Chapter 90

Chapter 90
Kaelen's POV

I wake up slowly, warm and content in a way I haven't felt in months. Jordan is still asleep beside me, his face relaxed, one arm slung across my waist. Sunlight filters through the half closed blinds, painting soft stripes across his skin. I watch him for a long moment, then lean in and kiss his shoulder, neck, then the corner of his mouth.

He stirs with a sleepy hum and turns towards me. "Morning," he mumbles roughly.

"Morning, cutie," I whisper back.

He smiles, seeking my face even before he opens his eyes fully. I lean in and kiss him gently. Our lips meet with the faint tinge of morning breath, but neither of us cares. The kiss is slow, almost exploratory, re-familiarizing ourselves with each other after a few hours of sleep.

Soft presses turn into lingering ones. I tilt my head, deepening it just a little, and he sighs into my mouth, one hand sliding up to cup the back of my neck. We stay like that for a while, trading unhurried kisses, noses brushing, breaths mingling, with no rush to be anywhere but here. We are just lost in the warmth of the simple joy of waking up together. Until my stomach growls loudly enough for both of us to hear.

Jordan pulls back with a sleepy laugh, his forehead resting against mine. "Hungry?"

"Starving," I admit, smiling against his lips.

He starts to sit up. "I'll go grab us something--"

"No, I've got it," I say, gently pushing him back down. "Stay. I'll go."

Jordan frowns. "You should rest more. Your body needs it, especially after the strain last night."

"I need to move, J. Physical therapy, remember? Plus I'm not useless." I kiss him once more before pulling on some shorts and t-shirt. "I'll be back soon."

When I reach for my wallet, Jordan tries to hand me some cash from his nightstand but I shake my head, declining it. "I still have enough for our breakfast. Don't worry."

He watches me with that soft, proud look that makes my chest feel warm. "Okay but text me if you need anything."

The campus is waking up around me when I step out. I stop at the small cafe near the dorms and order two breakfast sandwiches, some sausages, and coffees. While I'm waiting at the counter, someone bumps my elbow. Elise.

She takes one look at me and her eyebrows shoot up. "Okay... someone got laid last night."

I feel my face heat up. "That obvious?"

"Other than you are practically glowing, I have known you for more than a decade, remember?" she laughs. "It's disgusting. In a good way."

I grin, brushing a hand through my hair.

We chat for a minute while I wait for the order. I ask her how her night went with the guy from psych.

"It was nice, actually," she says, smiling a little. "We danced a lot. He was sweet and respectful when I said I wasn't ready for anything more than that."

I nod, genuinely glad for her. For a second, a familiar pang of guilt hits me. Even though she seems fine, happy, even, I wonder if she is truly okay with how everything turned out between us. I know I'll probably always carry a little guilt for breaking her heart, at least until the day she meets someone who makes her happy the way she truly deserves.

"Tessa came back at like three in the morning, completely heartbroken," she continues, her smile fading. "Turns out the guy she went out with is married. She only found out after they slept together. She left right away, didn't even care what time it was, showed up at the dorm crying."

"Damn, that's brutal," I say, wincing.

"Yeah. I felt bad for her." Elise pauses, then takes a deep breath. Her expression shifts. "Which is why I think I've taken too long to talk to you about something important."

I still. She looks genuinely nervous now, her eyes flicking away before returning.

"Do you have a minute to sit?"

The stillness in her tone makes me pause. "Yeah. Of course."

She leads me to a bench a little ways from the cafe where we sit half facing each other. She fidgets with her thumbs for a while, clearly trying to find the right words.

"A few days before Vince took you," she starts and pauses long enough for my heart to race ahead of my thoughts. "I found out I was pregnant."

The words land heavily but for a second my brain doesn't process them. Then they sink in. Pregnant. She is telling me this because--

"When we... at your house..." she trails off when our eyes meet.

Of course. That one slip up that I never followed up after the act. Now I feel like an ass. I swallow hard, biting the side of my mouth painfully. "You are--" the words get stuck in my throat.

"No, not anymore," she shakes her head. "I lost it that day you got shot."

I stare at her. My throat feels so tight, I can't even talk properly. "You went through that... all by yourself?"

She shakes her head, her eyes glistening. "My parents found out and I um... told Jordan when Vince was holding us captive and I got scared. Please don't be mad at him. I'm sorry I--"

"Elise, no," I say quickly, taking her hand into mine. "Please don't apologize for that. I would never be mad that Jordan was there for you when I couldn't be."

She sniffles but some tears roll out anyway. She tries to look away but I reach for her, cleaning them with my thumb. She looks at me again and all I can do is hold myself strong enough to be here for her now.

"I was going to tell you," she says after a moment. "I just didn't want to add that to what you were already going through. And after... it never felt like the right time. You always had something bigger to survive."

Tears prick at my eyes. I don't try to hide them. "I'm really sorry I wasn't there for you."

"You couldn't have been," she says softly, a small smile breaking through. "You were fighting for your life, Kae."

"Are you doing okay? Is there anything I can do to help now? Anything at all... don't hesitate to tell me." The words come in quick succession.

"Just..." she hesitates for a beat. "Hug me, maybe?"

"Of course."

I open my arms for her and she settles against my chest breathing lightly. I close my eyes tightly, my thoughts rolling with the possibility of what could have been. No one wants to be a parent at nineteen but still... the loss has its own pinch. Even more, my heart aches for Elise, praying to God that she finds healing for all the pain she has endured.

Eventually I take a deep breath. "I don't really know what we are now," I whisper. "But I want you to know that I'm here, Lise. No matter what, I'll be here to hold you tight whenever you need it. That's a lifetime promise."

Elise looks up at my face with a small sad smile but real. "We are family. That's what we are now."

I let out a watery laugh. "Yeah. Family."

We sit together a little longer. When we finally stand, she gives me a quick hug. "See you later?" she asks.

"You can count on that," I smile, meaning it.

I head back toward the dorms with the bag of breakfast, my mind still turning over everything Elise told me. As I walk past the student center, a big banner catches my eye. Campus Brand Model Auditions--- Paid Gig.

I stop. My money is running out faster than I expected. I still have some left, but it won't last forever. I walk closer and read the details. There is an audition slot open tomorrow. The requirements for some of the shots are... bold. As in shirtless and down to underwear for a few looks.

I hesitate. I have never done anything like this before but the pay is decent.

The girl behind the table notices me. "Interested? You've got the look for it."

"I don't know..." I breathe.

"Having some insecurities with something beyond your clothes?" she asks, her gaze dipping to my shorts. The look on her face is self explanatory.

"What? Of course not? I'll be there," I say without thinking.

She grins. "Confident. I like it."

As I walk away with the sign up sheet in hand, one thought lingers. Will Jordan be okay with other people seeing me half naked?