into the hallway together, walking side by side toward the elevator. And even though it wasn’t necessary, even though I didn’t know if it helped or made things worse, I settled my hand against the small of her back.

Chapter Thirty-Three

BLUE

Westand I barely spoke on the flight back.

Aside from a few quiet pleasantries such as thank you, excuse me, and are you warm enough, it was silence. Not the angry kind. Not even awkward.

But his hand never left me.

A warm palm on my thigh. A soft touch at my back. The gentle way he guided me by the curve of my elbow when we shuffled onto the plane. It tethered me to the moment, kept me grounded.

Everyone was exhausted, and the cabin stayed hushed for most of the flight. But between West and me, the silence felt heavier. Like something had been said without words. Or maybe something had happened that we weren’t ready to admit.

Regret. That was what it felt like radiating off him. Quiet, calm, and composed on the outside, but inside, I’d bet my life that he was unraveling.

If not for his touch, I might’ve fallen apart myself.

But how could I regret what happened? The spark between us, the truths we let slip, the way his mouth had claimed mine like we belonged to each other. None of that felt like a mistake.

As we stepped off the plane, West let go of my hand. His fingers dropped away without a word, and he stood off to the side while the others made their way down.

Marshal and Marcus were waiting by the cars, standing beside their respective SUVs. Behind them was an older sedan, and next to it stood a woman waving enthusiastically.

That’s when I spotted the little boy holding her hand and I knew it had to be Max, Jesse’s son.

He let go of the older woman and sprinted forward, running right past Jesse to launch himself into Easton’s arms.

“There’s my buddy!” Easton grinned, spinning him in a circle while Jesse stood to the side with a flat expression like maybe her feelings were hurt, but not really.

“I love you, Mommy!” Max called through his giggles, his arms flung wide.

The whole scene felt like a movie. A perfect moment caught in real life.

It made every story I’d ever heard about the Brooks family feel more real.

“Westley Brooks,” the older woman said as she approached.

“Ms. Ellison,” West replied, softening for the first time since we’d left our hotel room. “Good to see you.”

“It’s been too long,” she said, coughing lightly. “It would seem there has to be an emergency in town for you to show your face these days.”

“Something like that,” he winked and kissed her cheek.

I waited for him to introduce me but he never did. Instead, it was Gramps who stepped in to make introductions while West wandered off to thank the pilot.

Gramps and Ms. Ellison then returned to her car, where the rest of the family piled in. They were crammed in like sardines, laughing as if they didn’t have a care in the world.

When West returned to my side, I pointed toward my car and sighed. “Marshal and I could’ve taken them home,” I said. “We pass through town anyway.”

It was the first time I’d spoken about Marshal as though having a chauffeur wasn’t a big deal. He was just part of who I was now.

“Oh they love being weird,” West shrugged, then handed me a card, the same one he had given me before with his number on it.