Hugh pinched the bridge of his nose, his head throbbing. When he turned, he met Serena's concerned gaze. The frustration in his chest slowly eased.
"The messes in my family never seem to end, and now I've dragged you out in the middle of the night to deal with them."
"We're allies, aren't we?" Serena chuckled before looking over at Calvin, who was soundly in bed.
"Besides, compared to the Jansens, you and Grandpa feel more like my real family. Helping each other out is just natural."
She thought of the texts Calvin often sent to check in on her, the home-cooked meals and snacks waiting for her whenever she visited the Larson residence. Her gaze grew even gentler.
Hugh watched her in silence.
They weren't just allies. They were family, although not something closer yet. A small smile tugged at his lips. He let his head rest lightly against Serena's shoulder.
Startled, she instinctively turned to look at him. Before she could say anything, she heard his low, hoarse voice.
"Just let me lean on you for a bit. Once the sun comes up, I'll have to take Eric back to the company and clean up his mess."
It was rare to see Hugh this exhausted.
Serena adjusted her posture, making sure he wouldn't have to hunch uncomfortably against her. "Get some rest. I'll keep an eye on Grandpa."
Hugh buried his face into her shoulder, as if he had found a safe harbor.
The sun rose, casting the first golden light into the room.
The steady vibration of a phone pulled Hugh from his sleep. He groggily rubbed his head against Serena's shoulder before sitting up sluggishly, replying to a few messages. His voice was still husky from sleep.
"I should get to work."
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