33. Leyland

Leyland

Our dining room was alive with chatter and laughter, the kind that came so easily when family and friends gathered around good food and even better company. My parents were at the center of it, as usual, trading stories from their early years. My mom’s animated hand gestures paired perfectly with my dad’s steady rhythm as they tag-teamed a story that had Clementine nearly doubled over with laughter.

It didn’t matter that she’d heard them a million times before, my sweet girl always listened and responded like it was the first.

She sat between them, her face alight as she leaned in, hanging on every word. It was moments like these that made me realize just how seamlessly she’d become part of my family. She belonged here, as much as I did.

At the far end of the table, Duke and Ophelia were a different story.

Duke was uncharacteristically quiet, his usual confidence replaced by something hesitant, almost uncertain. He picked at his food, stealing glances at Ophelia when he thought no one was looking. Ophelia, on the other hand, was poised, her smile polite but distant. She responded when addressed, but her answers were short, her usual spark noticeably absent.

I didn’t miss the way her eyes lingered on Duke for just a second too long before darting away.

Whatever was going on between them, it was palpable.

I watched them for a moment longer before excusing myself from the table. I gave Duke a nod toward the kitchen, and after a brief hesitation, he followed.

I guess I had to make it my business to end whatever awkwardness they had going on.

Once we were alone, I leaned against the counter, crossing my arms as I studied him. “All right, fuck is up with you and Ophelia?”

Duke blinked, feigning confusion.

“What are you talking about?”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t play with me. You’ve been stealing glances at her all night, and she’s been avoiding looking at you like her life depends on it. Spill.”

He sighed, running a hand over his face.

“It’s... complicated.”

“It always is,” I said, shrugging. “But if you care about her, you’ve got to figure it out. She’s not going to be here forever, Duke. This is your chance.”

He frowned, his hands braced on the counter. “I don’t know, man. What if I say something and fuck everything up? What if she doesn’t feel the same way?”

I let his words hang in the air before speaking

“What if she does?”

He looked at me, his jaw tightening.

“Look,” I continued, “Ophelia’s heading back to California soon, but I know she wants to stay. She’s hoping you want her to stay. If you don’t say something now, you might never get the chance. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life wondering what could’ve happened?”

Duke exhaled, his shoulders slumping slightly. “You think she’d even want to hear it?”

“I think you won’t know until you try,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder. “And honestly, I might have some insight, so listen to me and go get your girl.”

A little smirk tugged at his lips, the confidence back like it never left.

“Appreciate the talk.”

I hummed and went back into the dining room, only to find Clementine absent. Knowing exactly where she’d be, I stepped outside onto the deck and sure enough, there she was, standing near the railing, a glass of wine in her hand.

Her profile illuminated by the soft glow of the moon. She didn’t turn when I stepped out, but I could tell she knew I was there by the way her shoulders relaxed slightly.

“Baby,” I said as I approached, slipping an arm around her waist from behind. “You okay?”

She tilted her head back, a small smile tugging at her lips.

“Just needed a minute. Your family’s amazing, but they can be a lot.”

I chuckled softly.

“You’re not wrong, but if you don’t tell my parents, they’ve told you that story fifty times before, they’ll keep telling it.”

She giggled and leaned into me, her body fitting perfectly against mine as we turned our gaze toward the sky. The stars were scattered across the night, bright and clear, the kind of view you couldn’t get in a big city.

“They love you, you know,” I said after a moment.

Clementine looked back.

“I know, but what makes you say that now?”

“Because I see it every time they look at you. You’re part of this family now, tiny. And they couldn’t be happier about it.”

She nodded slowly.

“I probably would’ve never experienced this kind of life without you,” she said. “This feeling of belonging. It’s... different. But I like and wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

I turned her to face me and pressed a kiss to her temple.

“You belong here. With me. Always.”

Her fingers brushed against mine as her dark eyes lifted to meet my gaze, glistening faintly in the moonlight.

“You always know what to say,” she whispered.

“I always only say what I mean.”

We stood there for a while, the sounds of laughter and conversation from inside fading into the background as I stole her glass for a sip before tipping it toward her lips.

“Here’s to us,” I said, watching her take a few small sips before pulling it away.

“To us,” she echoed, resting her head against my chest.

As I looked at her, I felt something settle deep within me—a certainty that whatever came next, we’d face it together.