As dawn began to break, a soft light filtered through the thin curtains of the motel room, casting a pale glow on everything inside. Bode woke slowly, the steady rise and fall of Gabriella's breath still against his chest. For a moment, he didn't move, savouring the rare peace of the moment, but then reality began to seep back in—the complications, the hurt, the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
He gently shifted, careful not to wake her, and slipped out of the bed. Standing by the window, he gazed out at the quiet street, his thoughts a tangled mess. The events of the previous night played over in his mind—Gabriella showing up at the station, the frantic drive to Oakland, finding Manny in that state. He couldn't shake the image of her worried face or the way she had looked at him, her eyes full of trust and something else he couldn't quite name.
And now, there was Audrey. Bode couldn't deny the connection he felt with her, the way she made him feel grounded and seen in a way he hadn't felt in a long time. But there was also Gabriella—the girl he had loved for so long, the one he had never really been able to let go of. Seeing her again, being close to her, had stirred up feelings he thought he'd buried for good. He had ran a hand through his hair, frustration gnawing at him.
Behind him, he heard a soft rustle as Gabriella stirred awake. He turned to see her sitting up, her hair tousled, a sleepy yet concerned expression on her face as she looked around, taking in their surroundings.
"Morning," Bode said quietly, trying to keep his voice steady.
Gabriella blinked a few times, her gaze finally settling on him. "Morning," she replied, her voice still thick with sleep. She looked down at the empty bed beside her, then back up at Bode. "Did you sleep at all?"
"A little," he answered, walking back over to sit on the edge of the bed.
Gabriella bit her lip, the weight of his words sinking in. She looked down at her hands, fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. "Bode… I'm sorry if I'm making things complicated. I didn't mean to. I just… I didn't know who else to turn to."
"You don't have to apologize," Bode said quickly, shaking his head. "You're not making things complicated. Or, maybe you are, but it's not your fault. This—" he gestured between them, "—was always complicated."
Gabriella nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I never wanted to hurt you."
"I know," Bode said, his voice softening. "And I never wanted to hurt you either."
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of everything between them hanging in the air.
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face.
Gabriella squeezed his hand, finding some comfort in his words. "Thank you for being here," she whispered. "I don't know what I would do without you."
Bode gave her a small, reassuring smile. "You don't have to think about that. I'm here."
Gabriella finally pulled her hand away, wiping her eyes. "We should get moving," she said, trying to regain her composure. "I don't want to stay here any longer than we have to."
"Agreed," Bode said, standing up. "I'll go check on your dad, see if he's up for traveling. I think it makes the most sense if I drive back to Edgewater with Manny in his car. That will give me a chance to chat with him and find out what set him off."
Gabriella nodded, watching as Bode headed over to where Manny was still passed out on the other bed. As she watched him gently rouse her father, she couldn't help but feel a pang of longing mixed with regret. She knew things between her and Bode could never be simple, not after everything they had been through. But being here with him, seeing the way he still cared, made her heart ache in a way she hadn't expected.