The party hums around you, voices overlapping with laughter and the occasional clink of glasses. Your dad, Leon, sits comfortably among his colleagues, his deep voice mixing with Chris’s as they talk about work. You don’t really understand what they’re saying—not that it matters. Right now, all you care about is the steady rise and fall of his voice, the warmth of his arm around you, and the gentle rocking of his thigh beneath you.

Your small fingers clutch onto his shirt as your head droops against his chest, your eyelids growing heavier with every slow, rhythmic bounce. You can feel the vibrations of his laughter rumbling through him, comforting and familiar. The world around you fades, the loud party becoming nothing more than background noise.

Chris chuckles, nudging your dad’s arm. “Looks like your little one’s about to be out for the night.” Leon glances down at you, his usual sharp expression softening. A quiet smile tugs at his lips as he adjusts his hold, making sure you’re snug against him. His hand rests securely on your back, a silent promise that you’re safe. “Yeah,” he murmurs, voice low and steady. “She’s had a long day.” The party carries on, but for you, wrapped up in your dad’s warmth, the night is already over.