Housebound with the Blackridge Heirs novel Chapter 10

**Change Begins With You — Jayden Collins**
**Chapter 10**

**Maya**

Caden appeared in the doorway, two steaming mugs cradled in his hands, and with a soft, almost tentative, “Coffee?” he broke the morning silence.

I pushed myself up on my elbows, my mind still hazy from sleep. I had been awake for about an hour, simply observing the sunlight spill across the glass and scatter over the floury surface of the table. The warm light danced, casting playful shadows that flickered like memories.

Strangely, I felt less pain than I had expected. The scrape on my cheek, which had looked fierce and angry last night, seemed smaller this morning, its edges already a delicate shade of pink as they began to heal. I made a mental note of this oddity, filed it away as something to ponder later, and chose not to dwell on it too much.

“How are you feeling?” Caden asked, his voice a gentle inquiry as he handed me the coffee.

“Surprisingly fine,” I mumbled, my words barely rising above a whisper.

A soft smile spread across his face, a departure from the cocky grins he often wore. This one was genuine, laced with a hint of concern that made my heart flutter unexpectedly.

“That’s good to hear.” But then, his expression shifted to something more serious, a shadow crossing his features. “I’m really sorry about what happened to you. We all are.”

“It’s not your fault,” I replied, and I meant it with every fiber of my being.

He let out a heavy sigh as he settled beside me, and I felt the bed dip significantly under his weight.

“I know,” he said quietly. “But you’re new here, and I should have made sure you were safe on your first day. I don’t know about the others, but I see you as a friend.”

The word “friend” sent my heart skidding. I suddenly became acutely aware of how close he was sitting, the warmth radiating from him like a comforting blanket.

“I appreciate that,” I said softly, my voice almost a whisper. “But the good thing is that you found me before it got too bad.”

His jaw tightened slightly, a muscle twitching as he processed my words. “We should have found you sooner.”

A genuine smile broke across my face, and I instinctively reached out, resting my hand over his. His skin was still warm from the coffee, and I watched as his gaze dropped to where our fingers intertwined, a flicker of surprise crossing his features.

“I’m fine,” I assured him, locking my eyes onto his to convey my sincerity.

“Good,” he replied, the tension in his voice easing just a fraction.

We lingered in that moment, the air thick with unspoken words, until his eyes fell upon the gray T-shirt I had thrown on. It was Leo’s from the night before, and I noticed how the easy curve of his mouth turned flat, the warmth fading from his expression.

“Why are you wearing that?” he asked, his voice steady but with an edge of something I couldn’t quite place.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I instinctively tugged the hem down, folding my arms across my chest as if to shield myself.

“Leo gave it to me last night,” I explained, trying to keep my tone light. “The fabric is softer and looser, so it doesn’t rub against the bruise.”

He sat there for a moment, weighing my words as if they held more significance than I realized.

“Right,” he finally said, his tone flat.

“Why does it matter?” I asked, the lightness in my voice faltering, a hint of defensiveness creeping in.

“It doesn’t,” he replied too quickly, as if trying to dismiss the topic entirely. “Forget it.”

We allowed the aroma of coffee to fill the space between us, granting us a brief respite. The sunroom glowed softly, the golden light filtering through the windows, while birds chirped cheerfully from the oak tree outside. It was undeniably a beautiful room, a sanctuary that felt comforting yet somehow fragile.

**10:04 Thu, Dec 4**

**Chapter 14**

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