19. Nakul

Nakul

I wake up to the soft weight of Judd against my chest, his steady breathing and the warmth of his body grounding me. The light streaming through the curtains bathes the room in a pale golden glow and for a moment, everything feels surreal.

When I glance down, I find Judd already awake, looking up at me with a soft smile. His fingers are tangled in my hair, twirling strands of it absently like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“Good morning,” I murmur, my voice still rough from sleep.

“Morning,” he replies, his fingers brushing against my scalp. “Your hair is… mesmerizing.”

I chuckle, leaning down to press a kiss to his lips, but he leans back just enough to stop me, grinning mischievously.

“Morning breath,” he teases.

I laugh, shaking my head. “Like I care. But fine, I’ll cash in on that kiss before I leave. Deal?”

“Deal,” he says, his smile softening as his hand rests against my chest.

I study him for a moment, the way his expression shifts between calm and meditative. Then his eyes flick toward the door, his smile faltering slightly. I can see the hesitation creeping in and I know exactly what’s on his mind.

“Talk to me,” I say softly, caressing the side of his face. “What do you want to do about Stevie?”

Judd sighs, rolling onto his back, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. “It’s been a while since I’ve dated anyone,” he admits. “And I haven’t brought anyone home—not like this.”

I stay quiet, letting him work through his thoughts at his own pace. He turns his head to look at me, his eyes searching mine.

“Stevie is my whole world,” he continues. “We’re a package deal. If this is going to work, I need you to understand that. But I also don’t want you to feel like you’re being forced into anything.”

His words are careful but I can hear the vulnerability beneath them. He’s opening himself up to me, trusting me with the most important part of his life and I won’t take that lightly.

I lean in and kiss him, my hand resting on his jaw. “Judd,” I say when I pull back, my forehead resting against his. “I have no intention of ignoring Stevie. I know she comes first. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Relief washes over his face and he closes his eyes briefly, exhaling like a weight has been lifted. When he opens them again, there’s a hint of a smile. “Thanks,” he says quietly.

I run my thumb along his cheek, my own smile forming. “Do you want me to leave before Stevie gets up?”

Judd shakes his head. “It’s okay. She’s already mentioned she likes ‘the guy with the kind eyes.’”

That makes me laugh, my chest warming. “The guy with the kind eyes, huh? She’s got good taste.”

“She does,” he says, his voice filled with affection. “Come on, you can get dressed while I get her ready.”

“Sounds good,” I say, pressing one last kiss to his temple before sitting up.

***

The bathroom is warm and steamy by the time I step into the shower. The hot water cascades over me, washing away the last remnants of sleep and leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I think about what Judd just said—about Stevie being a package deal, about how careful he’s been in navigating this. It’s not lost on me how significant this step is for him, for both of us.

The fact that he’s letting me into his world, trusting me with something so precious, makes my chest swell with something I’m starting to recognize as love. It’s scary, sure, but it’s also exciting. I can feel myself smiling as I rinse the soap from my hair, the thought of Stevie calling me “the guy with the kind eyes” replaying in my head.

When I step out of the shower, toweling off and pulling on the clothes I left in the bedroom last night, I feel lighter. This isn’t just a step forward—it’s a leap. And I’m ready for it.