Page 135 of A Sinful Gravity

I nodded. "Okay."

"You're not angry?"

"No." I shook my head.

"Aren't you afraid I won't come back?" She stared at me intently.

"Yeah," I said. "But I don't want you to stay just because you're afraid I'll be angry. That's not what I want."

She looked at me, smile reaching her eyes.

"You know what," she said, "you're really handsome right now."

I froze, then laughed. The laugh pulled at my wound, making me wince, but I couldn't help it.

"After getting hit by a car?"

She laughed through tears, reaching up to gently wipe the sweat from my forehead. "You've always been handsome. You just used to be handsome in a way that made people want to punch you. Now you're handsome in a way that makes people want to cry."

"So do you want to cry or punch me?"

She thought about it. "Punch first, then cry."

Neither of us spoke. Outside, the rain had stopped at some point. Sunlight filtered through the curtain gaps, drawing a golden line on the floor.

"Luna," I called her.

"Yeah?"

"Can you kiss me? I can't move my hands."

She smiled, leaned down, lips landing softly on my forehead. Very light, very gentle.

"Enough?" she asked.

"No." I pretended to complain.

She kissed me again, this time on my cheek.

"Now?"

"Still not enough."

She laughed harder, tears flowing again, but this time while smiling. She leaned down, lips landing on mine. The soft touch made my heart skip.

"Enough," I said.

She leaned on my shoulder. I felt her breathing gradually steady.

"Cassian. One more thing."

"What?"

"Laila," she said. "When you're discharged, we'll tell her together. Tell her you're her daddy."

My eyes burned hot. "Okay."

She stood up and pulled open the curtains. The sunlight outside was bright, falling on her face, beautiful. I watched her, finally feeling a solid sense of happiness.