If Only (GxG)

Chapter 56 Off

『 °*• ❀ •*°』
Alison's POV

The morning light slipped through the curtains in soft gold bands, stretching across the bedspread and the empty space beside me.

Empty.

I sat up fast, heart already pounding before my brain had time to catch up. My hand reached instinctively toward the spot that should still be warm. But the sheets were cold. Twisted. Blake's side vacant.

A sharp pulse of panic shot through me.

She left.

But then the bathroom door opened.

Steam curled into the room in soft, ghostly ribbons, and Blake stepped out wrapped in a towel. Her hair clung in damp waves to her shoulders, and her skin looked paler than usual. Her eyes were tired, shadowed—but she moved with purpose, tall and graceful, like last night had never happened.

Like she hadn't fallen apart in my arms.

I swallowed, throat tight. "Blake... how are you feeling?"

She looked at me. For the briefest second, something flickered behind her eyes—too fast to name. Then she crossed the room and leaned down to press a kiss to my forehead.

"Good morning, darling," she murmured. Her lips were warm. Her voice soft. "I'm feeling better, thank you."

But her fingers, where they brushed my temple, trembled.

It was slight. A whisper of a shake. But I felt it.

I reached up and placed my hand gently over hers. "Are you sure?"

She didn't answer right away. Just brushed a strand of hair behind my ear with a little too much care.

Then I asked, quietly but clearly, "Are you ready to talk about what happened?"

That was when the light in her eyes dimmed.

Nothing in her expression changed. Not really. But it was like watching someone step backwards into their own shadow. She stood in front of me, but something inside her pulled away.

"No," she said calmly. "Not yet. If that's alright."

I nodded, unsure. "Of course."

She kept her tone light. Dismissive, almost. "It wasn't anything earth-shattering. I think everything just... caught up with me."

Caught up with her. That was what she was calling it.

She continued, a little too fast. "Rachel didn't find him. The mugger. Nothing useful. I think I just... snapped. That's all. Just stress."

"Blake—"

"Thank you," she cut in, smiling. Polished. Perfect. "For being there for me."

It didn't sound like her. Not really. It sounded like something rehearsed. Something memorised. Lines read from a script she'd written for herself the second she stepped out of the bathroom.

But I let it go.

For now.

Maybe she needed time. Maybe the wound was still too raw. Maybe pretending was the only way she could stay upright.

I opened my mouth to say more, but she leaned down and pressed her lips to my temple again.

"Shower?" she asked gently, her fingers trailing down my arm. "I'll make coffee while you're in there."

Just like that, she was Blake again. Smiling. Smooth. In control.

But the smile felt porcelain.

Too still.