314: Just Us

314: Just Us
Ella’s POV

The soft light of early morning filtered through the hotel room curtains, casting a gentle glow across the tangled sheets. I was curled up against Shawn, our limbs intertwined, his warmth seeping into me as we slept. 

The steady rhythm of his breathing had lulled me into a deep, contented slumber, the kind I hadn’t experienced in weeks. But the sharp trill of my phone on the nightstand jolted me awake, pulling me out of that blissful haze.

I blinked, disoriented, my body still heavy with the weight of last night. Shawn’s arm was draped over my waist, his face buried in the crook of my neck. 

I reached for the phone, careful not to wake him, and saw Celeste’s name on the screen. My heart sank a little—Lily. I answered quickly, keeping my voice low.

“Mommy, where are you?” Lily’s small, sleepy voice came through, tinged with that whiny tone she got when she was feeling clingy. “I woke up and you weren’t here.”

My chest tightened with guilt, but I softened my voice, trying to soothe her. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry. Mommy got stuck at work, but I’m coming home soon, okay? Don’t worry.”

Shawn stirred beside me, his eyes fluttering open. He propped himself up on one elbow, his hair tousled and his expression soft but curious. “Who is it?” he whispered, his voice rough with sleep.

“It’s Lily,” I mouthed, gesturing to the phone. He nodded, his gaze lingering on me, warm and attentive, as I focused back on my daughter.

“Did you have fun with Celeste last night?” I asked, keeping my tone light.

“Yeah,” Lily said, her voice brightening a little. “She made me warm milk and cookies, and we watched a movie. But I miss you, Mommy.”

“Oh, my love, I miss you too,” I said, my heart aching at her words. “I’m on my way home, I promise. Just be good for Celeste and don’t give her too much trouble, okay?”

“Okay,” she said, her voice small but trusting. “Love you, Mommy.”

“I love you too,” I said, smiling despite the pang of guilt. I hung up, letting out a long sigh as I set the phone back on the nightstand. 

The weight of reality settled over me—Lily, my responsibilities, the life I’d been trying to hold together. Last night had been a fever dream, a moment of escape, but now the world was creeping back in.

Shawn shifted closer, his hand resting lightly on my hip. “Everything okay?” he asked, his voice still soft, like he was afraid of breaking the fragile bubble we were in.

“Yeah,” I said, turning to face him. His eyes were on me, those cyan-blue eyes that always seemed to see right through me. “Lily’s just… you know, missing me. I told her I got held up at work.”

He nodded, his thumb tracing small circles on my skin. “I thought about taking you back to your place last night,” he said, his tone thoughtful. “But after everything… I figured a hotel was better. Neutral ground, you know? I didn’t want to push too much, too soon.”

I appreciated that more than I could say. My apartment was my safe space, filled with Lily’s toys and the routines of our life. Bringing Shawn there would’ve felt like crossing a line I wasn’t ready for—not after everything we’d been through. 

And the Hayes mansion? That was a whole other kind of pressure, one I wasn’t ready to face again. This hotel room, with its crisp sheets and impersonal decor, was perfect. It was just us, no baggage, no expectations.

“I’m glad you did,” I said, offering a small smile. “It’s… a lot to process, you know? Last night was…” I trailed off, searching for the right word. Intense? Incredible? Overwhelming? All of the above?

“Yeah,” he said, his voice low, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “It was.” He paused, his expression shifting to something more serious. “But, Ella… what does this mean? For us? I mean, after last night…” He gestured vaguely between us, his eyes searching mine. “What are we now?”

The question hung in the air, heavy with all the things we hadn’t said. Last night had been a wildfire, consuming us both, but now, in the quiet of the morning, we had to face what it meant. I wanted to have an answer, something clear and definitive, but the truth was, I didn’t know. 

Part of me wanted to dive back into him, to pretend the past didn’t exist, but another part—the part that remembered the pain, the reasons we’d fallen apart—wasn’t ready to let go of caution.

I propped myself up on one elbow, meeting his gaze. “Honestly? I don’t know,” I said, my voice soft but honest. Then, with a playful smirk, I added, “Maybe it’d be nice to just… keep doing this. No strings, no expectations. Just see where it goes.”

It wasn’t the answer he wanted—I could see it in the way his eyes flickered, a mix of hope and disappointment. But he didn’t push. Instead, he smiled, that warm, boyish grin that always made my heart skip. “I can work with that,” he said. “As long as I get to keep seeing you.”

My chest warmed at his words, and I felt a flutter of something—hope, maybe, or just relief that we weren’t diving into anything too heavy. Not yet. “Deal,” I said, matching his smile.

He leaned in, his lips brushing mine in a kiss that was soft but charged with the memory of last night. It was slow, deliberate, like he was savoring me. When he pulled back, his eyes were mischievous. “You know,” he murmured, his hand sliding up my thigh, “we could probably squeeze in a quickie before you have to go.”

I laughed, swatting his chest. “You’re insatiable,” I teased, but the truth was, I didn’t want to leave either. Being with Shawn like this—playful, open, free—felt like a gift. “You’re gonna wear me out, Hayes.”

“Wear you out?” he said, raising an eyebrow, his hand still lingering on my thigh. “You seemed to handle me just fine last night.”

I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks flushed at the memory. “Oh, shut up,” I said, shoving him lightly. He caught my wrist, pulling me closer, and before I knew it, we were kissing again, the kind of kiss that made my toes curl and my resolve weaken. 

His hands were everywhere, igniting sparks across my skin, and I could feel myself slipping back into that haze of want.

But then my phone buzzed again, a reminder of the world waiting for me. I pulled back, breathless, and glanced at the screen. A text from Celeste: Everything’s fine here. Lily’s eating breakfast. Take your time, but don’t make me explain this to her.

I groaned, dropping my head onto Shawn’s chest. “Celeste,” I muttered. “She’s probably having way too much fun with this.”

Shawn chuckled, his fingers threading through my hair. “She’s the one who got you to that club, right? I owe her one.”

I looked up at him, narrowing my eyes. “Don’t you dare tell her that. She’ll never let me live it down.”

He grinned, pulling me into another quick kiss. “My lips are sealed.”

I sighed, reluctantly untangling myself from him. “I really do have to go,” I said, though every part of me wanted to stay in this bed, in this moment, forever. “Lily’s waiting.”

“I know,” he said, his voice soft but understanding. He sat up, watching as I started gathering my clothes from the floor. The dress from last night was a crumpled mess, and I winced at the thought of doing the walk of shame in it. Shawn must’ve noticed, because he tossed me one of his shirts from his bag. “Here. Might be more comfortable than that dress.”

I caught it, smiling. “Thanks.” I slipped it on, the fabric soft and smelling faintly of him. It was too big, hanging off my shoulders, but it felt right, like a piece of him I could carry with me.

As I got ready, Shawn leaned back against the headboard, his arms crossed, watching me with that quiet intensity that always made my heart race. “You know,” he said after a moment, “last night… it wasn’t just about the heat. I mean, don’t get me wrong, that was…” He trailed off, grinning. “But it’s more than that. I missed you, Ella. Not just this.”

His words hit me harder than I expected, stirring something deep in my chest. I paused, my shoes in hand, and looked at him. “I missed you too,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. It was the truth, raw and unguarded, and saying it out loud felt like letting go of something I’d been holding onto for too long.

He stood, closing the distance between us, and cupped my face in his hands. “Then let’s not lose this again, okay? Whatever this is, whatever we are… let’s figure it out together.”

I nodded, my throat tight with emotion. “Okay.”

He kissed me again, soft and slow, like a promise. When we pulled apart, I felt lighter, like maybe, just maybe, we could find our way back to something real.

“Alright,” I said, stepping back with a smile. “I really have to go now, or Celeste will send a search party.”

He laughed, grabbing his own clothes. “I’ll walk you out.”

As we left the hotel room, hand in hand, the morning light felt brighter, the world a little less heavy. Whatever this was—whatever we were—I wasn’t ready to let it go. Not yet.