My Heaven

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As Michael rushes back to the hotel to grab our things, I help William sit down on one of the clinic's benches outside. The cool morning breeze carries a fresh scent of rain from last night. For a moment, we sit in comfortable silence, the world still waking up around us.

"I don't even remember what happened after I passed out," William says, breaking the quiet. His voice is still raspy, but there's a warmth in his tone that tells me he's truly starting to feel better.

I glance at him, offering a small smile. "You scared us, you know. You were burning up, and Michael had to carry you all the way here. I was so worried."

William shrugs, attempting nonchalance, but I catch the faint flicker of guilt in his eyes. "Guess I've got a knack for causing trouble."

I laugh softly, shaking my head. "More like a knack for stressing everyone out."

He grins back at me, but his gaze drifts downward. "Nice outfit, by the way."

My cheeks flush instantly as I glance down at myself—Michael's oversized shirt and pants hanging awkwardly on my frame. The sleeves are rolled up several times to keep my hands free, and the waistband is cinched with a makeshift knot to stop the pants from falling down.

"It's not what it looks like," I say quickly, already defensive.

William raises a skeptical brow, leaning back with a smirk. "Oh? And what does it look like?"

"Don't start," I warn him, narrowing my eyes.

"Come on, Ashley." His smirk grows. "I'm just saying... spending the night with Michael, showing up in his clothes... it's giving some impression, don't you think?"

"It rained last night!" I blurt out, too flustered to keep my cool. "My dress was soaked, and Michael—he just—he let me borrow these so I wouldn't freeze."

"Mhm." William doesn't look convinced, his smirk now bordering on a full grin. "And that's all that happened? Nothing else?"

I glare at him, my cheeks practically on fire. "Of course not!"

William raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. "Mhm, sure. You expect me to believe Mr. Tall, Dark, and Broody didn't try anything?"

"He didn't!" I shot back, my cheeks burning. "Michael was a perfect gentleman, okay?"

William chuckled, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. But you might want to tell your face that—you're blushing like a lovesick teenager."

I shoved his shoulder lightly, unable to stop the smile tugging at my lips.

But William just laughs, his teasing chuckles filling the air. Despite my embarrassment, I find myself smiling too. It's good to see him in such high spirits after everything that's happened.

The drive back to town is quiet at first. Michael's focus is on the road, his hands steady on the wheel, while I sit in the passenger seat and William lounges in the back. The hum of the engine is soothing, and I let myself relax, watching the scenery blur past the window.

As we near the outskirts of town, William speaks up. "I'm feeling much better now. I think I'll head back to work tomorrow."

"No, you're not," I say immediately, turning to look at him.

William frowns. "Ashley, come on. I can't just sit around doing nothing. I've got responsibilities—"

"You almost died," I cut him off, my tone sharper than I intended. "You need to rest, William. You're not going anywhere near that piano until the doctor says it's okay."

William groans, leaning back in the seat. "You're worse than a nurse."

"Good," I shoot back. "Because clearly, you need someone to make sure you don't do something stupid again."

Michael glances at me with a small smile, his hand briefly brushing against mine on the center console. It's a simple gesture, but it steadies me, reminding me that I'm not alone in this.

The bustling energy of the club greeted us as soon as we stepped through the doors. The faint hum of chatter and the soft tinkling of glasses were already in full swing, despite it still being early. Before I could take another step, Richard came barreling toward us.

"William! Ashley!" he exclaimed, his round face a picture of relief as he grabbed William in a tight hug. "Are you okay? I was worried sick!"

William laughed, patting Richard's back. "I'm fine now. Just need to take it easy for a bit."

Richard turned to me, his expression softening. "Thank you for bringing him back in one piece, Ash."

I nodded, my lips curving into a smile. "Of course."

Then, his eyes lit up as if he'd just remembered something. "Speaking of which—Ashley, you have to help me tonight. Please."

"Richard—"

He cut me off, his hands clasping together in a pleading gesture. "Listen, I know William can't work, and I'd never ask him to—not after what he's been through. But we're short-staffed, and the crowd is huge tonight. I need someone who can draw them in."

"Richard—"

"Play the piano," he interrupted, his tone almost desperate. "Please, Ash. Just for tonight. You're the only one who can save us."

I hesitated, glancing at William. He gave me a small nod as if to say, Go ahead.

"Fine," I said with a sigh, and before I knew it, Richard swept me into a bear hug.

"You're a lifesaver!" he exclaimed, already darting back toward the bar.

While I headed to the piano, Michael and William found a table in the corner. Michael's friends Steven and James were already seated, laughing about something.

"Hey!" Steven greeted, raising his glass. "Look who decided to show up!"

"Good to see you, mate," James added, slapping Michael on the back.

The four of them fell into easy conversation, talking about everything from the latest news to old memories.

Meanwhile, I slid onto the piano bench, my fingers finding the keys instinctively. The crowd's hum seemed to fade as the first notes floated into the air. Playing the piano was second nature to me, a way to speak when words weren't enough.

As I glanced across the room, I saw Michael leaning back in his chair, his eyes occasionally flicking toward me. I pretended not to notice, focusing on the music instead.

By the end of the night, I wasn't sure if it was the music or the steady presence of Michael and my friends that had made everything feel a little lighter. Maybe both.