1,2,3 And.. Love! (GXG)

Chapter 41

Olivia's POV

The early morning light filtered through the curtains, painting soft golden streaks across the room. I blinked slowly, adjusting to the quiet warmth surrounding me, and it took a moment to realize why everything felt so... different.

Zoya.

She was curled into me, her body pressed close, her head resting gently against my chest. My arm was wrapped protectively around her, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt... whole.

I exhaled softly, careful not to wake her, and let my gaze wander over her face. Her dark lashes fanned out against her cheeks, her lips slightly parted in the most peaceful expression I’d ever seen.

Last night...

I closed my eyes briefly, and the memories flooded back—her touch, her whispers, the way she held me like I was something precious, something she’d been waiting for. And I realized, with a sharp pang in my chest, how long I had been asleep inside my own life.

For years, I had gone through the motions—smiling when I had to, loving when it was expected of me—but never truly feeling. Until now. Until her.

I tightened my hold on Zoya just a little, as if to make sure she was real, that this wasn’t just a dream I’d wake up from. And in that moment, I made a silent promise to myself:

I’m not letting this go.

No matter what was waiting for us outside this room—Elijah, the rumors, the chaos—I was done running.

Zoya's POV

I stirred slowly, feeling a steady warmth beneath me, and the scent of Olivia wrapped around me like a blanket. My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was her—watching me, her eyes soft and filled with something I couldn’t quite put into words.

I blinked a few times, trying to wake up fully, and then it hit me.

Last night happened.

A giddy giggle bubbled up before I could stop it, and I buried my face into her neck, the reality of it all sending a warmth through me that had nothing to do with the sun outside.

“Good morning,” Olivia whispered, her voice still thick with sleep, and I could feel the smile in her tone.

I peeked up at her, grinning. “Morning,” I murmured, unable to contain the laughter that spilled from me again. “I can’t believe this.”

She raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. “What? Me?”

I bit my lip, shaking my head. “No, us. This. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up in my apartment and realize I imagined the whole thing.”

Olivia chuckled, running a gentle hand through my hair. “You didn’t imagine it. I’m right here.”

I sighed in contentment, nuzzling closer to her. “I hope you are.”

She kissed my forehead, and the simple tenderness of it made my heart ache in the best way.

After a moment of comfortable silence, Olivia smirked. “I can’t believe you’re giggling.”

I groaned, covering my face with my hands. “Shut up, I’m happy. Let me be happy.”

She laughed, pulling my hands away gently. “I love when you’re happy.”

I looked up at her, eyes searching. “Are you?”

She held my gaze for a long moment before nodding. “Yeah. More than I have been in a long time.”