Afterlight (Fanfiction) ✓

chapter thirty

Jay

     THE faint chirping of birds stirred me from sleep, their melodies weaving through the early morning air like a quiet reminder of the world outside this car. For a moment, I forgot where I was, the haze of sleep making the dark interior seem unfamiliar. But then my eyes adjusted to the dim light creeping over the horizon, and I turned my head to the right. There she was—Chloe, her head resting against my chest, her arms wrapped around me as if I were her anchor, her safe place.

A soft smile tugged at my lips, a rare expression that felt foreign on my face. Slowly, I raised a hand, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. My fingers lingered there, tracing the softness of her skin, careful not to wake her. Even here, in the cramped car with faint traces of makeup smudged under her eyes, she looked like something out of a dream.

Her breaths were slow and steady, matching the rhythm of the birds outside. I watched her chest rise and fall, the peacefulness of her sleep a sharp contrast to the turmoil in my chest. The air inside the car was thick with moisture, clinging to the windows and reminding me of how long we'd been in here. I reached over to let the windows up, trying to trap this moment before the outside world could intrude.

For the first time in what felt like years, I didn't remember falling asleep. My life had always been controlled, calculated, numbed. Yet last night, with her, all that slipped away. I didn't plan on dozing off because every second with her mattered—especially knowing this was our last night together for a long time. The thought of her leaving clawed at me, an ache in my chest I wasn't used to. What was this feeling? This stinging, gnawing pain? Was it fear?

I glanced at the clock on the dashboard—5:30 a.m. The numbers glowed faintly in the dim light, a cruel reminder that time wasn't on our side. A heavy sigh escaped me as I turned back to Chloe. God, I loved watching her sleep. It was like witnessing something sacred. She looked so serene, so effortlessly beautiful, like she didn't belong in a world as messy as mine.

Why would someone like her ever want someone like me? That question haunted me every time I looked at her. But she was here, and I was grateful for every stolen moment. I let my eyes linger on her, memorizing the curve of her cheek, the way her lashes rested against her skin, the soft pout of her lips. I could've stayed like that forever, but reality was already creeping in. I had to get her back to the hotel before Brad noticed she was gone.

The car had been our little escape, a bubble of intimacy where nothing else mattered. But the world outside was waiting, and I couldn't keep it at bay any longer.

"Princess," I murmured, my voice soft as I reached out to caress her cheek. She didn't stir. I smiled to myself, shaking her gently with my left hand. "Time to wake up," I coaxed, but still, she didn't move.

Leaning down, I began peppering kisses along her face and neck, letting my lips linger on her skin. I flicked my tongue playfully against her jaw, smirking when she squirmed in her seat.

"Justin," she whined sleepily, her voice a hushed protest as she half-heartedly pushed me away. A giggle escaped her, light and carefree, and it made my chest tighten.

"You were out cold," I said with a quiet laugh, pulling back just enough to see her flushed cheeks. Her groggy confusion was adorable, her hand coming up to rub at her eyes as she blinked herself awake.

"What?" she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

I chuckled, starting the car. "Nothing," I replied, my tone softer than usual. I glanced over at her, watching as realization dawned on her face, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of pink.

"Oh," she murmured, her embarrassment making me smile even more.

The car rumbled to life, and I eased it onto the road, the trees outside blurring past us. I kept my foot light on the gas, wanting to stretch the drive as long as I could. The thought of taking her back to Brad gnawed at me, but I knew it was what she needed. As much as I wanted to keep her here, with me, I couldn't stand the idea of her leaving on bad terms with her brother. They needed to fix things, for her sake. For ours.