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I groaned softly, shifting in the bed as my body adjusted to the pain in my side. My hand instinctively reached out across the sheets—only to feel cool fabric instead of the warmth I was used to.
He wasn't there.
I blinked my eyes open slowly. My heart sank a little, but I pushed myself up carefully, wincing at the dull ache that pulsed under my ribs.
I looked toward the dresser and reached for my phone, the screen lighting up with notifications. A few missed calls and texts from China and Rylee.
China: girl?? u up??
Rylee: Onika Tonya Maraj!! Answer your phone now!
I didn't answer them right away. I just held the phone in my hand, thumb hovering over the screen as I noticed something else—water running.
My eyes flicked toward the bathroom. The door was cracked slightly, steam curling from inside.
He was in the shower.
I exhaled and pushed myself up gently, walking over to the bench at the foot of the bed to grab my robe. My steps were quiet, careful, one hand resting against the wall to keep steady.
Once I had the robe around me, I moved slowly toward the bathroom, nudging the door open just enough to step in.
The heat of the steam wrapped around me like a blanket, warm and comforting. My eyes landed on him through the glass shower door. His back was to me, water cascading down his toned frame.
He leaned forward slightly, both hands pressed against the tiled wall, head bowed as if he was thinking—hard.
I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips.
There was something intimate about watching him like this—unguarded, not knowing I was here. I stayed quiet, walking over to the bench along the wall and sitting down, tucking one leg under me.
My eyes stayed on him as he finally reached for the knob and turned the shower off. He ran a hand over his hair, water dripping from his shoulders, still unaware I was sitting there.
"Aubrey," I said softly, my voice low but just enough to make him freeze.
His head turned slightly, then fully. Our eyes met. He looked stunned at first, then relieved.
"Onika," he said, stepping back inside the shower to grab a towel, wrapping it around his waist before coming out. "What are you doing up, mama? You should be resting."
I shrugged slightly, ignoring the slight twinge of pain in my ribs. "You weren't in the bed... I got worried."
He walked over, crouching in front of me and brushing some hair out of my face. "I was just clearing my head," he murmured. "Didn't mean to wake you."
