**Brielle’s Chamber – Afternoon**

Brielle glanced up from the book she’d been pretending to read for the last twenty minutes. Jim sat across from her on the low couch, arms crossed, head already tipping forward.

She’d asked him to “watch” her read—just an excuse to stare at his face without admitting it.

Now he was asleep. Eyes closed, mouth slightly parted, head lolling to the side.

Brielle quietly set the book aside and caught his head before it could fall completely. She shifted closer until she was right beside him, then gently guided his head onto her lap.

“Cute,” she whispered, tracing one fingertip along his eyebrow.

*I haven’t been...