Twisted Loyalties

15

I woke up to the soft sensation of Camilla shifting beside me. She was still half asleep, nestled against me, her arms wrapped around my waist.

For a moment, I just watched her, taking in how calm she looked, so different from her usual fiery self.

There was something soothing about her expression, and I couldn't help but smile.

I decided to let her rest a bit longer, knowing how much she needed it.

I lay there, enjoying the peaceful moment, feeling her steady breathing against me.

The weight of the world seemed to melt away, and for a brief time, I forgot about everything else.

Eventually, Camilla stirred more, her eyelids fluttering open. As she blinked a few times, her blonde hair spilled across my chest, framing her face in a way that made her look angelic.

I smiled down at her, unable to suppress the warmth spreading through me at the sight.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," I teased lightly, trying to keep the mood light as she looked up at me, still trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.

"Morning," she murmured, a soft smile creeping onto her lips as she adjusted her position, snuggling a little closer.

It was nice to see this side of her, away from the chaos and tension.

"Sleep well?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Yeah, I really needed that," she replied, her voice still thick with sleep. I nodded, happy that I could provide her with a moment of peace, even if it was just for a little while longer.

I was lounging on my couch when my phone buzzed. It was Val, and I could tell she was frazzled just by the sound of her voice.

"Hey, Sab! You have to come to the warehouse and help me move these shipments. Matteo's making me do it, and I really need my best friend with me!"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Of course! I'll be over soon!" I replied, already thinking about how to make this ordeal a little more bearable for her.

I quickly changed into my favorite leggings and a pink cropped tank top that showed off my midriff.

After pulling my hair into a high ponytail and adding some light makeup, I felt ready to tackle whatever chaos awaited me.

As I drove to the warehouse, I mentally prepared myself for the sight of Val surrounded by boxes, probably grumbling about how heavy they were.

When I arrived, I pushed through the door and was greeted by the sight I had expected: Val standing there, looking frustrated as she struggled with a particularly large box.

Matteo stood nearby, arms crossed, trying to reassure her. "You'll be fine, Val. Just lift with your legs."

I couldn't help but chime in, my bubbly nature taking over. "Or you could just let me do the heavy lifting! I've been working out, you know!"

I grinned, walking over to them. "Seriously, Val, why don't we just break this down into smaller boxes? Teamwork makes the dream work, right?"

Val looked at me, her expression softening as she rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah, but then I won't be able to blame Matteo for my sore muscles later!"

I laughed, glancing at Matteo, who was fighting back a smile.

As we started moving boxes, Val huffed and puffed, her frustration slowly giving way to a playful banter.

"By the way," she said, pausing to catch her breath, "I saw your post on Instagram. That was so cute how Ale took you to that restaurant!"

I felt a rush of excitement at her words. "Right? I still can't believe he booked the whole place just for us!" I gushed, my cheeks warming at the memory.

Val smirked, shaking her head. "You two are adorable. I mean, a private dinner? Who does that?"

"Seriously, though! It was really nice." I continued, my voice rising with enthusiasm.

Val raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on her face. "Sounds like he's trying to impress you. Are you sure he's not just trying to win you over again?"

I rolled my eyes but couldn't hide my smile. "Maybe he is, but honestly, I don't mind! It's nice to feel special for once."

I glanced over at Matteo, who was still supervising Val's struggles with the box. "And what about you and Matteo?"

Val groaned, dragging the box to the side. "You know the usual."

I laughed, shaking my head. "I'll make sure to post about our warehouse adventure later!"

"Great, just what I need—more social media evidence of my struggle," she quipped, but her smile was genuine.

I could see the weight of the boxes and the stress of her day lifting, if only a little.

"Come on, let's get this done so we can celebrate your post later!" I said, ready to dive back into the boxes, grateful for this moment with Val.

AUTHORS NOTEE

I wonder who is coming to the warehouse next chapter!!
Val is low key my spirt animal!!