Page 260 of What We Brave
"This is better than anything on Netflix," Jamila says.
"We should charge admission," I say.
"I'd pay," Tony says..
The conversation rolls. Tony tells the story about Reid locking himself out of the rig with a patient inside. Kerry and Jamila argue about whether Jamila could successfully follow a recipe if Blake wrote it in crayon. Angie's leaning into Tony, laughing, loose. Reid's on the floor next to Blake making faces at Claire until she does this hiccupy giggle that makes everyone stop and lose their minds.
Blake catches my eye across the room. Holds it. Claire's asleep on his chest, one tiny hand still gripping his finger, and he looks?—
Settled. He looks settled.
I mouthI love you.
He doesn't mouth it back. Just holds my gaze. Nods once. Slight. Just for me.
Yeah. I know.
The evening winds down easy. Hugs at the door. Angie tucking a sleeping Claire into her car seat. Tony clasping Blake's hand, clapping Reid's shoulder. Jamila squeezing me hard—longer than usual—and whisperingI'm really happy for youagainst my ear. Kerry hugging Blake, which I'm pretty sure shocks him, then slugging Reid in the arm.
"Do this again," Tony says from the driveway.
"Absolutely," Reid calls back. "Blake will bake."
"Blake didn't agree to that," Blake says.
"Blake will bake," Reid repeats.
Headlights pull away. Taillights disappear around the corner. The street goes quiet.
I close the door. Lean against it. The house is warm and messy—wine glasses on the coffee table, pie crumbs on the floor, Claire's burp cloth draped over the arm of the couch.
Reid stretches. Blake starts collecting plates.
"Leave it," I say.
They both look at me.
I grin. "So. Who gets me first?"
Beat of silence.
Reid's eyes go wide. Blake's hands stop on the plates.
"Because I'm feeling generous tonight," I say, already backing toward the hallway. "But you're going to have to earn it."
I turn and run.
Behind me—Loss of a glass. Reid swearing. Blake's boots on the hardwood. A thud that sounds like a body hitting a wall.
"Motherfucker—"
I'm laughing so hard I can barely see, halfway down the hall, and I hear them—Reid cursing, Blake's boots closer, so much closer?—
I round the corner to the bedroom and a millisecond later Blake's already there. Filling the doorway. Chest heaving. Hair wrecked.
Grinning.
"How—"
