"Aww… what would I ever do without you?"
Ryley's lips curved faintly as he lifted little Ryder from the crib, showering him with soft, abundant kisses.
With Miss Semaya still confined to rest, Ryley spent the entire day with Ryder in his embrace—rocking him between naps, playing with him whenever those bright little eyes stayed open, taking him outside for slow walks under the pale daylight, bathing him carefully, feeding him, and lingering over every small coo and smile.
For a few precious hours, buried in the rhythm of caring for his child, he almost succeeded in forgetting why his eyes had turned red that day—why the heaviness in his chest had felt unbearable from the moment morning came.
Little Ryder had fallen asleep in his arms again by the time evening settled in.
