If Only (GxG)

Chapter 34 Winter to Spring

A/N
🎶Slow Burn by Kacey Musgrave🎶

『 °*• ❀ •*°』
Alison's POV

April melted into May, and life kept moving.

Exams loomed on the horizon, a steady pressure settling over the city like the thick, humid air that came before a summer storm. My days were spent buried in textbooks, my nights curled up in Blake's arms, her steady presence grounding me even when my mind was fraying at the edges.

She quizzed me over dinner, made me tea while I studied, pressed slow, lingering kisses to my temple when she caught me rubbing the exhaustion from my eyes.

And through it all, she made sure I breathed.

If I spent too long hunched over notes, she would steal my pen and drag me outside.

If I forgot to eat, she would show up at my flat with something—usually something overpriced and way too fancy, but I wasn't about to complain.

If I got too inside my head, she would take my face in her hands, press her forehead against mine, and whisper, "You're brilliant, and you're going to be just fine."

And somehow, I believed her.

Blake wasn't one for empty reassurances. If she said something, she meant it.

And she meant me.

One evening, I met her at her place after school, exhaustion tugging at my limbs but the sight of her making me forget it entirely.

She was standing by the window when I arrived, a glass of wine in hand, her silhouette framed by the golden evening light.

I dropped my bag by the door, sighing dramatically. "If I have to stare at another equation, I might combust."

Blake smirked, glancing over her shoulder. "Would it be an impressive combustion? Flames? Sparks?"

I huffed, toeing off my shoes. "Nothing dramatic. Just a slow, pathetic burn-out."

She hummed, setting her glass down and making her way over. "Then we should prevent that."

She didn't give me time to argue.

One moment I was standing there, and the next, she was wrapping me up in her arms, pulling me into her warmth, pressing a slow, indulgent kiss to the top of my head.

I exhaled against her, my entire body melting into her touch. "This is nice."

She chuckled, her fingers threading through my hair. "Yes, it is."

We stood like that for a long moment, the city humming softly outside, her heartbeat steady against my ear.

Then—

"Come," she murmured, pulling back just enough to cup my face, her stormy eyes impossibly soft. "Let's get you fed before you actually combust."

I grinned, letting her take my hand, letting her lead me toward the kitchen, letting her take care of me—because God knew, she loved to.

And I let her.

Because, really, how could I not?

That weekend, Blake insisted I take a break.

"You need air, Alison," she said, dragging me toward the car. "Sunlight. Possibly some food that isn't coffee and stress-induced snacks."

I tried to protest. I had things to study. But she just raised a brow and smirked like she already knew I was going to cave.