Chapter 26: Ellie

Waking up next to Alex, I couldn't help but feel a whirlwind of emotions. The warmth of his arms around me was comforting, yet there was an undercurrent of awkwardness that I couldn't quite shake off. 

I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him, and took a moment to gather my thoughts. The room was quiet, the early morning light casting a soft glow through the curtains. Last night was... incredible, but now, in the light of day, reality set in. And with it, the weight of my secret – the pregnancy. It felt like a ticking time bomb, and I knew I couldn't reveal it to him. Not yet. It was too complicated, too risky.

As I was lost in thought, Alex stirred awake. He gave me this sleepy, slightly confused look that was almost adorable. "Good morning," he said, his voice rough with sleep. It was a simple greeting, but there was a question in his eyes, a silent inquiry about where we stood.