197
Sienna’s POV
I feigned being upied with checking crumbs on the floor, so I wouldn’t have to meet his eyes. But I did hear that tone the haughty one that sent heat to my cheeks.
We continued joking andughing. And Noah never stopped talking, about the dinosaurs, about his friend who now had a new pencil case, and about the teacher who told them stories of what was beyond their earth. We never got sick of hearing it. Even Liam seemed to have liked each minute of this, he replied to Noah excitedly as though he was talking with his little friend.
Every now and then, Liam would look at me. I always pretended not to be ready for that warm, tender gaze filled with sincerity which never got a chance to grow back then.
“Noah,” he said, wiping a bit of cream off our son’s cheek, “slow down. You’re eating like you’re in a race.”
“I’m hungry, Daddy!” Noah replied with his mouth full.
I chuckled softly. “You are always hungry when ites to cake.
“I like Mommy’s cake,” he said proudly.
It felt like something delicate dripped into my heart. Simple yet deep.
Time passed slowly, wrapped in warmth that seemed to fill the room. Noah changed positions, sat again, then imitated dinosaur sounds while acting out the little house we made. Again weughed.
Then Noah came closer to me, resting against myp, probably tired after the whole school day. I stroked his soft
hair.
“Sleepy, sweetheart?”
“A little,” he said softly.
Liam looked at him softly, then stood up to turn off the television that was still on. The living room light now left only a warm yellow glow reflecting softly on the walls.
I looked down at Noah, who was starting to yawn. “Come on, let’s go to bed, okay?” “Daddy carry me,” Noah said, stretching out his arms.
Liam strode over and plucked him up without any problem. “Okay, little boss, bedtime.
I walked behind them, watching Noah hug Liam’s neck while half–asleep on his shoulder. The sight was so soft, so warm like a small piece of the life I had always dreamed of.
We had put Noah to sleep and returned to the living room. I gathered up the leftover toys while Liam sat on the sofa, silently watching.
“You look happy tonight,” he said suddenly.
I turned to him. “Because Noah is happy.”
“Not just Noah,” he said calmly. “You look peaceful too. Like you’ve found your ce.”
His words made my chest tremble lightly. I didn’t answer right away, just looked at my hands arranging the Lego pieces back into the box. “Maybe because now everything feels different. Lighter.”
197
+25 <b>Borus </b>
“More alive?” he asked again.
I lifted my gaze, meeting his. A small smile formed on my lips. “Yes, more alive.”
He smiled back at her. “Then I hope you stay this way.
The only sound was that of quiet ticking, emitted from the clock. No exnations were necessary, and nothing had to be kept under wraps. Everything felt enough just by being here together.
I heaved a slow, long breath, trying to quiet the flutter that rose because of his simple words. I hope you stay like this. Somehow, they felt like a warm nket spread across the room, and I wanted to stay in this moment forever.
I tossed a few more Lego pieces in the box, sorting out the colors without really looking. Liam sat down next to me, his knee almost bumping mine. The closeness feltfortable. Not awkward, not forced. Just warm.
I opened my mouth again while tidying Noah’s toys. “Back then I never felt like this,” I said softly, not looking at him directly. “Home felt like just a ce to sleep. But now I look forward to mornings. To you two waking up. To Noah’sughter.”
Liam turned to me, his brows lifting slightly. “And I thought it was just because of Noah.”
I shook my head gently. “Not just Noah.” My voice was softer than I expected. “You’ve changed too.”
He was silent. Not because he didn’t understand anything, but as if choosing the right words.
“I’m trying,” he finally said. “I want things to go the way they should’ve gone before.”
My lips curved softly. “I can see that.”
His hand hovered over a Lego block, and then he straightened a little, taking a closer look at me.
“I don’t know if I’m doing it right or not. But I want to try for you and for Noah.
The world contracted once more, shrinking down to just him and me. A smile pulled on my lips unbidden. “You’ve already done so much, Liam.”
For a moment, something flickered in his eyes- a softness that rarely appeared, as if he were opening some part of himself that had long been locked away.
“Gracias,” he said in a hushed tone.
We resumed cleaning up the Legos in silence, and yet not a moment seemed wasted. The silence, it seemed, talked a lot more than words did.
Liam was standing behind me, his voice barely above a whisper. “Noah looks so much like you when he sleeps.”
I slowly turned, an expression of confusion mixed with humor. “Really?”
>>
He nodded with a small smile. “When you’re tired, both of you sleep just the same way. So calm.”
My cheeks warmed. “You pay attention, huh?”
“Always,” he said simply.
I froze. The word stopped everything in me, leaving me staring at him for several seconds without a sound.
Liam smiled more softly, as if aware of the effect of his words. “Come sit for a bit,” he said motioning to the sofa beside Noah’s.
<b>+25 </b>Bonus
I nodded softly, then sat at the edge of the couch. Liam sat next to me, close enough that I could feel his warmth. We shared the quiet as we watched Noah sleeping soundly.
“Funny, isn’t it,” I murmured finally. “How something this simple can make me feel whole.”
Liam turned to me. “Because you’re not alone anymore, Sienna.”
I looked at him, and this time, neither of us looked away. Our eyes met soft, honest, and with meanings we still didn’t dare speak aloud.
Slowly, Liam leaned a little closer. His voice dropped, gentler than before.
“I’m d we’ve made it to this point.”
I swallowed, feeling that familiar flutter return. “Me too.”
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<strong>Sara Lili</strong> is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d’s breathtaking cold.