Chapter 266

• As Millie clung to Zeke, allowing herself to finally let go of the pain she'd bottled up for so long, Smoke took in the scene. The quiet closeness between them was so raw, so vulnerable, that he felt like he was intruding on an intimate moment.
• Sensing it was time to leave, he began gathering his laptop and cords into his bag. He shot Zeke a small nod, catching his eye briefly, and slipped out of the room with a respectful silence, closing the door softly behind him.
• Zeke continued rubbing gentle circles on her back, comforting her until her sobs subsided. Millie finally eased back, sniffling and glancing down at his shirt with an embarrassed expression.