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BRIELLE
Sunlight filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the tangled sheets. I’m cocooned in Levi’s arms, his chest rising and falling steadily behind me. I snuggle back against him, his heat seeping into my skin.
Comfort. Safety. It’s all here, wrapped up in these quiet moments before the day begins.
His breath tickles the nape of my neck, a simple pleasure that sends a shiver down my spine. I sigh, content, letting my eyes flutter shut again. I imagine a life filled with more mornings just like this—just Levi and me, the outside world forgotten.
A knock jolts me from the blissful edge of sleep.
Dad. My heart does a somersault. Not now.
“Wait a moment!” My voice is too high, my words rushed as I sit up, clutching the sheet to my chest. Levi stirs beside me, confusion clear in the furrow between his brows.
I glance at him, my pulse racing. He can’t be here when Dad walks in. Can’t. The risk of being caught, it’s too much.
“Getting dressed!” I call out, louder, hoping to sound casual. I can hear Dad’s footsteps retreating from the door. A temporary reprieve.
Levi’s eyes meet mine—wide, alert. He knows the drill. Panic flutters in my stomach, but I push it down. Now’s not the time. I need to be quick, smart.
Keep it together, Brielle.
“Sorry,” he mouths, and I wave off his apology. There’s no room for sorry in our secret.
My fingers tremble as I toss Levi his crumpled clothes from the foot of the bed. He catches them, a silent dance of urgency unfolding between us. Fabric rustles softly against skin, hushed movements desperate to stay undetected.
“Shoes,” I whisper, pointing to where they lie discarded by the nightstand. He nods, stepping into them with practiced silence, our shared adrenaline fueling swift actions.
I hold my breath, watching him dress in record time. Jeans yanked up, shirt pulled over his head—each second ticking by like a countdown.
Levi’s hands fumble at the window latch, eyes locking with mine. His gaze is apologetic, a storm of emotions swirling but unspoken. I nod, encouragement mixed with a pang of regret.
“Go.”
He hesitates, just a fraction, and it says everything. The want to stay, the need to go. But this is how it has to be—for now.
The window creaks open, a soft whoosh of morning air invading the space. My heart races, pounding a fierce rhythm as if urging him on. Climb out, get away, be safe.
“Be careful,” I mouth, my voice a phantom sound swallowed by the tension of the room.
Levi’s response is in his eyes—warmth, promise, an echo of last night’s passion. He swings one leg over the sill, precarious balance in the dawn light. And then he’s gone, disappearing into the new day with a part of me clutched tight in his retreat.
I’m left standing barefoot on the cold floor, a hollow ache settling in my chest. Our secret lingers, a bittersweet fragrance in the air.
One day, I tell myself. One day we won’t have to hide.
But today is not that day.
I press my palm against the cool glass, watching as Levi navigates the slant of the roof with ease. His feet find purchase on the terra-cotta tiles, a silent dance between safety and peril. A small jump and he lands with a soft thud on the grass below, a fleeting glance up to where I stand, witness to his departure.
I mime texting on my phone, telling him we’ll connect soon.
Turning away from the window, I straighten my rumpled shirt and smooth down my hair, trying to erase evidence of the night’s transgressions. My reflection in the mirror hardly gives away anything that transpired under the moon’s watchful eye.
“Coming!” I call out, voice steadier than I feel. Deep breath in, hold, release. My heartbeat slows, betraying nothing of the chaos it held moments ago.
The door opens and I slip into the role of dutiful daughter. “Hey, Dad,” I say with a smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes. “What’s up so early?”
Dad’s head peeks in, lines of concern etching his forehead. “Sorry to wake you, Bri,” he murmurs, a crease forming between his brows.
