Twisted Loyalties

23

I blinked, slowly taking in my surroundings, warmth cocooning me as my senses fully returned.

Julian's arm was wrapped around me, holding me close against his bare chest.

I couldn't even remember falling asleep—just the comfort of his presence and the way he'd held me, grounding me after such an intense night.

As I lay there, I found myself studying him, marveling at how peaceful he looked in sleep. There was a softness on his face that he rarely let show, and it made me wonder how much he kept hidden beneath his usual guarded expressions.

My hand was resting on his chest, rising and falling with each steady breath, his heartbeat a quiet reassurance beneath my fingertips.

I couldn't help but trace small, light circles on his skin, taking in the warmth that radiated from him.

It was strange, lying here so close after everything that had happened—the arguments, the misunderstandings, all the walls we'd both built between us.

And yet, here we were, tangled together, all of that forgotten in this stillness. It felt like, for the first time in a while, there was no barrier, just us.

As I shifted slightly, Julian stirred, his arm pulling me a little closer, as if even in sleep he didn't want to let go.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as I closed my eyes for a moment, listening to the quiet, feeling the rhythm of his breathing sync with mine.

I didn't want to think about what might come next or how things would shift when the world around us caught up.

After a few minutes, I glanced up, taking in the way his lashes brushed softly against his skin, how his usually guarded face looked open, almost vulnerable.

It struck me that I hadn't seen him like this in a long time—if ever. The weight of everything he'd gone through, his pain, his strength, and even his mistakes, seemed to fade here, leaving just Julian.

I wanted to stay in this moment, to let this peace last as long as possible.

A surge of emotion caught me off guard, a mix of regret and gratitude, of sorrow for what he'd been through and gratitude for this closeness that I hadn't expected.

I wanted to tell him how much he meant to me, how sorry I was for not knowing, for not being there the way I should have.

But instead, I just stayed there, holding on, hoping he could feel the unspoken words in the way I rested against him.

Julian's breathing shifted, a soft murmur breaking the silence as he stirred awake. I watched him slowly open his eyes, squinting against the morning light filtering through the curtains.

For a moment, he just looked at me, and a soft, sleepy smile crept onto his face.

"Hey," he said, his voice low and a bit rough from sleep, a hint of warmth in his gaze that made my heart flutter.

He stretched his arms over his head, muscles tensing beneath my hand on his chest, and then, without missing a beat, he wrapped me up in his arms, pulling me closer.

I felt myself relax into him, sinking into his warmth as he held me tightly, almost as if he was anchoring us in this moment.

His chin rested on top of my head, and I could feel his steady heartbeat under my cheek, strong and reassuring.

We didn't need words—just the comfort of being together, after everything we'd gone through.

There was a calm that settled over us, like an understanding, a silent promise that, for now, we didn't have to go anywhere, didn't have to fix anything.

We could just be.

His fingers traced gentle circles on my back, sending a shiver down my spine as I snuggled closer, my face pressed against the warmth of his neck.

The world outside felt so far away, and I wanted to hold onto this, to stay wrapped in his arms where nothing else mattered.

After a while, he leaned down, his lips brushing against my forehead as he whispered, "Can we stay like this a little longer?"

I smiled, closing my eyes and nestling into him even more. "Yeah," I murmured, "I'd like that."

As I held Sabrina in my arms, everything just felt... right. The warmth of her, the steady rhythm of her breathing against me—it was a kind of peace I hadn't felt in a long time, maybe ever.

I tightened my hold, pressing a soft kiss against her hair.

If there was such a thing as heaven on earth, I was pretty damn sure I'd reached it, lying here with her.

But then her phone rang, breaking the silence. I felt her shift slightly, and I muttered, "Do you have to answer it?"

She sighed, picking it up and checking the screen. Her eyes widened a bit. "Hola, Mama," she said, her voice suddenly filled with that familiar warmth she always had when she spoke to her mom.

There was a pause, and her expression changed, realization dawning. "Oh, I... I forgot! I'm coming," she said quickly, a bit of panic in her voice.

Before I could say anything, she was already scrambling out of bed, the warmth of her leaving an ache in my chest.

"What's going on?" I asked, sitting up and watching her as she started to gather her things.

She turned to me, her cheeks a little flushed. "I completely forgot—my family's coming back from Colombia today. They're here, and I need to go!"

I nodded, understanding, even though I wasn't ready to let go of the morning we'd been having. But as she slipped into her shoes and glanced back at me, she hesitated, her eyes meeting mine.

I could see the thought flicker across her face before she spoke.

"You could... come with me?" she asked softly, a hint of vulnerability in her tone, like she wasn't sure if I'd want to.

The idea of meeting her family—of being that close to the life she shared with them—felt like a leap, something I hadn't expected her to ask.

But as she stood there, waiting for my response, I could feel the importance of this moment. I took a breath, giving her a small, reassuring nod.

"Yeah," I said, my voice steady. "I'll come."

AUTHORS NOTEE

They both admire each other it's so adorable ughh!!

Family next chapter!!