STORM - (Intersex)

CHAPTER 21

CLARA

Even after everyone left, Tyler stayed unusually quiet. I went upstairs to check on Eli, still peacefully asleep, then returned downstairs to pour myself some wine. I made Tyler a cup of tea and walked back to the dining room, finding her sitting there, lost in thought.

I approach her, crouching down, gently cupping her face in my hands before placing a soft kiss on her lips. She smiles, but just slightly.

"I trust you," she whispers. "But next time, text me if you're ever going to do something like that again."

"I will," I reply, nodding.

For the rest of the night, we settle on the sofa, watching movies in comfortable silence. Being close to her is enough, but I can sense something weighing on her mind. Whenever I ask, she brushes it off with a shrug, and I don't push. Eventually, it gets late, and we head upstairs to shower. After a while, Tyler joins me in bed, her face still distant, as though her thoughts are somewhere else.

I straddle her gently, meeting her eyes, searching for whatever she's holding back. I lean forward, capturing her lips again, letting the familiar warmth between us spark. But I can't ignore the weight hanging in the air.

Grabbing a condom from the drawer, I start to grind against her.

I pause and whisper, "Tell me what's on your mind."

Tyler sighs, sitting up slightly, her eyes avoiding mine. "I have money. Not as much as you, but enough. Mark... he's rich, he's handsome, and you were with him before. Who's to say you won't end up with him? Maybe you'll fulfil his desires..." Her voice trails off, full of doubt.

I stop her with a stern look, taking her hands in mine. "I don't want him. I want you. All of you." My words are soft but firm, trying to reach past the walls she's built.

She looks at me, conflicted, still lost in her thoughts. "But you never know..." she murmurs.

I pull away slightly, frustrated, trying to make her understand. "I love you—isn't that enough?"

Tyler opens her mouth to speak but stops, her expression closing off. "I don't know... I'm just—forget it," she mutters before getting up and leaving the room.

Left alone in bed, I feel the space beside me grow colder. It's hard to sleep without her next to me, her absence like a physical weight on my chest. I glance at the clock—2 a.m.—but there's no sign of her coming back.

With a heavy heart, I let my eyes close, trying to find sleep without her by my side.

Waking up alone wasn't the best feeling. The cold, empty side of the bed reminded me of the tension from the night before. With a sigh, I got up and sorted myself out. After freshening up, I headed to Eli's room, but he wasn't there.

I walked downstairs to find them both in the kitchen. Eli was happily sitting in his chair, and Tyler stood by the counter, eating pancakes. She glanced at me and immediately walked over, handing me a cup of coffee and placing a plate of pancakes in front of me. She leaned down, giving me a long, soft kiss.

When I looked into her eyes, I felt a silent understanding pass between us. Without words, she was telling me she was okay. Things weren't completely back to normal, but the warmth in her gaze told me we were getting there.

After breakfast, we all got changed. As I grabbed my bag, I heard giggles behind me. Turning around, I saw Tyler and Eli both staring at me with matching grins. They were dressed identically black shirts, blue jeans, and black trainers.

"Twinning," she said excitedly, lifting Eli's little jacket and putting it on him before slipping into her own. Eli toddled over to me, and I scooped him up, kissing his cheek before leaning over to kiss Tyler.