If We Fall Again

Chapter 17

Elise slowly woke up to the soft warmth of the sun on her skin and the faint sensation of gentle kisses trailing down her shoulders. She blinked her eyes open and found Nate leaning over her, placing tender kisses on her skin.

"Morning," he said with a smile, his voice low and warm. "Breakfast is ready."

Elise blushed, realizing she was still wrapped in only the blanket from the night before. "Nate, give me a minute to get dressed," she mumbled, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Nate chuckled. "Come on, it's not like I haven't seen you like this before."

She playfully nudged him. "That doesn’t mean you get to hang around while I get dressed!"

He laughed, his grin widening. "Alright, alright. I’ll give you some privacy." With a teasing smile, he turned and left the room.

Elise hurriedly got dressed and made her way downstairs, where she found Nate and Noah in the dining room. Nate was finishing up preparing breakfast, and Noah was already seated at the table.

As she entered, Noah looked up at her with wide eyes. "Did you stay the night?" he asked, sounding surprised.

Elise flushed, unsure how to respond. "Uh, well, I—"

Nate stepped in quickly, smoothly diverting the conversation. "So, Noah, how do you want your eggs next time? Scrambled or fried?"

Noah, distracted by the food, grinned. "Scrambled. Always scrambled."

Elise shot Nate a grateful look as she sat down next to Noah. The three of them settled into breakfast, Nate serving the plates while joining in on the conversation. They talked about little things—school, Noah’s latest project, and even some funny memories Nate shared from his job.

Elise glanced around the table, feeling a swell of contentment in her chest. For the first time in a long while, she felt a deep happiness at just being in the moment, surrounded by people she cared about.

Then the front door flew open with a bang, and Julie stormed in, loudly announcing, "I’m starving!" She froze when she noticed Elise sitting at the table, her eyes widening in surprise.

Julie’s expression quickly turned into a knowing smirk as she leaned down to give Noah a quick kiss on the forehead. "Well, well, well, look who’s here. Good morning, Elise."

Elise smiled sheepishly, her cheeks reddening. "Good morning, Julie."

Julie’s smirk didn’t fade as she turned toward Nate. "So… breakfast with Elise, huh?" She gave him a playful nudge. "Should I be reading into this?"

Noah, still oblivious to the innuendo, was busy with his food, but Elise's embarrassment grew. Nate rolled his eyes, shaking his head at Julie's teasing. "Don’t start, Julie."

Julie laughed softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "I’m just saying, Nate, it’s been a long time since we’ve had a breakfast guest. And a pretty one at that."

Nate groaned, though he couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Elise couldn’t help but chuckle, feeling a little lighter despite her embarrassment. She glanced at Nate and smiled, feeling that sense of happiness grow even stronger.

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Elise stood by the door as Nate watched Noah climb onto the school bus. Once Noah was safely on board, Nate turned to her with a small smile. “I’ll drop you home and then bring you to the bar once I’m done with something. Shouldn’t take long—just need to handle a few things for work.”

Elise nodded, grateful for his offer. “Okay, I’ll wait for you here.”

Nate gave her a reassuring look before heading out, leaving Elise in the quiet house. As she wandered around, she couldn’t help but take in the place where Nate now lived. It was different from the small, cramped space he used to call home back in high school when he was struggling to make ends meet. This place felt more stable, more lived-in. She smiled as her eyes fell on a picture of Nate and Noah, the two of them caught mid-laugh in a playful moment. It was a candid shot, the kind of picture that could only be taken in a moment of pure joy.