Ivey's Pov
I woke to the soft haze of morning light streaming through the foggy car windows. My neck ached, my legs were stiff, and for a second, I didn't know where I was.
Then I felt it.
Warmth. Steady breathing. The rise and fall of a chest under my cheek.
Lucas.
Then it hit me. I was still in Lucas's hoodie. Still in Lucas's car.
Still leaning against Lucas.
My heart fluttered for a second, not the bad kind, not panic. Just surprise. I hadn't meant to fall asleep. Especially not on him.
I blinked, slowly lifting my head. He was still asleep, his head tilted slightly, lips parted, hair tousled in a way that made him look softer than I'd ever seen him.
Memories of the night before came flooding back. The party, Josh, the kiss, the cold, the way I'd completely broken down... and how Lucas hadn't let me fall apart alone.
I sat up carefully, trying not to wake him. But he stirred anyway, eyes fluttering open, squinting at the sunlight before they found mine.
He rubbed one eye and gave me a sleepy half-smile. "Morning."
"Did we… sleep here all night?" I asked, voice raspy.
"Yeah," he said, stretching his arms a little. "You knocked out. I didn't want to wake you."
I looked down, embarrassed. "Sorry. I didn't mean to —"
"It's fine," he cut in gently. "Really. I didn't mind."
"Kayla covered for you," Lucas added. "Told your parents you stayed over at her place."
I looked up, surprised. "You did that?"
He nodded. "Didn't want you getting in trouble."
I gave a small, genuine smile for the first time in what felt like days. "Thanks."
I smiled, touched. "You didn't have to do all that."
"I know," he said. "But I wanted to."
I looked down at my hands in my lap. "I'm not used to this… people looking out for me."
"Well, get used to it," he said gently. "Because I'm not going anywhere."
That hit harder than I expected.
Before I could respond, my stomach let out a loud, embarrassing growl. My face turned red.
Lucas grinned. "Sounds like someone needs pancakes."
"Or coffee. A lot of it," I said with a tired smile.
"Let's go then," he said, stretching as he turned the key in the ignition. "I know a place."
As the engine started, I leaned back in the seat and watched the trees blur past as we pulled out onto the quiet road.
For the first time in a long time, the morning didn't feel heavy.
It felt like a beginning.
Lucas's Pov
She looked better this morning, she was calmer.
I watched her from the corner of my eye as she took a sip of water and stared out the windshield. The early sunlight hit her face just enough to show the faint puffiness around her eyes, but she wasn't crying anymore. That was a win.
I didn't know what to say. Part of me wanted to ask her if she was okay, but I already knew the answer. She wasn't. Not completely.
But she'd trusted me. She stayed. And she didn't run.
That meant something.
As she leaned back in the seat, hoodie still wrapped around her, I finally said, "You don't have to deal with this alone, you know?"
She glanced at me, then looked away again, but her nod was almost invisible. Quiet. Real.
"Thanks," she said. Just that one word.
But it was enough.
Ivey's Pov
Ten minutes later, we were seated at a booth in a corner café. It was quiet, half full of early risers and old couples.
Lucas sat across from me, flipping the menu like it actually mattered. I stared at the one in my hands but didn't really read it.
He looked up. "Get the waffles. You look like you need waffles."
"Do I?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
He nodded, serious. "Absolutely. It's a known cure for heartbreak. That and really bad coffee."
I smiled.
We ordered. Sat in silence for a moment. The kind that used to feel awkward with Josh. But not with Lucas.
Finally, I said it. "Thanks. For staying."
Lucas looked at me, then shrugged, like it was obvious. "Where else would I be?"
I blinked fast, suddenly too full of emotion again.
He leaned back, arms crossed loosely. "You know, you don't have to pretend with me."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you don't have to smile if you don't feel like it. You don't have to talk about it if it hurts. I'm not going anywhere."
Something in my chest cracked a little. Not in a painful way. More like… a wall giving way.
"I feel like I've been holding my breath for weeks," I said. "Like if I let go, I'll fall apart."
He nodded slowly. "Then fall apart. I'll be here."
And just like that the knot in my throat loosened.
Our food came. We didn't talk much while we ate. Just passed the syrup, sipped bad coffee, and let the world be quiet for a while.
At one point, he stole a bite of my waffle. I glared at him.
He grinned. "Told you. Healing."