Broken Records | Tayley

Chapter 13: The Morning After

Taylor's POV

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the quiet. The storm that had raged through the night had left a stillness in its wake, a peaceful calm that settled over everything. For a moment, I didn't remember where I was. The unfamiliar softness beneath me, the warmth of a body curled against mine—it all felt like a dream, too perfect to be real.

Then I opened my eyes and saw her.

Hayley was still asleep, her face serene, framed by the soft glow of morning light filtering through the curtains. Her hair was tousled, spilling across the pillow like a halo, and her lips were slightly parted, breathing softly as she slept. My heart swelled at the sight, a deep, tender feeling that spread through my chest, making it hard to breathe.

She looked so peaceful, so content. It was a stark contrast to the turmoil that had surrounded us for so long. In that moment, watching her sleep, I knew without a doubt that everything we'd gone through—every difficult conversation, every single moment of doubt—had led us to this. To us.

I carefully shifted, propping myself up on one elbow, not wanting to disturb her. My eyes roamed over her face, memorizing every line and curve, every freckle, the soft flutter of her eyelashes against her cheek. She was beautiful, in a way that took my breath away—not just because of how she looked, but because of who she was. Strong, resilient, kind. Everything about her drew me in, made me want to be the person she could lean on, the one who would never let her down.

I reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face, my fingers lingering on her cheek. She stirred slightly, a small smile playing on her lips, but she didn't wake. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, my heart swelling with affection and something deeper, something I didn't dare name just yet.

For a few more moments, I simply watched her, soaking in the quiet intimacy of the morning. But then Alf made his presence known, letting out a soft whine from his spot on the floor by the bed. I smiled down at him, giving him a reassuring pat before carefully slipping out of bed.

I made my way to the kitchen, Alf padding along beside me, his tail wagging lazily. The house was still, the air filled with the lingering scent of rain and something that felt like contentment. I started the coffee, the familiar routine grounding me, even as the events of the night before played over and over in my mind.

It felt like a dream, but it wasn't. Hayley was here, in her bed, and we'd crossed that line, taken that step together. There was no going back, but I didn't want to. Not ever.

As the coffee brewed, I leaned against the counter, lost in thought. Alf nudged my leg, his big brown eyes looking up at me as if he understood the significance of the moment. I crouched down, scratching behind his ears, and he let out a contented huff, his tail thumping against the floor.

"Guess it's official, buddy," I murmured to him, my voice soft. "We're really doing this."

Alf just wagged his tail harder, as if to say he approved.

I was pouring the coffee into two mugs when I heard the soft sound of footsteps behind me. I turned, my heart skipping a beat as I saw Hayley standing in the doorway, wrapped in a blanket, her hair still mussed from sleep. She looked at me with those bright, expressive eyes of hers, and for a moment, neither of us said anything. We just stood there, taking each other in, the weight of everything that had changed between us settling in the silence.

"Morning," I finally said, my voice softer than I intended.

"Morning," she echoed, her voice just as soft. She crossed the room, her movements slow and deliberate, as if she was still waking up, still processing everything. She stopped in front of me, her eyes searching mine, and I saw the same mix of emotions I was feeling reflected back at me.

"I made coffee," I offered, holding out one of the mugs to her.

"Thank you," she said, her fingers brushing against mine as she took the mug. The simple touch sent a jolt through me, a reminder of just how close we'd become, how far we'd come together.

We stood there for a moment, sipping our coffee in comfortable silence, Alf lying contentedly at our feet. The rain had stopped, but the world outside was still damp, the air heavy with the scent of earth and renewal. It felt like a new beginning, like we were standing on the edge of something vast and beautiful, something we were just beginning to understand.

Hayley broke the silence first, her voice soft and filled with a kind of wonder. "I still can't believe this is real."

"Me neither," I admitted, my eyes locked on hers. "But I'm glad it is."

She smiled at that, a small, genuine smile that made my heart skip a beat. "I am too," she said, her voice steady, even as her eyes shimmered with emotion.

We finished our coffee, the quiet intimacy of the moment wrapping around us like a warm blanket. There was no rush, no urgency—just the simple joy of being together, of sharing the start of a new day in a way we never had before.

As we stood there, side by side in the kitchen, I knew that whatever came next, whatever challenges we might face, we would face them together. And that was enough.

Hayley set her mug down on the counter, turning to me with a look that was both tender and mischievous. "So, what's the plan for today?"

I grinned, setting my own mug down and reaching out to pull her into my arms. "I was thinking we could stay in, maybe have a lazy day. Watch movies, hang out with Alf..."

She laughed softly, the sound like music to my ears. "That sounds perfect."

And as I held her close, the world outside our little bubble of warmth and comfort faded away, leaving just us, together, in the morning light.