87. (Clay POV)

The sensation of waking up was disorienting. For a moment, I let myself savor the peace. Despite the chaos that had swallowed our lives, this small pocket of morning tranquility was like a hidden treasure.

As my eyes fluttered open, I took in the sight before me: a human knot of limbs and torsos, woven so tightly it was hard to tell where one of us ended and the other began. Lexi was tucked safely between Luke and me, her head resting on my chest, while Luke's arm draped over both of us.

The scent of breakfast wafted through the air, pulling me further out of my sleepy haze. It was a strong smell, loaded with bacon, scrambled eggs, and fresh coffee. I felt Lexi stir, the movement rippling through the tangle of bodies.

Luke's eyes opened, meeting mine. "Wow," he said, grinning as he breathed in deeply. "How I've missed waking up to the smell of your mom's cooking."

"Yeah," I said, feeling the corners of my mouth stretch into a smile. "Me too."

As we extricated ourselves from the tangl