I stretched a little, feeling the familiar stiffness that comes with waking up in a bed that wasn't mine. Wait… this isn't my bed. My heart lurched as the realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I wasn't just in any bed—I was in Alex's bed.
A flash of the night before came back to me. The fever, the nightmare, and… oh no. I had clung to him, practically cried into his chest. I felt my face burn just remembering it. This was beyond embarrassing. My mind raced as I pieced everything together. He must've stayed to make sure I didn't pass out or die or… whatever people with fevers and nightmares do. The point was, I had just slept in his bed, and now I had to somehow escape without making this worse.
I slipped out of bed as quietly as I could, which wasn't easy considering my legs were wobbly. The blanket twisted around my ankles, nearly tripping me as I stumbled toward the bathroom. Maybe if I hid long enough, he wouldn't notice I was even here. Yeah, because hiding in a bathroom always works.
Splashing cold water on my face, I glared at my reflection. "What is wrong with you?" I whispered, wiping the water away. The dark circles under my eyes were a lovely reminder of the chaos I had caused, and my hair looked like I had fought a windstorm. Just great.
A soft sound behind me made me freeze.
"Ivy?"
Oh no. Oh no no no.
My heart nearly jumped out of my chest as I turned around. There he was, standing at the doorway, eyes locked on me like he had just caught a wild animal in his room. This was it—time to escape. Panic shot through me as I grabbed the door handle. Maybe if I made a break for it now…
"I… um, I didn't mean to… you know, take over your bed like that," I stammered, trying to make a hasty retreat, but my feet had other plans. They stayed glued to the floor, rooted in the fact that I was totally caught.
His brow furrowed, and I could see a flicker of confusion cross his face. "Take over my bed?"
Oh gosh, he was going to make me spell it out. "I mean, I slept in it! I didn't plan to—well, I don't think I planned to—I was kind of feverish and not really in control of… anything?"
The words tumbled out so fast I almost didn't recognize my own voice. I backed up, reaching for the doorframe like it was my only lifeline. "I'll just go now—thanks for, uh, everything." My eyes darted to the door, planning my great escape.
But before I could make a mad dash for freedom, he spoke again, his tone softer this time. "Ivy, relax. It's fine. You were feverish."
Fine? It was fine? How could any of this possibly be fine?
I glanced back at him and could see the faintest hint of a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. Oh, no. He was laughing. Internally, at least. I could see it in his eyes.
"Seriously, you don't have to run away." He gestured toward the bed. "I just came back to check on you."
Of course he did. Because that's what normal people do after someone hijacks their bed during a feverish breakdown. My face flushed again, and I resisted the urge to bury it in my hands. Instead, I crossed my arms over my chest and tried to muster up what little dignity I had left.
"Well, I'm better now," I muttered, sidestepping toward the door.
"Good to know. But seriously, you don't need to feel embarrassed. We've all had rough nights."
"Not like this," I muttered under my breath. I was never living this down.
I turned back to face him, trying to find some semblance of composure. Alex's gaze was steady, his usual aloofness still intact despite the situation. It was almost as if he were a professional at handling awkward encounters, even if he clearly wasn't comfortable with the emotional side of things.
"Well, I'm better now," I repeated, my voice firmer this time as I made another attempt to slip past him. I was determined to make a graceful exit, even if I felt like a complete fool.
Alex's eyes followed my movements, a hint of awkwardness in his otherwise impassive expression. "Ivy, it's fine. You don't need to make a scene out of this. You were unwell. It's not exactly an ideal situation for anyone."
His voice, while detached, held a note of something that was almost like concern. It was strange seeing this side of him, though I wasn't sure if it was genuine or just an awkward attempt to smooth over the situation.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "I just didn't expect to wake up to you standing in the bathroom doorway. I'm not exactly good with… you know, these kinds of situations."
Alex nodded, his expression unreadable. "I understand. It's not something I'm particularly experienced with either. But it's done. You're feeling better, and that's what matters."
I managed a weak smile, feeling slightly more at ease. "Thanks, Alex. I'll, um, get out of your way now."
As I moved towards the door, he cleared his throat. "Ivy, just so you know—there's no need to avoid me. It's not like you intentionally put me in an awkward position."
The words were blunt, but there was an undertone of reassurance that made me pause. I turned to look at him, his usually impassive demeanor softened just a fraction. "I appreciate that," I said, my voice quieter now. "I'll try not to make a habit of this."
Alex nodded, giving me a curt smile. "Good. And if you need anything else, just let me know."
I gave a quick nod and finally stepped out of the bathroom, feeling a mix of relief and residual embarrassment. As I closed the door behind me, I couldn't help but think that this entire ordeal was something I'd rather not relive. But at least Alex was handling it with his typical, reserved approach.