The soft rustle of sheets and a faint beam of sunlight creeping through the curtains were the first things Nadyia registered. For a moment, she lay still, suspended in that delicate space between dreams and waking. Then she felt the familiar weight of an arm draped over her waist Liam, warm and solid, his breath slow against the back of her neck.
On her other side, Noah stirred, the bed shifting gently as he adjusted, one leg tangling with hers beneath the covers. She smiled to herself, the kind of smile that comes from deep contentment. This new rhythm, this quiet, shared space felt right. Felt earned.
Her phone buzzed quietly on the nightstand. She reached over, careful not to wake them, and checked the time. 6:37 a.m. Ethan would probably be waking soon. She had a studio meeting at 9,
