Forever Yours

CHAPTER 7

Taking you to bed

Emily awoke the next morning in the guest room, sunlight streaming through the blinds. She blinked a few times, trying to piece together the events of last night. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep on the couch next to Henry, watching Transformers. Yet here she was, tucked into a bed, the faint scent of fresh linens surrounding her.

She sat up slowly, feeling a soft warmth spread through her chest. It didn't take much to figure out what had happened—Henry must have carried her to the guest room after she had dozed off. The thought made her cheeks flush slightly, a mix of embarrassment and appreciation bubbling inside her.

"What a gentleman," she mused quietly, smiling to herself. It wasn't the first time Henry had shown such quiet acts of kindness, but the way he had been so careful with her lately—especially after everything with Ryan—was something she wasn't used to. It felt... safe. And that was something she hadn't felt in a long time.

She stretched out her arms and legs, feeling more rested than she had in days. Memories of the previous night floated back to her: reconnecting with Trisha, the laughter, the shared stories, and then watching the movie with Henry. For the first time in forever, she hadn't been haunted by Ryan's presence, his manipulation, or the hurt he had caused her. Instead, there had been an ease in the way she and Henry shared space, the silent understanding between them calming her in ways she hadn't expected.

As she dressed and stepped out of the guest room, the rich scent of breakfast hit her nose immediately—bacon, eggs, and freshly brewed coffee. She could hear the soft hum of conversation from the kitchen, and she smiled at the thought of Henry and Trisha cooking together.

When she entered the kitchen, the sight that greeted her was almost picturesque. Trisha was expertly cracking eggs into a pan, while Henry flipped pancakes with a practiced ease. It was as if they had done this a thousand times, the kind of sibling teamwork that spoke of years of shared meals and inside jokes.

"Morning," Emily said softly, her voice still thick with sleep.

"Morning!" Trisha beamed, gesturing to a chair at the table. "We made breakfast for you."

Emily's heart swelled. "You didn't have to go through all that trouble."

Henry glanced up, grinning as he set another pancake on the growing stack. "It's no trouble. Besides, consider it a thank you for staying over. And for the company." His eyes sparkled, and Emily couldn't help but return his smile.

As they all settled in for breakfast, the conversation flowed easily, much like it had the previous night. There was no awkwardness, no lingering tension. It felt like old times, back when Emily had spent weekends at Trisha's house without a care in the world. She hadn't realized how much she had missed this—the sense of belonging, the feeling of being part of something, of being with people who cared about her.

They spent the rest of the morning lounging in the living room, watching movies and sipping coffee. Luna curled up by their feet, her soft snores adding to the cozy atmosphere. It wasn't until late afternoon that Emily realized how much time had passed.

"We should take Luna for a walk," Henry suggested, glancing over at his dog, who was now wide awake and bouncing with energy.

They made their way to the nearby park, Luna happily leading the way. The sun was warm on their skin, and the light breeze carried the scent of fresh grass and blooming flowers. Emily walked between Henry and Trisha, the peacefulness of the day settling over her like a blanket.

As they strolled, Emily found herself thinking back to the conversation she had had with Trisha the night before. It had been long and emotional, but healing. For the first time in what felt like ages, she felt like she could breathe again. There was still a lot left unsaid between them, but the fact that they had taken the first step toward repairing their friendship meant everything to her.

After their walk, they headed back to the Mitchell house for a light dinner. Emily couldn't help but notice how much lighter she felt, as if some of the weight she had been carrying around for so long had finally lifted.

When it was time for her to head home, Henry offered to drive her. She accepted, though part of her wasn't ready to leave the comfort of their home just yet. The day had been so perfect, so easy, and she found herself reluctant to let it end.

The drive was quiet, but not in the uncomfortable way that silence with Ryan used to be. With Henry, the silence felt natural, comforting even. When they pulled up in front of her house, Emily hesitated for a moment, glancing over at Henry.

"Do you want to come in for a cup of coffee?" she asked, her voice soft but hopeful.

Henry's heart skipped a beat, but he managed to keep his tone casual. "Sure," he replied, offering her a small smile.

Once inside, Emily wasted no time heading to the kitchen to brew the coffee. Henry stood by the doorway, watching her move around with ease, completely in her element. There was something so calming about seeing her like this—strong, independent, but still so warm and welcoming.

As the coffee brewed, they settled onto the couch with their mugs, falling into a long conversation about everything and nothing. They talked about music, movies, their favorite bands, and childhood memories. Emily told Henry stories about her rock CD collection, and he shared his love for Green Day and Linkin Park. The more they talked, the more comfortable they became, and before they knew it, hours had passed.

At one point, Emily began to yawn, her exhaustion from the day catching up with her. Henry noticed and gently placed his coffee mug down on the table. "You should probably get some rest."

Emily nodded, but before she could stand, Henry scooped her up in his arms. "What are you doing?" she asked with a tired giggle.

"Taking you to bed," he said with a soft smile. "You're exhausted."

Emily didn't protest, resting her head on his shoulder as he carried her to her bedroom. This was the first time Henry had ever been in her room, and when he stepped inside, he froze for a moment, taking it all in.

The walls were lined with posters of her favorite bands—Green Day, Linkin Park, and others. Marvel merchandise was scattered across her shelves, and a stack of rock CDs sat by her bed. Henry felt his heart swell as he took it all in. She was perfect. More than perfect, really. Everything about her made him fall even harder, and seeing her in this personal space, surrounded by the things she loved, only made him realize how deep his feelings went.

"She's amazing," he thought to himself as he carefully laid her down on the bed, pulling the blanket over her.

As he watched her sleep, a wave of protectiveness washed over him. How could anyone cheat on her? How could anyone hurt someone so full of life and love? The thought of Ryan's betrayal made his blood boil.

Henry bent down, brushing a stray strand of hair from Emily's face before pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "You deserve so much more than what he did to you," he whispered softly.

He stood up, glancing around her room once more before heading toward the door. He quietly locked it behind him and left the house, knowing that this was just the beginning of something deeper between them.