They ended up spending the rest of the night together, the three of them settling into comfortable positions in front of the TV after the chaos earlier. Isabelle stayed curled up in Rayleigh's arms on the sofa, her head resting against her chest, while Matthew sat across from them with a glass of wine still in his hand.
He watched the way Rayleigh kept brushing her fingers through Isabelle's hair, gentle and protective, and something in his expression softened. Happy to see his sister find her happiness.
"I wish I had someone," he said with a small, tired smile, his voice dropping into something honest. "Someone I could hold like that. Someone who makes me feel like you two make each other feel. I'm jealous."
Isabelle shifted slightly but didn't leave Rayleigh's embrace. "Are you still hung up on Lauren?" she asked, her tone gentle rather than accusing.
