Cole woke up at six with Ava's leg thrown over his and her hair across his chest and the specific weight of what he had done sitting quietly in the room with them.

He lay still for a moment. Looked at the ceiling. Listened to her breathe.

Then she stirred.

She lifted her head and looked at him and for one unguarded second her face was completely open — no hostility, no armor, just her. Then she seemed to remember everything and something shifted behind her eyes. Not regret. Something more complicated than that.

"Morning," she said.

"Morning."

She sat up slowly, the sheet falling to her waist, her bare...