Alison stayed in the tub longer than she had planned. The warmth had soothed her body, but her mind remained a battlefield of conflicting thoughts. Finally, with the water growing cool, she forced herself to get out. She grabbed one of the plush towels hanging nearby, wrapping it tightly around her body as if it could shield her from the uncertainty that awaited outside the bathroom.
She sighed as she reached for the clothes Noah had left on the bed. The oversized hoodie and sweatpants made her smile faintly. Of course, she thought. It was almost endearing how mismatched they were, but the scent of the clothes, faintly tinged with Noah's cologne, reminded her of the warmth and comfort he had given her earlier.
Pulling the hoodie over her head, she sank onto the edge of the bed, the enorm
