Page 123 of Don't Think

“Hi,” she whispers.

“Hey,” I whisper back, my lips twitching into a small smile.

I inch closer, careful not to wake Lydia, who’s fast asleep in her mum’s arms. When I reach the chair by the bed, Charlotte whips around, and for a second, I forget how to breathe.

She looksexactlylike Allie. Same big, ocean-blue eyes, same round cheeks. The only difference is her hair. It’s lighter, more like a strawberry blonde, and straight. But that face? She’s definitely a mini Allie.

Charlotte stares up at me with wide, cautious eyes while I ease into the chair next to the bed. I offer her a gentle, friendly smile.

“Hi there,” I say quietly. “You must be Charlotte.”

She glances at Allie, like she’s checking if I’m safe. Allie gives her a little nod, brushing her hair back.

“It’s okay, baby,” she says. “He’s a friend. You can say hi.”

Charlotte lights up like someone flipped a switch. “Hi! I’m Charlotte, and I’mfiveyears old!” she says proudly, holding up all five fingers.

Allie laughs next to her. “She loves making sure everyone knows exactly how old she is. Right, Charlie?”

At the sound of the voices, Lydia starts to stir. She yawns, blinking up at me with the most confused little face I’ve ever seen.

“You must be Lydia,” I say gently, keeping my voice soft and calm like I did with Charlotte, even though I’mdefinitelysweating.

She just stares at me for a second, then leans back into Allie. Not impressed in the slightest.

Allie grins down at her. “She doesn’t talk much,” she says, chuckling a little. “Don’t take it personally.”

I hold up my hands. “No worries,” I reply with a smile. Then I lean forward slightly and add, “I’m not much of a talker either, Lydia. I get it.”

We end up sitting there for a while, an hour at least, and somehow, I get completely pulled into their little world. And it’s…incredible.

In that hour, I learn that Lydia’s a literal puzzle master. She can apparently sit with one forever, no help needed. She hates wearing shoes, prefers to be barefoot, and she’s usually shy around new people. Which makes it even crazier that she’s now quietly curled up in my lap, twirling my phone in her hands like it’s the most normal thing in the world. No warning. She just walked over and climbed up like it was her usual spot.

Then there’s Charlotte, who is absolutely brilliant. I don’t know much about kids, but the way she talks? I swear she could put some adults to shame.

She’s obsessed with the color pink, loves animals, and already knows she wants to be a vet when she grows up, taking after her mum with wanting to take care of everyone around her.

I glance up at Allie and catch her watching me with this soft smile, and I swear, I’ve never felt this kind of peace before. All this love in one little room? There’s nothing like it.

“Do you have to go back to the studio today?” she asks, running her fingers gently through Charlotte’s hair.

I shake my head. “Not for today. We’ve got plenty of time to finish up the record, and the guys have it handled.”

She smiles and leans down to kiss the top of Charlotte’s head just when a knock hits the door, and in walks Trevor.

He stops in the doorway, eyes sweeping across the room before landing on Lydia, still snuggled in my lap. Then his jaw tenses.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he says, voice flat, “but I’ve got work in the morning, so we need to head back.”

“I wanna stay with Mommy,” Charlotte pouts, quickly laying her head on Allie’s stomach. I catch the tiny wince of pain on Allie’s face, but she doesn’t say anything. Just swallows past it.

“I know, Charlie. But Mom needs rest,” Trevor says while he grabs her coloring book from the bed and sets it on the empty chair.

“It’s okay, sweetie,” Allie tells her with a half smile that I know is a mask. “You go with Daddy, and I’ll call you tonight, okay?”

Then Trevor steps in front of me and scoops Lydia right off my lap. She lets out this little frustrated whine, but he just shifts her onto his hip and carefully takes my phone out of her hands. He holds it out to me with this tight, forced expression.

I take it and slip it into my pocket, hoping it’ll help her settle—but it doesn’t. Her arms stay stretched out, and my heart just sinks watching how neither of them want to leave, and I can’t do a bloody thing.