..Out of the Blue ..💙

46. Love

Morning - Monica's Bedroom

The sun slipped through the half-drawn curtains, golden light dancing lazily across the room. Zoya stirred first, blinking against the soft brightness and turning slightly-only to see Monica already sitting up in bed, quietly scrolling through her phone, hair a mess of regal chaos, and lips pressed into a line that was way too composed for a weekend morning.

Zoya yawned and stretched with a groan, trying to act casual, even though her heart immediately began its traitorous thump-thump.

Monica hadn't mentioned last night. Not a word. Not even a glance.

Was it possible she hadn't heard?

Zoya mentally kicked herself for whispering her feelings like a rom-com heroine. She should've just swallowed them like her pride and kept her mouth shut.

"Morning," she mumbled, pushing her hair out of her face and trying not to look directly at the woman who made sleeping feel like falling in slow motion.

Monica gave a polite nod. "Morning. Sleep well?"

Zoya shrugged. "Yeah. You?"

"Not bad." Monica's tone was level. Way too level. Suspiciously level.

A pause.

Zoya reached for her phone on the nightstand-only to find it missing.

"Looking for this?" Monica dangled the phone lazily with one hand, not even glancing at her.

Zoya narrowed her eyes. "You thief."

"Consider it temporary custody. You tend to sleep through your alarms."

Zoya muttered under her breath and got up to retrieve it. She noticed Monica's eyes flicker briefly toward her bare legs. Just for a second. Gone before she could comment on it.

She plopped back into bed and started unlocking her phone when Monica added-smooth as silk, "By the way... interesting dreams last night."

Zoya froze.

Monica looked over now, finally locking eyes, one eyebrow slightly raised. There was something infuriatingly amused about her expression.

Zoya's heart dropped to her stomach. "What... kind of dreams?"

Monica pretended to think. "You know. The kind where someone confesses their feelings to a supposedly sleeping person. Whispered into the dark. Very sweet. Very... reckless."

Zoya blinked. "You were awake?"

Monica gave a slow, maddening smile. "You're not exactly subtle."

Zoya groaned and shoved her face into a pillow. "Can I die now?"

"Unfortunately, no," Monica replied, too pleased. "You have breakfast duty."

Zoya rolled to her side, peeking at Monica with a blush and a scowl. "So... you're not going to make this easy for me, are you?"

"Oh no. I'm going to enjoy it."

Zoya narrowed her eyes. "You're a monster."

"And yet..." Monica slid a strand of hair behind Zoya's ear, voice softer now. "You're still here."

Zoya's heart did a little somersault.

"...You're lucky I'm into scary women," she muttered, then added quickly, "Anyway, did I really say something? Like... out loud?"

Monica smirked. "You said you were falling for me. Very romantic. Terrible delivery."

Zoya groaned again, flopping back into bed. "Kill me now."