Celeste exhaled, the sound of soft laughter in the background. "Okay, I—"
She broke off, her voice fading for a moment. Amara heard something. She heard the low murmur of another voice, deep and smooth. It was Dominic's. Then a faint shuffle, the sound of a kiss landing somewhere close to the receiver.
"Dominic," Celeste whispered, laughing under her breath. "I'm on the phone."
"I know," his voice came, velvet-soft but teasing. "You've been on the phone for twenty minutes. I'm beginning to think I'm competing with Amara."
Amara could hear Celeste smile through the line. "You're ridiculous."
"And you're beautiful," he said simply with quiet sincerity. "Did I tell you that today?"
"A hundred times already," she whispered, a laugh escaping between her words.
"Then give me the privilege to say it one more time."
Another kiss followed, slower this time. The sound was faint but enough for Amara to turn her head toward the window, smiling faintly to herself. It wasn't envy she felt. She felt a warmth that didn't belong to her but made her feel it anyway.
Celeste laughed again, breathless now. "You're insatiable."
"That's what you said before you married me," Dominic murmured.
"And I was right."
He hummed softly. "Tell Amara I said hi."
Celeste giggled, half turning. "Amara, Dominic says hi."
"Tell him hi back," Amara said, her lips curving into a quiet grin.
Dominic's voice drifted again, close, almost against the curve of Celeste's neck. "Tell her she's still banned from giving you relationship advice."
Celeste laughed. "You heard that, right?"
"Oh, I did," Amara said, amused. "And I accept the ban. For now."
"Good," Dominic said, louder this time, deliberately, as though he knew she was listening. Then there was the sound of another kiss, softer, right against Celeste's skin.
"Dominic," Celeste whispered again, her voice melting between laughter and exasperation. "Go."
He chuckled, retreating, the sound of his footsteps fading to the bed. "Don't stay up too long," he called gently.
Celeste sighed, smiling. Then she returned to the phone, her tone bright but breathy. "Sorry about that. He's…"
"Hopeless?"
"Exactly," she said, laughing. "Completely hopeless."
Amara chuckled softly. "You sound happy."
"I am," Celeste admitted, quieter now. "More than I thought I'd ever be."
Amara smiled faintly at the words. "That's good. You deserve that."
"So do you," Celeste said, almost immediately. Then, gentler, she added. "Even if you don't believe it yet."
Amara didn't answer. She just stared out at the glittering cityscape, her reflection caught between the lights.
Celeste went on, her voice softening to that tone she used only when she meant something. "You'll find it too, Amara. Someone who doesn't make you question your worth. Someone who doesn't need to buy your heart in advance."
Amara smiled faintly. "You sound like my editor now."
"Then maybe listen to me for once," Celeste teased.
"I'll think about it."
"Uh-huh."
A pause.
Then Celeste added, "Dominic says you're welcome to visit next weekend, by the way. The girls will lose their minds soon."
"I might," Amara said softly. "If I'm still sane by then."
Celeste laughed lightly. "Good. We'll save you coffee. Real coffee, and not the kind that comes with marriage proposals."
Amara chuckled. "I heard you."
Celeste was still laughing when the quiet beep of a door unlocking echoed faintly through the background.
There was a small shuffle followed by the soft creak of a hinge.
Celeste turned her head, mid-smile. "Celsa?"
A tiny giggle answered her before a small, pajama-clad figure darted into the room.
Amara could hear the sudden rustle through the phone. The sheets shifting, a muffled thud, and then a child's delighted whisper.
"Mommy."
Celeste's voice melted instantly, gentle and warm. "Sweetheart, what are you doing awake?"
From the background came the quiet snap of a laptop closing. Dominic's voice followed. "Celsa?"
There was a pause, and then the soft sound of him moving bare feet against the carpet could be heard.
Celeste looked up just as Dominic sat up from where he'd been working. His expression softened at the sight of their daughter standing near the foot of the bed, her stuffed bunny hanging from one hand, with her curls sticking up in every direction.
"Hey," he murmured, rising. "Come here, little one."
Celsa hesitated only for a heartbeat before running into his arms.
He lifted her effortlessly, her tiny hands gripping the fabric of his shirt. "What happened?" he asked softly, smoothing her hair back.
"I couldn't sleep," she murmured, her voice small and sleepy. "Selene and her cat are already asleep. I didn't want to be alone."
"What did I say about running into our room, sweetheart?" Celeste asked softly.
Celsa pulled back slightly from Dominic's arms, her curls brushing his jaw. "That I should knock first."
"And what did you do?"
Celsa turned to Dominic before turning back to Celeste. "Not knock."
Celeste's eyes softened. "Don't do that again, sweetheart."
Celsa nodded softly.
She met Dominic's gaze over their daughter's head and gave him a small nod. He exhaled quietly, kissed Celsa's temple, and walked to the bed.
"Come on," he said gently, "you can stay with us tonight."
Amara listened in silence, her phone still pressed to her ear, with a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Celeste whispered something Amara couldn't quite make out before saying softly, "Celsa, Auntie Amara's still on the phone."
Celsa perked up immediately, wriggling around in Dominic's arms. "Auntie Amara?"
Amara's voice gentled instinctively. "Hey, little troublemaker."
"Mommy said you're coming next week."
"I'm thinking about it," Amara said, smiling faintly. "Are you going to read me a story this time?"
Celsa gasped softly. "No, Auntie Amara! You read me one."
Celeste laughed quietly at that, brushing a curl off her daughter's forehead. "She's been waiting for you to read her the rest of that fairy story. She doesn't want me to. She said I lack facial expressions."
Amara chuckled. "Then I'll have to come prepared."
Celsa yawned, her voice growing smaller. "Auntie Amara, are you going to sleep too?"
"Soon, starshine."
"Okay. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, love," Amara whispered.
Celeste's voice came back, quieter now. "She's out. I mean, she just walked in, and now she's sleeping."
Amara hummed, her tone tender. "She's growing fast."
"Too fast," Celeste whispered. "Some days, I still see the early baby she used to be."
Dominic's hand brushed hers over Celsa's hair. "She'll always be that baby," he murmured, almost to himself.
Celeste smiled softly at him before realizing the phone was still in her hand. "Amara, I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"
"Yeah. Go rest. You two deserve it."
"Goodnight, love."
"Goodnight, Cel."
The call ended with a faint click.
Celeste placed her phone on the nightstand and turned back toward the bed. Dominic was lying on his side now, one arm around Celsa's small frame, the other still resting over the laptop he'd abandoned.
She slipped under the sheets beside them, her gaze softening when she saw both their chests rising in rhythm.
She reached out, brushing a stray curl from Celsa's cheek. The little girl stirred, her eyes fluttering open for a moment.
"Mommy?"
"Yes, baby?" Celeste whispered.
Celsa blinked sleepily. "I need a little brother."
Celeste froze, glancing toward Dominic.
His lips curved faintly, eyes still half-closed. "You heard her," he murmured.
Celeste bit back a laugh. "You shouldn't encourage this."
He smiled against the pillow. "She started it."
Celsa giggled softly before drifting back to sleep, her tiny hand curled between theirs.
Celeste leaned over and pressed a kiss to her daughter's forehead, whispering, "We'll talk about that later, princess."
Dominic chuckled lowly, eyes still closed. "That sounds like a yes to me."
"Go to sleep, Dominic."