He gave this soft, shaky laugh, like he didn’t know what else to do. Then his lips found mine again, but a lot more gentle now. Like he meant every second of it.
“Yeah,” he breathed against me. “You really are like sunshine.”
My chest tightened in a way that was almost painful, but I didn’t say a word. I just kissed him back, hoping that if I stayed close enough, maybe he wouldn’t slip away into those dark places again. Maybe, just for tonight, he was mine.
I don’t know how long we stayed like that. His forehead against mine, his fingers tracing slow patterns on my skin, both of us trying to catch our breath. When he finally pulled back,he zipped himself up, and I shimmied my dress back down, still trembling. I felt stripped bare, even with my clothes on.
He cleared his throat, looking anywhere but at me for a second. Then his eyes found mine again, softer than I expected.
“You hungry?” he asked. His voice was low, a little rough around the edges, like he hadn’t quite come back to earth yet.
I blinked. “What?”
He smirked, almost shyly. “Food. You know… humans need it. Especially after… that.”
I laughed, breathless and shaky. “Yeah. Food sounds good.”
“Come on, Sunshine,” he said, tugging me gently by the hand. “I know a place.”
* * *
We ended up at a 24-hour diner that looked like it hadn’t been updated since the 80s. Greasy menus, flickering neon lights, a waitress who looked like she’d seen every bad decision ever made at 3 a.m.
Nick ordered pancakes and bacon for both of us without even asking, and somehow it felt like the most intimate thing anyone had ever done for me. For once, I didn’t need to make a decision, and I liked that.
We sat across from each other, his knee bumping mine under the table. Every now and then, he’d glance up and catch me staring, and a tiny smirk would play at his lips.
“Stop looking at me like that,” he teased, though his voice was softer than before.
“Like what?” I asked, feigning innocence.
“Like you’re trying to figure me out,” he said, his thumb brushing over the rim of his coffee mug.
Maybe I was. But I didn’t say that.
* * *
After we finished, he insisted on paying and then led me back outside into the warm, sticky night.
“Where to now?” I asked, half-expecting him to say he’d take me home and end this.
Instead, he hesitated. “Need to stop by my place. Gotta check on my dog.”
“You have a dog?” I lit up, all the exhaustion forgotten.
He glanced at me, his expression softening for a moment. “Yeah. Rescue mutt. Goofy as sin, but he’s good company.”
I laughed, following him to his bike again. He handed me the helmet without a word, like it was already routine. I wasn’t as nervous this time, now that I knew he didn’t drive like an asshole. He took every corner with caution, and I wondered if he was only doing that because of me. His hand stayed on my thigh the whole time, me pressed up against him, my hands flat on his stomach.
It didn’t take long before we were pulling up into a driveway to a small house. He led me in and placed the keys on a nearby table. His place was small, kind of messy, but cozy in a way that felt lived-in. A guitar leaning against the wall, half-finished art, or mechanic projects scattered on the counter.
The dog, a big, blocky-headed pit mix, bounded up to him, tail wagging so hard it looked like his whole body might fall over.
“Hey, Bear,” Nick murmured, kneeling to scratch the dog’s ears.
I stood frozen in the doorway, watching him. Seeing that tenderness, the easy way he softened with his dog.
Bear came over and sniffed me next, and when I knelt, he licked my face immediately.
