Page 23 of Only ever you-Ana & Byron (Blindsided #2)

B yron was already flipping pancakes by the time Ana wandered into the kitchen, his bare back flexing as he worked the pan like he was born to it. She leaned against the doorway in silence for a moment, watching him.

He slid the plate of pancakes onto the counter and jerked his chin toward the mug sitting by the machine.

"Help yourself to a brew, love. Made the good stuff. None of that instant shite."

Ana padded over, lifting the mug and taking a deep whiff.

"Oof. The fancy stuff," she said, eyes closing for a second. "I have missed this."

She took a sip-black, no sugar, no anything, as usual.

Byron stared.

"You're still drinkin' it black? Are you mental?"

She raised an eyebrow at him, deadpan.

"I don't drown it in milk and sugar like you, you idiot. "

He pulled a face.

"Oi, don't knock it. Some of us like our arteries coated, alright?"

Ana snorted as she perched herself on the edge of the counter, legs swinging lazily.

"You basically drink dessert for breakfast."

Byron leaned back against the sink, folding his arms across his chest.

"I'm the one makin' pancakes and you're the one takin' the piss."

She lifted her mug in salute.

"Division of labour. You get to fatten me up, I get to insult you. It's balance."

He chuckled, shaking his head.

It would've been a perfect little moment.

Until he spoke.

"So... uh... about last night."

She raised a brow. "Oh god. What now?"

He turned, spatula in hand, eyes sheepish.

"I, erm..." He scratched the back of his neck. "Might've... forgot the condom."

Ana choked on her coffee "You-what?"

"Look, it's not like I didn't mean to. It's just-" He gestured vaguely. “It was your legs in the air that did it. And you. And me. And the wall. It all escalated really quickly."

She folded her arms, eyeing him.

"No wonder you were extra considerate to clean me up. Hiding the evidence?"

"Honest mistake," he muttered. "Didn't mean to go in all guns blazing."

She shook her head but sighed. "I'm on the pill, Byron. It's fine."

His shoulders slumped with relief. "Oh, thank fuck. Thought I'd just started a family by accident. "

She smirked, walking over to steal a piece of pancake from the plate.

But then, under his breath, he muttered

"Could've called 'em Little A and Little B... if they were twins."

Ana blinked, caught completely off guard.

"Byron-"

He wouldn't meet her eye, just focused very intently on flipping the next pancake.

"Might've been cute, y'know. Two tiny gremlins runnin' about. Proper chaos."

She rolled her eyes, trying not to smile.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, yeah?"

He gave a soft huff through his nose, somewhere between a laugh and a sigh.

"Yeah, alright. Still... would've made good lookin' ones, wouldn't we? With my looks and your brains..."

Ana snorted, and he finally looked at her-grinning.

"Don't look so terrified, Bartolini. I'm not tryin' to trap you into motherhood before breakfast."

"I'm assuming you're... clean?"

"Yeah. Course I am," he said quickly, sounding a little affronted. "I get tested regularly. All clear.And I have always used a condom."

Ana narrowed her eyes. "Do you get a full panel after every encounter, or...?"

He hesitated. "Not everyone. But-" He cut himself off, then rubbed his jaw. "It’s been a while, Ana. Actually... you're the first girl I've had in this place. Ever."

That pulled her up short.

"Seriously?"

"Swear down," he said, looking at her like she'd grown horns. "You think I'm bringin' birds back here every week like some kind of shag hotel?"

"You've never-"

"Last girl I slept with was, I dunno, year ago? Back when I had a man bun and made worse life choices."

Her mouth dropped open. "Shut up."

He shrugged, grabbing a mug of coffee.

"What? You've got your fancy jiggly toys. I've got my right hand. Does the job."

Ana snorted.

Then choked.

Then burst out laughing, shoulders shaking as she leaned into the counter.

Byron grinned, leaning back on his elbows.

"You're proper gigglin' now. It's a bit hot, not gonna lie."

She wiped her eyes, still wheezing. "You're an idiot."

"Yeah," he said softly, handing her a plate. "But I'm your idiot now, yeah? No takebacks, my little witch."

Ana sipped her coffee again, letting the heat settle in her chest. Byron was fussing over the second batch of pancakes, humming off-key to some 90s R&B track playing low on the kitchen speaker.

She watched him for a moment, her heart squeezing oddly at how normal it all felt.

"So," she began, voice a little stiff, "I've been offered a job."

He glanced over his shoulder. "Yeah?"

"Editor. Proper full-time gig. Not freelance this time. Benefits and everything."

Byron raised his brows, impressed.

"Big boss now, eh? Where's it at? "

She gestured vaguely toward the skyline. "Building just across the road."

He grinned like he had won a prize.

"Right across? Then you might as well move in. I've got an extra parking space."

Ana choked on her coffee.

"Whoa. Woah. Baby steps."

Byron smirked, unfazed.

"I'm just sayin', it's a sweet setup. Regular sex, breakfast in bed, and no bleedin' commute. You'd be daft not to."

"I'm keeping my apartment," she said firmly.

"It's on the other side of Manchester, love."

"Exactly. Which gives me enough space to breathe when you're being a smug bastard."

He held up both massive hands in mock surrender.

"Alright, alright. Baby steps. But you spend half the time here."

She softened a little.

"Can we... keep this quiet, though? Just for now. Let's wait till we're sure."

Byron looked like he wanted to protest, but something in her eyes made him hesitate.

"Deal," he said finally. "But not tellin' Gray is gonna kill me. Can't lie to that sod-he can smell it on me. Admit it, you are worried your mates will see your bare butt when I take you against the bedroom window."

She laughed, blushing at the same time, but it faded quickly.

"I'll still have to take the odd job abroad," she said. "But I don't think I'll be covering any more warzones."

Her tone changes into something more guarded.

She set her mug down, eyes fixed on a smudge in the woodgrain .

"The blackout last night... The psych told me it might happen. Nightmares too. Memory gaps. Some numbness. She said it's likely PTSD, probably linked to blast trauma."

Byron turned, the humour draining from his face. His eyes were laser-focused on her face.

"Shit, Ana. Why didn't you tell me before?"

"Because I'm dealing," she said quickly. "I've got someone I talk to. She's been good. "

She looked up at him, mouth tugging at a corner.

"You're gonna say I should see someone else too, aren't you?"

"You need more than talkin', Ana," he said softly. "This isn't just some bad trip. You passed out in my arms. That's not nothin'."

She nodded, eyes glassy but dry.

"I know. I just... I don't want it to define me."

A beat. A breath.

"I get jumpy when the fire alarm goes off. Can't handle strong perfume. My ears ring sometimes, like a whistle I can't shut off. And the blackout ,that was the third one. It felt like I was back there. In pieces."

Byron stepped forward and took the mug gently from her hand, setting it aside before taking her hand in his big ones.

"You aren't in pieces, love. You're here. You're safe. And you're not doin' this alone."

She leaned into him slowly, forehead resting against his bare shoulder.

"Don't say anything nice. I'll cry and ruin my reputation."

He laughed softly and kissed the top of her head.

"Alright. I'll just call you an annoying cow later to balance it out."

***