Page 99 of A Love That Saved Us

I stepout of the shower and tie a towel around my waist. My workout ran over, and between thinking about last night, Alley still naked in my bed, and where the hell we go from here, I lost track of time at the gym. Now I’m running late for the 7 a.m. AA meeting.

I walk swiftly into the bedroom, where my suitcase is sprawled open, and quietly sift through it for clothes.

“Come back to bed,” Alley murmurs across the room, startling me.

I turn toward her, hand gripping the towel at my waist, and do a quick once-over of her body beneath the white sheet. It’s pulled up over her tits, but just barely. She stretches with a yawn, arms overhead, and the sheet slips down just enough for a nipple to peek out.

Shiiit.I’d love nothing more than to climb back into bed and have her for breakfast.

“Can’t,” I say, turning back to the suitcase. I grab what I need and drop the towel.

“You’re not gonna turn around? Let me say good morning to Clark?”

I chuckle and turn around, giving her a full view of my cock before stepping into my boxer briefs.

A gorgeous smile spreads across her lips. “There he is. God, I missed him.” Her brows furrow. “Are you leaving? It’s Saturday.”

“Yeah. I’m headed to an AA meeting. There’s one at seven that I’ve been going to the past few weeks. Then I’ve got a call with my sponsor at nine.”

“I’ll come with, if you want?”

“This one’s not an open meeting. But I appreciate that.” I walk over to the bed and lean down, brushing a kiss across her lips.

“Oh my God,” she says, laughing. “How’d that morning breath taste?”

“Just like I remember.” I flash her a grin, and for a second, I forget we’re at Matt’s place. Forget we’re not in New York. Or in our own home. That we just slept together for the first time in over six months. It just feels like a normal Saturday morning.

A calm settles in my chest. It’s steady and grounding.Maybe we’re gonna be okay. “You can stay and sleep. Wait for me… I’d love to take you to breakfast when I’m done.”

She sits up, bringing the sheet with her, and I try not to look disappointed.Damn.I wanted to see her tits.

“No, no,” she says quickly. “I’ll get up and out of your hair.” She pulls the sheet up tighter. “I don’t want to mess with your routine.”

Fuck. She’s uncomfortable.

I know Alley.Really well.

I don’t think she regrets last night, but… I can’t quite read where her head’s at right now. Normally, she’d flash me her tits and crack a joke about needing her vibrator since I’m leaving.

Maybe she just doesn’t know where we go from here or how to act. Or maybe I’m overthinking it and everything’s fine.

“You know I’m a creature of habit,” I say. “But you’re not in the way. I like you being here. I like knowing you’re here waiting for me.”

She smiles. “I don’t have any of my things. I’ll go home and get ready for breakfast while you’re gone.”

Home.The word lands like a punch to the kidneys.

She means Leo and Vivian’s place.

Her real home is in New York.

I move quickly, stepping into my pants and tugging a shirt over my head. Her eyes follow me as I cross the room, grabbing my watch and phone.

I check the time.Shit.If I don’t leave in two minutes, I’ll be late.

I glance back at her, sheets still pulled up over her like she’s a one-night stand or something.

And I fucking hate it.