Bella laid limp on the bathroom counter, her chest rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath, too exhausted to move. Her flushed face turned slightly toward me, her lips parting as if she wanted to speak, but no words came.
I zipped up my pants, fastening my belt with calm efficiency. Glancing at her, I said simply, "I'm going to check on your mom and see if this surprise of yours is ready or not. You can...well rest up here."
Her eyes widened faintly, a flicker of something unspoken passing through them, but she stayed silent, too drained to respond.
Straightening my shirt, I turned and opened the door, pausing only briefly before stepping out and letting it close softly behind me.
I headed downstairs, the faint murmur of Camila's voice drawing me toward the living room, and there she stood by the window, bathed in the golden glow of late afternoon, the phone pressed to her ear as she spoke in that smooth, deliberate tone of hers.
