Drawn To You (GirlxGirl)

Part 26

Allie's P.O.V

I couldn't believe what I had just done. I had actually stood up to Mark. The words still echoed in my mind, the strength of them startling. I hadn't planned it, hadn't rehearsed it. It had just... happened.

For once, I had spoken from my heart, and it felt like I had cut myself free from the weight that had been pressing down on me for so long.

For the first time in years, I felt proud of myself. No more pretending, no more keeping up appearances. Sure, there was guilt in the pit of my stomach for how things had unfolded, for cheating on Mark, for betraying our vows. But that guilt was overpowered by something new, something exhilarating and terrifying—freedom. It was like a breath of fresh air, filling my lungs in a way they hadn't been filled in years.

Jessie and I were still making eye contact, and I realised I hadn't spoken since Mark had left. She looked at me, her expression softened, but there was a flicker of something else there, something like concern... or guilt?

"I'm so sorry, Jessie," I blurted out, breaking the silence. "I'm sorry he showed up like that. I'm sorry you had to see all that."

Jessie blinked, and for a moment, she just stared at me, her mouth opening and closing as if searching for the right words.

"Are you... okay?" she asked finally, her voice quiet.

Her expression shifted, and I could see the guilt settling deeper in her eyes, and I knew she was blaming herself for all of this.

I reached out and touched her arm gently.

"Jessie, it's not your fault," I said softly. "I haven't been happy with Mark for a long time. You didn't end my marriage. That was ending long before tonight."

She still looked uncertain, like she was processing everything that had just happened.

"Is there anything I can do?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mix of worry and something I couldn't quite place.

I smiled, touched by her concern.

"No," I began, but then paused. "Well, actually... can I stay here tonight? I really don't want to go back to that house. Not with Mark there."

Jessie's face softened, and she laughed, a cute, genuine laugh that made my heart skip.

"Of course," she said, but then her expression changed, her brows knitting together as if she was reconsidering something.

My stomach tightened, and for a moment, I thought she was changing her mind, that she was about to tell me I couldn't stay after all.

"Jessie?" I asked, feeling the worry creeping back into my chest.

She looked at me, her eyes serious.

"Tonight has been a lot," she began slowly. "And things between us... they shouldn't have gone as far as they did. I'm not the kind of person who gets in between a marriage, even if it was an unhappy one." She paused, and I could see the conflict in her eyes. "I think it's best if I sleep on the sofa."

I wanted to protest, to say that I needed her tonight, that I wanted to finish what we'd started before Mark interrupted. But I could see the hesitation in her eyes, the uncertainty, and I respected it. I swallowed my disappointment and nodded.

"Okay," I said softly. "But I can take the sofa. You don't have to—"

She cut me off with a small smile. "No, Allie, you've had a long night. Take the bed. It's fine."

Before I could argue, Jessie turned and left the room. A moment later, she returned with a pair of her pyjamas.

I stood there in front of Jessie, feeling the weight of the moment settle around us. The air was thick with everything we'd just gone through, and I didn't know how to fill the space between us.

Jessie was holding out the pyjamas, her expression soft but guarded, her eyes flickering over my face like she was searching for something—reassurance, maybe. Or answers I wasn't sure I had yet.

"Thank you," I said quietly, taking the clothes from her, our fingers brushing against each other for just a second. It was the smallest touch, but it sent a jolt of awareness through me, a warmth that spread from my hand up my arm, making my skin tingle.

We stood there for a moment, neither of us moving. I wanted to say more, to reach out and close the distance between us again, but I hesitated.

I wasn't sure what the right move was, whether a kiss would be too much or even a hug would be pushing things too far.

Jessie gave me a small, almost shy smile, her hands now fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

"Goodnight, Allie," she murmured, her voice soft, almost a whisper.

"Goodnight," I replied, my voice equally quiet.

I shifted on my feet, my heart pounding, wondering if I should lean in, just a little. But before I could decide, Jessie took a half-step back, and the moment seemed to slip away like sand through my fingers.

I swallowed hard, feeling my face flush slightly, and I turned away, moving towards the bedroom. Each step felt heavy, my mind racing with everything that had just happened, and everything that hadn't happened.

I reached for the bedroom door, my hand on the handle, and paused for just a moment, glancing back over my shoulder. Jessie was still standing there, watching me, her expression unreadable.

I felt a flutter in my chest, a mix of nerves and longing, but I gave her a small smile and then stepped inside, gently closing the door behind me. I let out a shaky breath, feeling the tension in my shoulders start to ease. My heart was still racing, and I could feel the butterflies swarming in my stomach, a nervous, excited energy that I didn't quite know what to do with.

I changed into Jessie's pyjamas, the fabric soft against my skin, and inhaled deeply, letting her scent fill my lungs. It was comforting, a reminder of her presence, and I felt a small smile tug at my lips despite everything. I climbed into the bed, pulling the covers up, but my mind was still racing, my thoughts still spinning around her — her face, her eyes, her lips. The way she had looked at me before Mark interrupted, the way I felt when we kissed, the way I wanted to feel again.

I stared up at the ceiling, feeling the minutes stretch into what felt like hours, my heartbeat slowly calming, but the sense of anticipation only growing. I tried to focus on the steady rhythm of my breath, the rise and fall of my chest, but it was useless. All I could think about was her, and the space between us on the other side of that door.

Then, just as I was starting to drift into my own thoughts, I heard it—the soft creak of footsteps outside the bedroom. My heart leaped into my throat, and I sat up slightly, my breath catching. The sound stopped right outside the door, and I felt a rush of adrenaline, my stomach twisting with a mix of nerves and excitement.

I stared at the door handle, watching it as if in slow motion, and then I saw it—a small, deliberate twist. Butterflies erupted in my stomach, a thrill shooting through my veins.

The handle turned slowly, and I felt a jolt of anticipation, my pulse quickening.

The door creaked open, just a sliver at first, and then wider, and then there she was.

She stood in the doorway, framed by the light from the hallway, her hair falling down over her shoulders in loose waves, wearing a pair of shorts that hugged her hips and a tight T-shirt that clung to her curves. Her expression was intense, her eyes fixed on mine, and I felt like the air had been sucked out of the room.

She bit her lower lip, her teeth catching the soft skin, and my breath hitched in my throat. She looked almost hesitant, but there was a hunger in her eyes that mirrored my own, and I couldn't tear my gaze away from her.

Jessie's voice was low, almost teasing.

"You're technically single now, right?"

I nodded, unable to speak, my cheeks flushing as a shy but cheeky smile crept across my lips.

Jessie's grin widened, and she reached for the hair tie on her wrist, pulling her hair back into a messy bun, her movements slow and deliberate.

I could barely breathe, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure she could hear it. The butterflies in my stomach danced wildly, and I felt like I was standing on the edge of something huge, something that could change everything.

And God, I wanted to jump.