My phone buzzes on the nightstand and I reach for it carefully, trying not to wake him.
It's a text from Maya.
Maya: Where are you? We were supposed to meet at the lab.
Shit, I completely forgot.
Me: Sorry, something came up. Can we reschedule?
Maya: Something or someone?
I glance at Rush. His face is relaxed in sleep, younger somehow without the tension he usually carries.
Me: Someone.
Maya: DETAILS. NOW.
Me: Later. I promise.
Maya: You’d better.
I set my phone down and Rush's arm tightens around me.
"You're awake," he says, his voice rough with sleep.
"How do you know?"
"Your breathing changed."
"That's creepy."
"That's observant."
I turn in his arms to face him. His hair is messy and his eyes are still half-closed. There's a crease on his cheek from my pillow.
"Morning," I say.
"Morning."
"You stayed."
"I said I would."
"I know, but I wasn't sure you meant it. You have a history of saying things and then panicking."
His hand comes to my face, thumb brushing across my cheekbone. "I meant it."
We lie there looking at each other and the reality of what happened settles in.
I'm not ashamed or unsure. I'm just aware that everything is different now.
Last night, we crossed a line and there's no going back.
"You okay?" he asks.
"Yeah. You?"
"Yeah."