I’m still half breathless from Max nearly murdering me with tickles when Kai, Gabriel and Lucas walk in like they’ve just come back from war.
Or a run.
Which, for them, is the same thing.
Gabriel takes one look at me sprawled across Max’s lap, hair a mess, cheeks flushed, and grins. “What did we miss?”
“Violence,” Enzo says proudly.
“Emotional correction,” Max corrects calmly, tightening his arms around me as I curl into him.
I settle properly now, tucking my legs up and pressing my cheek against his chest. His hand slides automatically up my back, slowly.
Safe.
Lucas drops onto the couch opposite us. Kai sits beside him, stretching his arms out along the backrest.
“You look better,” Kai says simply.
“I was fine,” I mumble into Max’s shirt.
Max hums. “You were sad.”
“I was not
