I turn onto my side to face him. “You stole my blankets.”
He grins. Full. Lazy. Dangerous. “I already admitted that. And, gave some back to you.”
“Not enough.”
He tugs me closer instead. “Counter offer.”
I laugh despite myself, the sound surprising me with how real it is. His arm tightens briefly like he’s pleased he earned it.
We lie there for a moment, not rushing. No awkward scramble. No post-night explanations.
Domestic.
I clock it immediately and push it away.
“Coffee and bagel?” I ask.
“Please,” he says. “Before I say something stupid.”
“That’s optimistic.”
He laughs and rolls out of bed, completely unconcerned with his lack of clothing. He reaches for his jeans and shirt from the floor and heads to the bathroom. I grab my sweats from the chairand pull them on, wrap my robe around me, and head for the kitchen.
I don’t think about that either.
In the kitchen, I move on autopilot, muscle memory taking over as I slice a bagel and start the coffee. The routine steadies me. Grounds. Water. Button.
Colby wanders in a moment later, shirt half tucked like he didn’t bother fighting with it too hard. He pauses in the doorway like he’s taking in the fact that this is my kitchen, my space.
I pour the coffee into two mugs before he even asks, setting one on the counter in front of him.
“I wouldn’t have guessed that you drink your coffee black,” he says.
“Whatever that means. You’re in my apartment,” I remind him sweetly. “Bold stance making that kind of comment.”
He smirks. “I live dangerously.”
We sit at the counter, legs brushing. Sunlight creeps farther across the floor. It feels… normal.
That’s the problem.
“So,” I say lightly. “You survived a concert.”
He takes a sip and winces. “Barely. I’m pretty sure Dex tried to start a chant during her acoustic set.”
“He did,” I say. “I saw it.”
“Mortifying.”
“Raina thought it was hilarious.”
He smiles at that. “She was incredible.”
Pride warms my chest. “She really was.”
A quiet settles between us, not uncomfortable. Just… open.
He studies his coffee like he’s deciding something.
