Between our hands

Chapter 74: Echoes of Laughter and Shared Secrets

As evening fell, everyone gathered in Nahïa’s suite for a movie night, a well-deserved moment of relaxation after a long day of visits and interviews. Comfortably settled on cushions scattered across the floor, they prepared to immerse themselves in the film. The dim lighting created a warm atmosphere, and the excitement was palpable. Halfway through, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in!” Nahïa called out, without taking her eyes off the screen.

The door opened to reveal a bodyguard leaning over little Charles, a hand resting on his shoulder. Sacha, ever ready to crack a joke, suddenly screamed, feigning fear:

“Oh my god! You just caught this villain! Get him away from us, he scares me!”

The room burst into laughter. Little Charles, a bit surprised, looked around with his big eyes before smiling. Nahïa, amused by the situation, gently addressed him.

“Come sit next to me, Charlie,” she said, patting the empty space beside her.

But instead of approaching his big sister, the little one dashed straight into Samy’s arms, catching him by surprise, though he held him tenderly. Charles buried his face in Samy’s neck, clearly comfortable and happy to be with his "buddy."

Nahïa shook her head, laughing.

“Well, that’s great... he’s already renouncing his own sister for the new little darling... Awesome!”

The group erupted into laughter at this adorable scene. Samy, blushing with embarrassment but touched by the little one’s affection, didn’t know where to look. Maëlle, sitting next to him, looked at him with an amused smile and gently slipped her hand into his.

“It looks like Charles has a new best friend,” she whispered with a wink.

“Or a new bodyguard!” Sacha added, sending the room into fits of laughter again.

The evening continued with good spirits, everyone teasing each other and enjoying this rare moment of tranquility as a family. Charles, comfortably nestled in Samy’s arms, eventually fell asleep, adding an even sweeter touch to this night of laughter and camaraderie.

After the movies finished, the boys decided to play some music, creating a light and joyful atmosphere. Sitting in a circle, they began to chat casually, the laughter still lingering. It was then that Sacha, true to his habit of bringing up teasing subjects, redirected the conversation to the special attention journalists had been giving to Maëlle and Samy in recent days.

“Honestly, I think you’ve become the stars of the kingdom!” he said with a laugh.

Daniel, seizing the opportunity, immediately chimed in:

“The royal lovebirds! Even the journalists can’t get enough! They’re captivated!”

Maëlle, feigning innocence, looked up and asked playfully:

“But... why us? Why not you guys? I mean, you’re all interesting, right?”

Sacha burst out laughing and replied without hesitation:

“Well… we’re not dating our bodyguards yet!”

Daniel, ever the accomplice, added:

“Yeah, you see, we still respect the hierarchy. We’re waiting for a promotion before we start flirting!”

“Well, I’m thinking about it, maybe one day…” Sacha joked, casting a mischievous glance at one of the bodyguards in the room, causing another round of laughter.

Maëlle shook her head, amused by their jokes. She then turned her gaze to Nahïa, who was sitting back, and added with a smile:

“Honestly, Nahïa and Louis’s love story is just as interesting, if not more. A couple living with so many kilometers between them… several countries separate them, and he’s stayed in France for work. That’s romantic, right?”