Safe With You

Sunlight, Slides, and Sibling Teasing

~ Lillian ~

If there’s one universal truth I’ve learned since moving into my brother’s chaos-filled life, it’s this: breakfast is when all secrets come to light.

And today’s secret is written all over Greyson’s neck.

I nearly drop my toast when I spot it — a faint constellation of love bites peeking just above his collar, perfectly visible under the golden morning light streaming into the villa kitchen.

Alyssa’s sitting opposite him, looking far too innocent, sipping her coffee like she hasn’t just mauled the man.

I smirk, crossing my arms. “So, big brother… did a bear maul you last night, or should I be warning Winston about your overexcited fiancée?”

Greyson chokes on his orange juice. Alyssa goes crimson.

“Lillian,” he warns, coughing, “don’t you dare—”

“Oh, I’m daring,” I cut in gleefully. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like someone lost a fight with a vampire.”

Melissa’s howling with laughter. “I told you both to relax, not reenact a nature documentary!”

Greyson groans, dragging a hand down his face. “You’re never going to let this go, are you?”

“Absolutely not,” I grin. “This story’s going straight to Winston. I’ll even pre-warn him the ‘bear attack’ was just Alyssa.”

Alyssa, trying not to laugh, raises a hand. “In my defence, he started it.”

Melissa gasps dramatically. “I knew you had claws, darling!”

The two of them collapse into giggles, while Greyson looks seconds away from moving out of the villa entirely.

Before he can, Poppy and Quinn come running in — still half in their pyjamas, hair wild and smiles huge.

“Daddy!” Poppy chirps. “Can we go to the big slides today?”

“Please, please, please!” Quinn bounces. “You promised yesterday!”

Greyson blinks, grateful for the distraction. “Slides? That I can do.”

“Good,” I say, taking a bite of toast. “Because you’ll need to hide those marks under SPF fifty.”

Alyssa laughs into her coffee. Greyson glares at me.

It’s going to be a very good day.

~ Alyssa ~

If heaven had a sound, it’d be the laughter of my daughters echoing across water.

The air is thick with sunlight and sunscreen, the faint smell of churros drifting from a nearby stall. I can’t remember the last time I felt this light.

Quinn’s dragging me toward the wave pool while Poppy’s already halfway to the slides, Lillian close behind with a towel over one shoulder.

Melissa’s sitting with Hope under a parasol, big sunglasses hiding her grin as she waves us off. “Go on! You’re on holiday — I’ll keep an eye on the baby. Don’t move a muscle unless it’s lifting a drink to your lips!”

“Yes, ma’am,” I shout back.

She points a warning finger. “And that’s an order!”

I salute dramatically before following my girls into the water.

The pool is cool against my skin, glittering under the sun. Greyson’s standing at the edge, camera in hand, already snapping photos as Poppy leaps onto my back.

“Say cheese!” he calls.

“Cheese!” I yell — right before Quinn splashes both of us, soaking my hair.

Greyson’s laughter is deep, warm, the kind of sound that melts something inside me. He crouches by the edge, still photographing, looking at us like we’re the only people on Earth.

For once, maybe we are.

~ Greyson ~

I swear I’ve taken hundreds of photos today, and I still can’t capture how alive she looks.

Alyssa’s chasing the girls through the shallow pool, her laughter rising above the noise. The tattoos on her arm catch the sun, each stroke of ink a story I already know by heart.

Lillian glances at me from the sunbed nearby. “You’re grinning like an idiot.”

“Can you blame me?”

“Not really,” she admits, smiling. “She’s never looked happier.”

“She’s free,” I say quietly. “Finally.”

A whistle from the lifeguard breaks the moment. The girls are already climbing the steps to the biggest slide, Alyssa right behind them, still laughing.

I raise my camera again, ready for whatever chaos comes next.

~ Alyssa ~

We’ve done the lazy river, the splash pads, and the fountains. There’s only one thing left — the biggest, scariest slide in the entire park.

The girls are practically vibrating with excitement.

“Mummy, you have to come!” Quinn insists. “You promised!”

Poppy nods furiously. “You can’t break a pinky promise!”

I glance up at the twisting blue monster above us and sigh. “Remind me never to make pinky promises before coffee.”

They laugh, tugging me toward the stairs.

But halfway up, I hear it — someone calling my name.

At first it’s faint, but then clearer: “Alyssa! Alyssa Rose!”

I turn, spotting a woman holding her phone up like a trophy. Her voice carries, cutting through the crowd.

“Can I get a picture?” she shouts. “Just one!”

I lift a hand, trying to stay polite. “Sorry! Just here with my family today!”

She doesn’t listen. She’s already ducking under the barrier. “It’ll only take a second—”

Before I can react, Preston appears out of nowhere, a wall of calm, black sunglasses and authority.

“Ma’am,” he says evenly, stepping between us. “Ms. Rose isn’t taking photos today. Please step back.”

The woman freezes, blinking. “I didn’t mean—”

Preston shakes his head once, no anger, just certainty. “Enjoy the park, ma’am.”

She retreats quickly, muttering apologies.

When she’s gone, Preston glances up the stairs. “You okay, boss?”

I exhale. “Yeah. Thanks.”

He nods once. “Go enjoy the slide. We’ve got you covered.”

“Operation Glitter,” I say weakly, and he cracks the smallest grin.

“Exactly.”

When I reach the top, the girls are waiting, bouncing with excitement.

“Ready, Mummy?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

We go flying down together — three shrieking voices, one huge splash, and a wave of pure joy that washes everything else away.

~ Lillian ~

By the time we make it back to the villa, the sun’s melting into the ocean and everyone smells like sunscreen and sugar.

Poppy and Quinn crash hard — both asleep before their hair’s even dry, clutching stuffed dolphins from the gift shop.

Once they’re tucked in, Alyssa kisses each of them on the forehead and whispers something soft I don’t quite catch. Hope’s already snoozing against Melissa’s shoulder, tiny fingers clutching her necklace.

Dinner is casual — grilled fish, fresh bread, and way too much wine. The air is warm, salt-sweet, laughter spilling through the open balcony doors.

And of course, I can’t resist.

“So,” I say sweetly, cutting my food, “did the bear come back last night, or did it move into your room permanently?”

Greyson groans, stabbing a piece of bread. “Are you ever going to let that go?”

“Absolutely not,” I grin. “If I’m traumatised by the mental image, you’re suffering too.”

Melissa snorts. “Lillian’s keeping score at this point.”

Alyssa laughs so hard she nearly spills her wine. “You two are insufferable.”

“Us?” I feign innocence. “You’re the one giving your fiancé claw marks.”

Greyson glares, muttering, “I’m never taking my shirt off again.”

Melissa cackles. “Good luck with that.”

The teasing dies down when Preston — who’s been quietly keeping watch from his chair by the door — gets up to stretch.

Hope stirs in Melissa’s arms, fussy from the noise.

Preston hesitates, then says awkwardly, “I can… hold her, if you like?”

Melissa raises a brow. “You sure? She’s got a mean grip.”

“I’ve survived worse,” he says with a shrug.

To everyone’s surprise — especially his — Hope snuggles into his chest instantly, sighs once, and falls asleep.

The entire table goes silent.

Preston freezes. “What—did she just—?”

Melissa’s mouth drops open. “She’s never done that with anyone but her parents!”

I grin. “Well, look at you, baby whisperer.”

Preston looks down at the tiny bundle against him, half proud, half terrified. “What can I say? Babies love me.”

Greyson chuckles. “Don’t let Alyssa hear that. She’ll put you on nanny duty.”

“I’ll add it to my résumé,” Preston deadpans, before gently carrying Hope down the hall to her crib.

We all watch him go — big, stoic, terrifying Preston — moving like the floor’s made of glass.

When he returns, Alyssa’s smiling softly. “You handled that better than half the midwives I met.”

He shrugs. “She’s got good taste.”

Melissa lifts her glass. “To unexpected baby whisperers.”

We all drink.

~ Alyssa ~

The laughter fades slowly, replaced by that soft, sleepy kind of peace that only comes after too much sun and wine.

Lillian’s curled up on the sofa with her feet tucked under her, still scrolling through photos from the day. “You realise I’m framing this one of you screaming on the slide, right?”

Greyson rolls his eyes. “You’re relentless.”

“I’m your sister,” she says sweetly. “It’s my job.”

He smirks, pushing back his chair. “I suppose I need to give you some teasing material for tomorrow, then.”

“Grey—” I start, but he’s already crossing to me.

He pulls me to my feet, kisses me once — slow, deliberate — then scoops me up in one smooth motion.

Lillian groans. “Oh, gross!”

Melissa laughs. “Careful, you’ll give her more stories to tell.”

Greyson glances over his shoulder, grinning. “That’s the idea.”

I laugh, curling my arms around his neck as he carries me down the hall.

Behind us, I hear Lillian’s exasperated voice — “I’m buying you both matching turtlenecks!” — and Melissa’s giggle in response.

Greyson nudges the bedroom door shut with his foot.

And for the first time in months, as the sound of the sea hums outside and the villa goes quiet around us, it feels like the world has finally stopped spinning.