Grip My Heart Like My Headboard

Chapter 5

I wake to a warmth and weight on my chest, the fog of sleep slowly clearing as I blink into the soft light filtering through the curtains. It takes a moment for me to realize the source of the pressure—JJ's head is resting on my chest, her golden hair splayed across my shirt. Her left leg is tangled with mine, locking us together in an intimacy I hadn't anticipated. Her arm drapes lazily across my waist, her steady breathing soft and rhythmic.

I freeze, my pulse quickening for reasons I'd rather not unpack right now. There's a heady mix of arousal and discomfort swirling inside me, a battle between the part of me reveling in this closeness and the part reminding me of how complicated this is.

Carefully, I reach out toward the nightstand, groping blindly for my phone. My fingers fumble against its smooth edge, and I curse internally, doing everything I can not to disturb the woman sleeping soundly atop me.

I glance at my phone and squint at the time: just after 6 a.m. The day is already creeping up on us, and we need to start moving soon. My gaze shifts to JJ, her head still nestled against my chest, her arm loose but steady across my waist. My mind wrestles with itself—wake her now or wait? On one hand, I don't want her to feel awkward when she realizes how close we are. On the other, there's something undeniably comforting about this fleeting moment of closeness.

Before I can decide, my phone buzzes in my hand, the vibration breaking the stillness. Garcia's name lights up the screen, and my stomach sinks. Calls this early are never good.

"Garcia?" I answer softly, careful not to wake JJ.

"There's a break in the case! She exclaims. "We might be able to get these super soldiers before they strike again. The judge called—found an anonymous threat posted on his car this morning."

I sit up slightly, my heart already racing.

"I'll get the team. Thanks, Garcia. You're a miracle," I say earnestly, my voice still low.

"Mother, you flatter me," she purrs dramatically before hanging up.

I set the phone down and look back at JJ, now stirring lightly. The peace of the moment is officially over, and I brace myself for the day ahead.

"JJ, we gotta get up," I say softly, shaking her shoulder.

She stirs again slowly, her head lifting as grogginess weighs her down like a heavy blanket. Her eyes blink up at me, wide and sheepish, before she sits up abruptly, brushing stray hair out of her face.

"Sorry, Em," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "Meant to go back to my room last night."

She avoids my gaze, her cheeks dusted pink with embarrassment.

"It's all right, Jay. You were tired," I reply, offering a reassuring smile.

JJ's lips twitch into a shy smile, her teeth catching her bottom lip as her eyes linger on my face for a moment too long. The room feels thick with unspoken words, and before I can process it, I force myself to turn away, moving to my go bag to grab fresh clothes.

"We have to go. Garcia has a plan, and we need to get to the station," I say, breaking the silence as I unzip my bag.

"Oh. Okay," she says quickly, rising to pick up her shoes. "I'll wake the others."

"Fifteen minutes to be ready," I call after her.

She nods, heading to the door. Just before she steps out, I stop her.

"JJ?"

She pauses, looking back at me with an expectant softness that almost undoes me. I want to say something meaningful: Thank you for coming to my room. Thank you for trusting me enough to let your guard down. But the words stay trapped, caught in a web of hesitation.