I am 15 chapters ahead on my patreón, check it out if you are interested.
https://www.patréon.com/emperordragon
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Chapter 41— The Things He Doesn't See
Sam watched him from the corner of her eye — the boy who drove her crazy in ways that nothing in this world could explain.
They were barely two steps away from her car when it happened.
A blur of orange fur shot out from God knows where — a flash of claws and mischief — and before either of them could react, Ghost had launched himself straight at Jon like a tiny, fluffy missile.
Jon flinched — only for a second — before instinctively steadying himself as the kitten scrambled expertly up his leg, over his hoodie, and perched himself neatly on Jon's shoulder like some smug little pirate cat.
Sam leaned on the car door, crossing her arms, watching the scene unfold with an amused, lingering smile.
Jon, for all his talents, was currently being outmaneuvered by a six-week-old kitten.
"Ghost…" Jon sighed, turning his head slightly, as though somehow this was up for debate. "Buddy, you can't come with us. We're not going on an adventure — we're babysitting."
Ghost responded with a soft chirp and rubbed his cheek against Jon's jaw, purring like a tiny motorboat.
Sam bit her lip to keep from laughing. The sight of Jon — tall, sharp-eyed, confident Jon — trying to reason with his tiny, orange shadow was dangerously adorable.
"You have food. You have toys. And you've already conquered the house," Jon continued, tone calm and logical like he was briefing a fellow strategist. "You don't need to conquer Mitchell and Cam's too."
Ghost stared at him. Blinked. Then, to Sam's surprise, slowly climbed down his hoodie like he understood the whole argument.
Jon scratched behind Ghost's ear. "Good boy."
Sam shook her head, climbing into the driver's seat as Jon crouched down to say goodbye properly.
"You're a menace," Jon whispered to the kitten, "but I love you anyway."
Sam watched him through the windshield, her heart squeezing in that stupid, aching way it always did when he wasn't looking.
This boy.
This absolute dork.
And he had no idea what he was doing to her.
Jon slid into the passenger seat beside her, buckling up as he glanced over. "Ready?"
Sam just smiled. "Yeah."
The engine rumbled to life, and as they pulled out of the driveway, Sam cast one last glance in the rearview mirror.
Ghost sat there on the porch — tiny, bright-eyed, and watching them leave like he already knew they'd be back.
The drive to Mitchell and Cam's house was quiet — comfortable. The kind of quiet that existed only between people who didn't need to fill the silence.
Sam kept sneaking glances at him while he absentmindedly scrolled through his phone — probably reading some ridiculous article or something.
By the time they pulled up outside the house, Jon was already unclipping his seatbelt and stepping out.
Sam followed him to the front door, where Jon gave three sharp knocks.
The door swung open a second later to reveal Mitchell, looking both relieved and stressed — a signature combo Sam had come to associate with him.
"Oh, thank God!" Mitchell breathed. "You guys are lifesavers. Come in, come in."
They stepped inside, following Mitchell into the warm, well-lit living room.
Cam stood near the bassinet, gently rocking a very tiny, very sleepy-looking Lily.
Mitchell gestured grandly. "Cam, look — our heroic babysitters have arrived!"
Cam glanced up, managing a polite smile — but there was hesitation in his eyes.
"I don't know, Mitchell…" Cam said slowly. "Maybe we should just cancel. Lily's been so fussy tonight. You know how long it took her to get used to her usual babysitter."
Mitchell groaned, rubbing his temples. "We are not cancelling. We cancelled the last two times. If we cancel again, people are going to think we've died." He turned to Sam and Jon. "She'll be fine with you two."
Without further debate, Mitchell gently scooped Lily from her bassinet and — to Sam's mild surprise — placed the baby right into Jon's hands.
Jon didn't even flinch.
If anything, he looked... comfortable.
Lily blinked up at him, her tiny mouth opening in that universal baby-surprise expression.
For a beat, Sam thought this was about to go sideways — but then Lily let out the tiniest little giggle.
Jon — that absolute dork— just smiled at her like he'd been holding babies his whole life.
Cam's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
"Of course," Cam muttered, "she loves him already."
Sam had to fight the smirk threatening to break through. It was hard not to laugh at how transparently jealous Cam looked.
Mitchell, however, looked like Christmas had come early.
"See?" Mitchell grinned. "She's fine. She's in good hands. We're going."
Cam hovered for another second, clearly not thrilled at how quickly Lily had warmed up to Jon — but Mitchell was already gathering their things.
"Alright, Lily," Mitchell said in a sing-song voice, leaning down to kiss her tiny forehead. "Be good for Jon and Sam, okay? We'll be back soon."
Cam sighed dramatically but followed suit, saying his goodbyes to Lily — and maybe glaring just a little at Jon for stealing his daughter's heart in under thirty seconds.
Mitchell finally grabbed Cam by the arm, playfully dragging him toward the door.
"Come on, Cam. We're late."
"But she just smiled at him, Do you know how long it took for me to get her to smile like that?"
"That's because he's not trying so hard or something, I don't know — let's go!"
Sam watched the door close behind them, shaking her head with a soft laugh.
Jon, still effortlessly holding Lily like she weighed nothing, glanced over.
"Think they'll survive the party?"
Sam raised a brow. "I'm more worried about us surviving this shift."
Jon just grinned.
And in that moment — with a sleepy baby in his arms and that spark in his eyes — Sam felt like the luckiest girl alive.