29. Chapter 29

Chapter 29

2months later…

Cody

“YOU’RE INSECURE, DON’T KNOW WHAT FOR.”

The music blasts from my nightstand, jolting me straight out of a dead sleep.

What the hell?

“YOU’RE TURNING HEADS WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE DO-OR.” I groan, reaching over and grabbing Stella’s phone. One angry jab later and the One Direction song falls silent, leaving me staring groggily at the time on the screen. 4:30AM.

“Stel, I think you forgot to-

I cut off abruptly, staring at the sleeping figure beside me. Her hair is strewn across my pillow, the comforter pulled up beneath her chin. Stella’s chest rises and falls in time with her breathing, the peaceful look on her face making me want to snap a picture.

The scene is so serene that it takes me a minute to figure out what’s missing. Then it hits me.

This is the first time Stella didn’t wake up gasping for breath. It’s the first time she has slept long enough to need the alarm I just turned off.

She’ll be pissed if I don’t wake her so we can hit the gym before the morning rush, but looking at her sleeping frame, there is no way I am ruining the leap of progress she just made.

Ever since that first therapy session, Stella has been attending weekly sessions over in Silverwood. It’s tough to see internal progress, but she has seemed lighter these last few weeks. As if the past doesn’t drag her down so much as keeps her grounded.

Quietly placing her phone back on the nightstand, I crawl back under the covers next to the girl who stole my heart that first day at the gym and hasn’t given it back since.