Chapter 63: Nate

When I get upstairs, I see Sofia sitting at the desk I made for her. She’s hunched over, her head down, completely lost in what she’s doing. A small lamp glows beside her, casting soft light over her notebook as she writes. Her hand moves quickly, glancing back and forth between the screen of her iPad and her notes, completely absorbed.

She doesn’t even notice me.

I stop at the door, leaning against the frame, just watching her for a second. It’s strange how peaceful she looks, how focused and calm. I almost forget the mess we’re in downstairs, the conversation about her father still buzzing in the back of my mind.

But here, in this moment, she’s just... Sofia. Our Sofia.

Her hair’s pulled up in a messy bun, and a few loose strands have fallen over her face as she writes. She’s wearing one of the oversized hoodies we got her, the sleeves long enough to cover her hands. Her lips are slightly parted, her brow furrowed in concentration as she writes, erases, then writes again.

I can’t help but smile. She’s been so eager to get back to school, and seeing her like this, lost in her work, makes me proud. Proud of the girl she is, and proud that she feels comfortable enough to just exist here, to study, to write... to be herself.

Sofia lets out a quiet sigh, erasing something on the page and leaning her head on her hand. She looks so soft, so delicate like this.

And I can’t help it anymore.

I step forward, the floor creaking slightly under my feet. She still doesn’t hear me. She’s so lost in her work that when I reach out and brush a strand of hair behind her ear, she jumps slightly, her head snapping up to look at me.

“Oh!” Her voice is a little breathless, eyes wide with surprise. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“Sorry,” I murmur, taking a seat on the edge of the desk beside her. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

She smiles softly, shaking her head. “No, it’s okay. I was just... A little too focus I guess.”

She laughs softly, turning to look at me, her eyes sparkling just a little. “I like it. I’ve missed this, you know? Having something to focus on, something that makes sense.”

I nod, understanding what she means. It’s the same reason why I go to the gym every day, why we bury ourselves in work when things get tough. Sometimes, you need something that makes sense when everything else is falling apart.

“I’m glad you like the desk,” I say, gesturing toward the space I made for her. “It looks like you’ve settled in.”

Her smile widens, and she reaches out, her fingers lightly brushing my arm. “I love it. Thank you for making it for me. It’s perfect.”

The warmth in her voice hits me hard, and for a second, all I can do is stare at her. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. It’s intense, the way she makes me feel, like I’d do anything to protect her, to keep her happy.

“You’re welcome,” I say softly, reaching down to take her hand in mine. She doesn’t pull away, just lets me hold her hand, her fingers intertwining with mine, until I get up.

I'm just about to leave her to her work when I hear her soft voice call out to me.

“Nate?”

I turn back around to face her, and she’s sitting there, her notebook closed now, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of the pages. There’s a look on her face, something gentle but... knowing.

“I know something’s been bothering you guys,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes meet mine, and for a second, I can’t breathe. “And it’s okay if you’re not ready to trust me or share these things with me, but... I’ll be here when you’re ready to let me know.”

Her words take me completely off guard. I wasn’t expecting this. She’s been through so much already, more than most people could handle, and yet here she is, offering to be there for us.

For me.

It hits me hard—how aware she is, how strong she is. She’s not asking for us to carry everything on our own, and somehow, that makes me want to protect her even more.

I walk back over to her, slowly, my heart pounding in my chest. Without saying a word, I reach out and lift her off her chair, sitting in her spot and gently placing her on my lap. Her legs swing over mine, and she leans into me, her head resting against my chest. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close, feeling the warmth of her body against mine.

“It’s not that we don’t trust you,” I murmur softly into her hair, my chin resting on top of her head. “We trust you more than anyone. It’s just... we want to protect you.”

She pulls back slightly, her eyes searching mine, trying to understand. “From what?”

I sigh, running my hand gently up and down her back. “From everything. Your father, Moretti, all the danger that comes with... being with us. We don’t want you to be afraid or hurt.”

Her fingers gently brush against my jaw, and I tilt my head to meet her gaze. There’s something so steady about her, something that makes me feel like maybe—just maybe—she’s stronger than we realize.

“Nate,” she says softly, her voice full of emotion. “I’m not afraid of you guys. I’m not afraid of being with you. I know you’re doing everything you can to keep me safe.”

Her words make my heart ache. How did we get so fucking lucky to have her in our lives? I don’t deserve this kind of trust from her, none of us do.

“I don’t want you to feel like you’re carrying all of this alone,” she continues, her voice soft but firm. “You don’t have to. I’m here for you too, just like you’re here for me.”

I swallow hard, my arms tightening around her. “You don’t know how much that means to me. To us.”

She smiles, and I feel something inside me shift, something big, something I wasn’t expecting. I can’t protect her from everything—none of us can—but maybe, just maybe, we can face it all together.

"Sofia, baby, can I kiss you?" I ask without thinking.

She nods and before I can stop myself, I lean in, my hand gently cupping her cheek. Her skin is soft, warm against my palm. And then I’m kissing her.

It’s slow at first, like I’m savoring the moment, letting the reality of it sink in. Her lips are soft and taste faintly sweet, like the berries we picked in the forest that day. She melts into me, her hands coming up to rest on my chest, and it’s like the world outside doesn’t exist anymore. There’s just her. Just this.

I pull her closer, deepening the kiss, my fingers slipping into her hair, tangling in those soft strands. She responds, her body leaning into mine, and for a moment, I lose myself completely in her.

When I finally pull back, we’re both breathless. Her eyes flutter open, and there’s a spark in them, something bright and tender all at once. I rest my forehead against hers, our noses brushing gently.

“I love you,” I whisper, the words tumbling out before I can even think. “I love you so much.”

She blinks up at me, her lips parting in surprise, and for a second, I think I might’ve said too much. But then she smiles, that soft, beautiful smile that makes everything feel right.

“I love you too, Nate,” she whispers back, her voice barely audible, but those words—they hit me like a freight train.

I close my eyes, pulling her into my arms again, holding her tight. I don’t ever want to let her go. I kiss the top of her head, my heart still racing, and she snuggles deeper into my chest.