Lucy sighed and turned to face him. Her hair was a mess, her eyes still half-closed, and Jake thought she'd never looked more beautiful.
"I have to go," she said, not moving.
"I know."
"But I don't want to."
"I know that too."
They lay there for another few minutes, neither quite ready to leave this quiet space they'd created.
Finally, Lucy forced herself to sit up. "Okay. I'm going. For real this time."
She changed back into her clothes from last night while Jake made coffee. When she emerged from the bathroom, looking more awake but still tired, he handed her a to-go cup.
"Fuel for the morning."
"You're my hero."
They walked to his door together. Lucy paused with her hand on the doorknob.
"Jake? Last night was perfect."
"Even the three-hour western movie marathon?"
"Especially that." She kissed him softly. "Can we do this again? Soon?"
"How about Wednesday? After your morning rush? I could take you to lunch."
"Like a date during daylight hours?"
"Radical, I know. But I figure we should try all the variations."
Lucy smiled. "Wednesday lunch. It's a date."
She left, and Jake listened to her footsteps on the stairs, then heard the door to the bakery open and close below him.
He looked around his studio apartment. The dishes from dinner were clean and put away. The flowers he'd bought were on the counter, still fresh. The bed was rumpled from where they'd slept.
It was the same apartment he'd lived in for three years, but somehow it felt completely different.
It felt like home.
Jake's phone buzzed. Marcus, naturally.
Marcus:How was the date?
Jake:It's 4:45 AM. How are you awake?
Marcus:Couldn't sleep. Too excited to hear about your romantic evening. DETAILS PLZ.
Jake:It was good. Really good.
Marcus:That's it? That's all I get?
Jake:What do you want me to say?
Marcus:Did you burn the chicken? Did she like it? Did you watch old movies? Did you KISS?
