The morning light had shifted, growing warmer and brighter, but neither of us moved to acknowledge it. This felt too important and too fragile to break with the pressure of the world just yet.
“You know what else I think?” my voice barely above a whisper.
“What?”
“I think ‘Steady’ is still in there. Just different now. Not the guy who was unflappable and could save everyone else, but maybe the guy who continues on because he knows what it means to need saving.”
For a long moment, we simply existed together. My hand settled over his heart, feeling the steady rhythm beneath my palm. His fingers traced slow patterns along my spine, touch lightenough to be soothing rather than distracting.
“I’m used to easy physical affection,” he kissed the top of my head. “Grew up that way. I never even thought it might set someone on edge.”
“With you, it’s nice,” I repeated, same as before. Itwasnice.
The morning sounds of the neighborhood drifted through my bedroom window, the neighbor’s dog barking. 6:47. A car door closing somewhere down the street, the distant hum of early commuters. Normal sounds of the world waking up around us, but they felt far away from this cocoon of safety we’d created.
I closed my eyes and let myself sink into the feeling of being completely still with another person. No performance, no managing, no trying to be anything other than exactly what I was in this moment. When was the last time I’d felt this kind of peace? Not the exhausted collapse that sometimes passed for relaxation, but actual, bone-deep calm.
Finn’s breathing had evened out, and for a moment I wondered if he’d drifted back to sleep. But then his hand stilled on my back, and I felt him press another kiss to the top of my head.
“Thank you,” he murmured against my hair. “For understanding.”
I shifted just enough to look at him, finding his eyes clear and grateful. “Thank you for trusting me with it.”
The silence stretched out again, comfortable and complete. Outside, I could hear a garbage truck making its way down the street, but even that ordinary sound couldn’t break the spell of this moment.
My phone buzzed against the nightstand, sharp and insistent. An unwelcome pin meant to pop our bubble and force us back to reality.
Not 6:47.
It buzzed again. And then a third time.
I sighed against Finn’s chest, reluctant to move but knowing that pattern meant something needed my attention. “I should probably...”
“Let me,” Finn’s arm stretched over me, long enough to reach the phone withoutmaking me shift away from him. The movement pressed me deeper into the mattress, his weight compressing against me in a way that felt more like bliss than being trapped. I melted into the sensation, the sublime pressure making my nervous system finally, completely quiet.
It let up as he moved back and I had to bite my lip to keep from whimpering at the loss. He handed me the phone, settling back with me still tucked against his side.
Three texts from Tabitha, sent in rapid succession:
Tabitha:Oliver wants to discuss the Titan research first thing.
Tabitha:Jordan called inlate. Casey’s handling the dev stand-up but he’s stressed.
Tabitha:You don’t have to be here at 8 but wanted to give you a heads up in case you want to prep.
I stared at the screen, reality crashing back in waves. Thursday morning. Work. The acquisition offer I’d been trying not to think about. Fifty-three employees whose jobs depended on decisions I didn’t want to make.
“Work?” Finn asked, reading my expression.
“Yeah.” I glanced at the time display. 7:28. “I need to...” I sat up and started typing, then stopped, glancing down at him. “Actually, no. I’m texting in late.”
His eyebrows rose, a small chuckle escaping him as he rolled onto his back. “You sure?”
“When’s the last time I took a morning off?” I was already typing. “Besides, I got the best sleep of my life and I got to know you better.”
Me:running late this morning. i’ll fill you in later. ask if oliver can meet after 9.
Me:or handle via email if not urgent.
