Beyond The Court

12. Pleaseant Suprise

*Izzi's POV*

I wake up slowly, the soft warmth of the morning sun filtering through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the room. For a moment, I don't even register what's different. The familiar comfort of my bed lulls me, but something else pulls at me, something unexpected.

And then it hits me—I'm not alone.

There's a soft weight against my side, a gentle warmth that shouldn't be there. I blink, looking down, and the sight nearly steals my breath away. Kesley is curled up next to me, her face peaceful in sleep, her arm draped lightly across my waist as if it belongs there.

For a second, I don't move. I don't even breathe. The memories from last night come flooding back—the call, the tears, her crawling into bed beside me. It all feels like a blur, like a dream that I was never sure would come true.

But it's real. She's here.

And somehow, it feels right. Like this is where she's always supposed to have been.

My heart thuds in my chest, but I don't dare move, afraid to disturb the fragile peace of the moment. Instead, I let my gaze linger on her face—the soft curve of her cheek, the way her hair falls messily across her forehead. There's something different about her now. Or maybe it's me that's different. All I know is, in this quiet, stolen moment, the years of distance between us seem to melt away. The tension, the anger, the hurt—it's all faded into the background, replaced by something I can't quite name.

She stirs a little, shifting in her sleep, and her arm tightens around me, pulling herself closer. My breath catches, and I feel a warmth spreading through me, not just from her touch but from something deeper. Something I haven't felt in a long time.

But before I can even begin to untangle that thought, the door creaks open.

"Sweetie, are you—oh."

My mom's voice freezes me in place, and I sit up slightly, my heart lurching in my chest. She's standing in the doorway, blinking in surprise, her hand still on the doorknob. Her eyes go wide as they land on Kesley, still curled up against me, half-asleep.

"Uh, hi, Mom," I mutter, trying—and failing—not to look guilty.

Her gaze shifts between me and Kesley, and for a second, I'm terrified she's going to say something. That she's going to ask questions I'm not ready to answer. But instead, her expression softens, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"Kesley," she says, a note of surprise in her voice. "It's been a long time since I've seen you here."

Kesley stirs beside me, her eyes fluttering open at the sound of my mom's voice. She looks confused for a moment, her sleepy gaze shifting around the room before it lands on me. And then, as if suddenly realizing where she is—and who's standing in the doorway—her cheeks flush pink.

"Oh, uh... hi," Kesley stammers, pushing herself up a little, her arm falling away from my waist. I immediately miss the warmth.

My mom just smiles, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed. "I wasn't expecting to see you here, but it's nice to see you again, Kesley."

Kesley offers a sheepish smile, still clearly embarrassed, but she doesn't pull away from me entirely. Her shoulder still brushes mine, and I can feel the electricity between us, a quiet, steady hum in the air that wasn't there before.

"Yeah, um... it's been a while," Kesley says, her voice soft.

"Well," my mom says, her eyes twinkling with amusement, "I won't ask too many questions. But it's good to see you both, and Kesley, you're always welcome here, you know that."