Page 69 of A Sinful Gravity

I hadn't expected him to bring up Chloe.

"You discussed this with her?"

"She said she'd be willing." He paused. "Of course, if you don't want this, forget it. I just wanted you to know. If you come back, you won't face me alone. You'll have company."

I looked down at the proposal.

Every page so meticulously done. He'd found the best of everything.

I looked at him.

His eyes held hope, but he was suppressing it. He didn't want me to see.

"Cassian," I said. "Are you doing all this so I'll forgive you?"

He was quiet for a moment.

"No. Just because I want you to be happy." He said, his voice rough.

"I know I can't fix the past. But the future—I still have time. I can see Laila is your whole world. I want to give her the best, too. She doesn't need to call me Dad. I just... want to do something."

This man—six years ago, he would never have said these things. He only commanded, arranged, and demanded obedience.

Now he sat here with a dozens-page proposal, telling me "you can leave anytime."

"You don't have to forgive me, Luna." He continued. "You can hate me, that's fine. But Laila, whether she's mine or not, I want to be good to her. Call it... something I'm doing for you."

He finished his coffee. "Just be yourself."

"Cassian." I looked into those eyes that once mesmerized and broke me. Now they held no aggressive light, only careful waiting. "I need to think about it."

He nodded. "Okay."

"I'm leaving." I stood.

He stood too. "Can I drive you?"

"No need," I said. "Seb's waiting."

He paused, nodded. "All right." Didn't press further.

Outside the window, night fell. Washington's lights came on one by one.

Seb's car sat at the curb. Seeing me emerge, he rolled down the window. "How'd it go?"

"Fine. Nothing dramatic." I said, getting in, placing the folder on my lap. "Just about Laila."

"He knows?"

"No." I leaned back in the seat. "He just wants to give Laila better resources."

"What do you think?" Seb started the engine. The headlights illuminated a stretch of road ahead.

"I don't know. I need to think it through first." I rested against the seat, hand on the folder, thoughts scattered.

Seb didn't ask more. "Okay, Luna. Just one thing—don't let this hurt you."

"I know." I smiled.