15. Ayla

15

AYLA

I blink my eyes open, the dim light of the living room gradually coming into focus. My neck aches and there’s a dull pounding behind my temples. Fragments of memories slowly piece together - Piper’s hungry cries, the warmth of her tiny body against my chest as I fed her, the exhaustion pulling me under. I must have drifted off on the couch afterward.

Groaning softly, I push myself up to a sitting position and stretch my arms overhead, feeling the satisfying pop of my joints. I glance over at Piper’s crib, holding my breath. Relief washes over me as I see her little chest rising and falling in the steady rhythm of sleep. Her rosebud lips are parted slightly and one chubby fist rests against her cheek.

Careful not to make a sound, I rise from the couch, rolling my stiff shoulders. The clock on the wall tells me it’s just past 7 AM. I have a moment to myself before Piper wakes.

I pad across the room, my bare feet sinking into the plush carpet. Stifling a yawn, I peer out the front window, taking in the pastel streaks of dawn painting the sky. I turn from the window, my gaze landing on Shadow curled up by the back door. His tail thumps against the floor when she sees me, dark eyes hopeful.

“Want to go out, buddy?” I ask, already reaching for the handle. Shadow jumps to his feet, wiggling with excitement. The moment I crack the door open, he squeezes through the gap and bounds into the small backyard, a blur of black fur.

I step out onto the porch, the cool morning air pricking my skin. The grass is still damp with dew, glistening in the early light. Shadow darts from one end of the yard to the other, nose to the ground, tail wagging furiously.

Shadow glances back at me, his tongue lolling out in a doggy grin. Then something catches her eye and he’s off again, paws scrabbling against the fence as he spots a squirrel on the other side.

“Shadow, stay close,” I call out, a note of caution in my voice. The last thing I need is for him to go bounding after some critter and wake the whole neighborhood.

With Shadow contentedly exploring the backyard, I slip back inside, easing the door shut behind me. He won’t go far…he never does. The events of the past few days seem to cling to my skin like a film, and suddenly, all I can think about is washing them away under a hot spray of water.

I pad through the townhouse, my bare feet whispering against the hardwood floors. It’s quiet, peaceful in a way that feels both foreign and welcome. Traces of the boys are everywhere - a forgotten coffee mug on the end table, a jacket slung over the back of a chair. Little reminders that this space is lived in…

I almost miss the door to the bathroom. But there it is, slightly ajar, a sliver of light spilling out into the hallway. I push it open, stepping inside.

I start the shower, listening to the hiss and patter of the spray against the tile. Steam curls in tendrils, fogging the mirror and cocooning me in warmth. I shed my clothes, leaving them in a haphazard pile on the floor, and step under the spray with a sigh of pure bliss.

The bathroom door remains cracked open, just enough for me to hear if Piper starts crying. As I lather shampoo into my hair, I catch a whiff of something fresh and decidedly masculine. It must be one of the guys’ products, but I find myself not minding at all. There’s something comforting about the scent.

I tilt my head back, letting the water cascade over my face, the steady pressure of the waterfall showerhead massaging away the tension in my neck and shoulders. It’s a small luxury, but one I remember savoring during a rare hotel stay with my mom back when things were good. Back before everything fell apart.

As I work the lather over my skin, my mind begins to wander, drifting back to the whirlwind of events that have brought me here. In just a few short days, my life has been turned upside down, and yet, somehow, I feel more at peace than I have in years. I feel a smile tug on my lips at all the changes.

I turn around, humming softly to myself as water cascades over my skin, when suddenly -

“What the hell?” The words burst from my lips as I jerk back, nearly slipping on the slick tile. Because there, standing in the doorway is Teller.

Instinctively, I try to cover myself, my arms crossing over my chest as I screech, “What are you doing in here?”

But Teller just leans against the doorframe, his dark eyes raking over my body in a way that makes heat rush to my cheeks. “Last I checked, this was my bathroom,” he drawls. “And my soap you’re using.”

I quickly shut off the shower, my heart racing. Water drips from my body as I step out onto the mat, reaching for a plush white towel on the hook. I hastily wrap it around myself, trying to cover as much as possible. It’s soft against my damp skin but provides little comfort, given the mortifying situation.

Teller leans against the doorframe, arms crossed, eyeing me with an amused expression. “You know, that’s my towel too.”

Heat rises to my cheeks and I clutch the towel tighter. His casual remark only fuels my embarrassment, making me acutely aware of my vulnerability.

I glare at him, willing myself not to blush further. “Do you mind? A little privacy would be nice.”

His lips quirk into a smirk. “Hey, you’re the one who left the door open. In my bathroom.”

“Yeah…to hear Piper, not for peeping toms.”

Droplets of water trickle down my neck and back, the air feeling cool against my bare skin. I’m suddenly very conscious of how little the towel covers as Teller’s gaze drifts over me. An unfamiliar tension crackles between us.

Clutching my clothes and the towel tightly around me, I rush to hurry out of the steamy bathroom, my embarrassment morphing into irritation with each step. Who does he think he is, barging in like that? The nerve!

Lost in my fuming thoughts, I don’t notice the small puddle on the hardwood floor. My foot slips, throwing me off balance. A startled yelp escapes my lips as I frantically try to regain my footing, the bundle of clothes tumbling from my grasp.

Strong hands suddenly grip my arms, pulling me against his chest to stop me from falling.

And our lips accidentally meet.