alex is thankful for the moment of silence that settles between them. Β he needs it to gather his thoughts so he doesnβt sound like a stuttering mess next time he opens his mouth. Β still,Β he keeps glancing at her and smiling. Β he just canβt help it,Β not when she looks so soft and cozy. Β one look at her,Β dressed in his t-shirt and sweats,Β and all he wants to do is wrap his arms around her waist,Β bury his face in her curls and cuddle her. Β which is strange because he usually doesnβt get attached easily. Β if anything,Β heβs withdrawn and emotionally closed-off,Β so why is he acting like a smitten schoolboy and falling in love faster than ever? Β this girl is unlike anyone heβs ever met. Β sheβs special,Β exquisite in every way possible. Β βyeah? Β alright,Β we have a plan then. Β itβs real cold out there. Β youβll have to snatch one of my sweaters,Β too,Β i think,β Β he offers,Β setting his cup of coffee down but keeping his palms on it,Β warming them up. Β outside,Β snowβs beginning to fall again,Β little flurries dancing in the air,Β making the morning seem even more magical. Β βiβm glad we had the common sense to walk here last night instead of driving. Β we got the tattoos,Β at least we didnβt get a DUI as well.β Β gotta focus on the positives,Β he thinks.Β Β
βwhy,Β thank you. Β i have my moments,Β but i think you bring this side out of me.β Β blushing when she compliments him,Β calls him a cutie,Β he doesnβt want to push her away. Β he wishes they could spend all the mornings to come just like this. Β and still he hurts her feelings every time she peers deeper and deeper into his mind and heart. Β thereβs a part of him that refuses to let her in,Β thatβs afraid of rejection and heartbreak. Β βhey,Β youβre making me melt,β Β he laughs,Β gently grasping her wrist as she tickles the spot under his chin,Β squeezing affectionately before laying her hand back on the table. Β βthanks. Β iβve got some experience. Β itβs usually not this much fun,Β though.β Β cooking for one person gets boring,Β is what he means. Β βyou should come over more often now that you know where i live. Β stop by for dinner or lunch.β Β stay for breakfast. Β βi barely remember last night so it doesnβt count as a sleepover. Β we have to redo it sometime. Β hey,Β maybe next week weβll get our ears pierced?β Β he jokes,Β watching curiously as she moves the plates around,Β only realizing what sheβs doing once she picks up her phone. Β his heart could just burst,Β pride welling up deep inside his chest. Β no oneβs ever made him feel so appreciated.Β Β
βah,Β right,Β must have fallen out of a garbage truck or something,β Β he laughs,Β happy to play along. Β in fact,Β heβs so happy that he pulls the oldest trick out of them all and calls out. Β βoh! Β itβs a little dirty right here.β Β he reaches over the table and gently presses his finger to the collar of her shirt,Β trying to get her to look down so he can tap her nose and say gotcha! Β βyeah,Β really.β Β confirming in all seriousness,Β he even nods his head for emphasis. Β she really does look beautiful in his t-shirt and should just keep it. Β βdonβt think iβve ever seen you like this before.β Β not all dolled up but domestic,Β laid-back and soft and cuddly. Β he likes this look on her. Β βyouβre very welcome,Β miss wayne. Β hope you like your yolk a little runny βcause thatβs how i like mine so i thoughtβ¦β Β he trails off,Β stunned by her beauty once more,Β letting her take this picture in peace. Β βhey,Β give it to me for a second. Β i want to show you how cute you look,β Β he asks once sheβs done,Β reaching for her phone so he can take a picture of her. Β Β Β