---
Carson’s POV
I helped Raelyn carefully to her feet, still holding her steady as she wobbled a little, her legs weak from the emotional and physical toll. Gaby gave me a soft smile, and I nodded to her, silently asking for her help. She walked over, her hands gently guiding Raelyn toward the bedroom.
“She’s going to need rest,” Gaby said quietly as she helped settle Raelyn in bed. “Let her sleep for a bit. The shots will leave her drained.”
“I’ll stay with her,” I said, brushing a stray lock of hair from Raelyn’s forehead. “You should rest, too. You’ve done enough for today.”
Gaby met my gaze, and for a moment, neither of us said anything. I could tell she was exhausted as well, both emotionally and physically, but there was still a heaviness in her eyes.
“I’ll be okay,” Gaby murmured, her voice soft. She lingered for a moment longer, looking at Raelyn, before stepping back. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”
I watched her leave, then gently adjusted the blankets around Raelyn, who had already closed her eyes, her breathing slow and steady. I kissed her temple and stayed by her side, waiting for her to drift off to sleep completely.
---
Gaby’s POV
I walked quietly into the kitchen, trying to steady my own racing thoughts. I was still feeling the adrenaline from the shots, but there was something else—a deep, simmering feeling I couldn’t ignore.
Carson had always been a steady presence in my life, someone I trusted implicitly. But tonight, after everything with Raelyn, the way he held her and stayed by her side, it made something inside me stir. He wasn’t just my colleague anymore. He wasn’t just Raelyn’s support.
He was something else, something I hadn’t fully realized until now.
The sound of footsteps behind me made me turn. Carson was standing in the doorway, looking at me with an expression I couldn’t quite place. It was a mix of exhaustion, gratitude, and something else, something deeper.
“Gaby,” he said softly, stepping into the kitchen. “I—”
Before he could finish, I stepped forward, closing the distance between us. Without a word, I kissed him. It wasn’t a tentative kiss. It wasn’t a simple peck. It was everything I had been holding back, everything I had been too afraid to acknowledge.
He froze for a moment, surprised, but then his hands were on my waist, pulling me closer. His lips were gentle but insistent, responding to my urgency. My heart raced as I felt the heat between us, the intensity of the kiss. The world outside the kitchen seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us, tangled in a moment that neither of us had expected.
When we finally pulled away, both of us were breathless, our foreheads resting together.
“I’ve wanted to do that for so long,” Carson whispered, his voice low and husky.
I smiled, my hands still resting on his chest. “Me too.”
He kissed me again, this time slower, savoring the taste of each other’s lips, letting the moment sink in. I had no idea what this would mean for us, what kind of complications it might bring, but for the first time in a long time, I didn’t care. All I knew was that Carson was here with me, and that was enough.
---
Raelyn’s POV
I woke up slowly, the soft light of the afternoon filtering in through the blinds. My body felt heavy, but in a comforting way, like I was wrapped in warmth and safety. I turned my head, expecting to find Carson nearby, but instead, I found Gaby sitting in the chair by the window, her arms crossed, looking at me with an unreadable expression.
