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I wake up warm.

Not just from the sheets. Not just from the sunlight filtering through the curtains. But from the solid weight of Grant beside me.

For a moment, I just stay there. Listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing. Feeling the slow rise and fall of his chest. Letting myself exist in this moment—without panic, without second-guessing.

I don’t have to run.

Don’t have to wonder if I’m in too deep.

Because I already know the answer.

I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

I shift slightly, tilting my head to look at him.

He’s still asleep.

Jaw relaxed, lips slightly parted.

Completely unbothered by the world outside this bed.

And me?

I ache.

Not with uncertainty.

Not with fear.

But with something deep, something unshakable.

Something that terrifies and excites me all at once.

Before I can overthink it, I press a kiss to his shoulder.

A slow, lingering touch of my lips against warm skin.

Grant shifts.

His arm tightens around my waist.

And then—voice rough with sleep—

“You tryin’ to start something, Flight?”

I don’t answer him right away.

I just smirk against his skin, lips trailing over his shoulder before I finally murmur—

“Maybe.”

Grant groans, taking me in his arms and kissing my neck. He flips us so that his warm, muscular body is on top of mine.

One second, I’m teasing him—

The next, he’s caging me in beneath him, propped on his elbows, his dark eyes still heavy with sleep but full of something else.

Something that makes my pulse trip.

“Flight,” he mutters, voice still rough, still half-asleep.

“Silver Fox,” I whisper back, grinning.

His lips twitch, but he shakes his head.

“Not fair, using that against me before coffee.”

I laugh.

But before I can push him further, his phone buzzes on the nightstand.

His expression shifts.

Not panic.

Not frustration.

Just… awareness.

Like reality just crept back in.

Because today isn’t just about us.

It’s about Olivia.

I see it before he even moves.

The way his focus sharpens.

The way the weight of responsibility settles over him.

And instead of feeling left out—

I get it.

I understand that this is part of loving him.

That Olivia will always come first. And that’s exactly how it should be. So I nudge him.

“Go. See what’s up.”

Grant studies me for a beat.

Then—softly, like he’s memorizing this moment—

“Be right back.”

And I know he will be. Because this time, I’m not waiting for someone to leave. I’m waiting for him to come back.

I listen as Grant steps out of the room, phone in hand. His voice is low, steady—calm in a way that tells me he’s talking to Olivia.

And something about that? About him slipping so effortlessly into dad mode?

It undoes me in the best possible way. I exhale, running a hand through my hair, trying to ground myself. Because this isn’t just a casual morning after.

It’s a glimpse into my future.

Into what life with Grant really means.

And instead of feeling trapped?

Instead of feeling like I’m giving something up?

I feel settled.

Like this was always supposed to happen.

I get up, slipping into one of Grant’s discarded shirts before heading for the kitchen.

Coffee.

I need coffee.

I need a distraction from the way my heart is slowly, dangerously turning itself over to this man completely.

But the second I’m pouring a mug, I hear it.

His voice.

Softer now.

Warm.

Laced with a kind of love I’ve never known before.

“I’ll see you soon, baby girl.”

I grip the counter.

Because damn it.

That does something to me.

Not in a jealous way.

Not in an I-want-that-too way.

But in a this is what he deserves, and I want to be part of it way.

Later, Grant steps into the kitchen.

Freshly showered, towel still draped around his neck, eyes locked on me like he knows where my mind went.

“You okay?”

I blink.

And then, without thinking, I just say it.

“Yeah. I just really love you.”

The second the words leave my mouth, I freeze.

Because—holy shit.

I just said it.

No second-guessing. No overthinking.

Just the truth, spilling out before I could even stop it.

Grant doesn’t react right away.

No sharp inhale. No stunned silence.

Just… him, watching me.

Like he’s been waiting for this depth of feelings. We’ve said I love you before, but it feels different now.

It's like he’s known it was coming.

Slowly, he steps closer.

Like he’s savoring the moment.

Like he wants me to feel every single second of it.

Then, softly—gruff, deep, real—

“You know I love you too, Flight. More than you can imagine.”

My breath shudders.

Because I knew his feelings were deep. Somewhere deep down, I knew.

But hearing it? Hearing it in his voice, from his lips, like a promise?

It undoes me completely.

I don’t say anything else.

Just close the space between us, fingers gripping his shirt, pressing my lips to his.

Because words aren’t enough.

Because this moment is too big for anything else.

And when Grant kisses me back—slow and deep, like he’s anchoring himself to me?

I know.

This is it.

This is real.

This is forever.