As the daysturned into weeks, Teddy and I continued to grow closer, discovering new aspects of each other’s lives and personalities. We spent countless evenings together, our laughter filling the air as we shared stories from our pasts and dreams for the future. Every moment we shared felt like another piece of the puzzle, slowly bringing the picture of our relationship into sharper focus.
One evening, after a particularly long day of working on a remodeling project, Teddy arrived at my house looking exhausted. Dark circles underlined his eyes, and his shoulders were slumped with weariness. Concerned, I led him to the couch and sat down beside him.
“You look like you’re ready to fall over,” I said softly, rubbing his back gently. “Is everything okay?”
Teddy sighed and leaned into my touch. “It’s just been a tough day. The Robinsons are demanding and can’t agree on a fucking thing. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all but I can’t tell them to sort their shit and call me once they know what I’m supposed to do.”
My heart ached at the sight of him so worn down. “Is there anything I can do to help?” I asked, desperate to ease his burden in any way I could.
He smiled weakly at me. He slumped down on the couch, resting his head against the back. I dropped to my knees between his legs and started untying his work boots. Both of us seemed to understand this wasn’t anything sexual, it was all about getting him more comfortable.
“Honestly, just knowing I’ll get to see you at the end of the day helps.” He offered me a hand to help me off the floor once his boots were set to the side. I settled onto the couch next to him.
His words filled me with warmth, and I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close. He grabbed the remote and I curled into his side. I loved that he was almost as tactile as me, always wanting to be cuddling if we were hanging out. “I’ll always be here for you, Teddy. No matter what.”
As the evening wore on, I did my best to help Teddy unwind. I made him a cup of herbal tea that he groused about but drank, and suggested we watch a movie together.
He chose an old classic, one that I had never seen before. I could feel Teddy gradually relax as the story played out on screen, the tension leaving his body with every passing minute. By the time the credits rolled, he was practically asleep on my shoulder.
I carefully shifted Teddy’s head off me and onto the pillow beside me before easing off of the couch and heading towards the bedroom.
“I should probably head home,” he murmured, stifling a yawn. “I’ve got another long day ahead of me tomorrow.”
I hesitated, not wanting him to leave but understanding his need for rest. “Why don’t you just stay here tonight? You’re already so comfortable, and I don’t want you driving when you’re this tired.”
I seriously needed to get a bigger bed. We didn’t often spend the night at my house because one of us always wound up hanging off the edge of the full-size bed.
Teddy looked at me, his eyes filled with gratitude. “Are you sure?”
“You’re never an imposition,” I reassured him. I offered him a hand and guided him to the bedroom. “I want you here. With me. We’ll both sleep better.”
That was a lie, but only because of the freaking bed. Other than worrying about crashing to the floor, we both did sleep better when we were together.
With a small, relieved smile, he nodded, and I helped him get settled in my bed. As we lay there, our bodies pressed close together, I couldn’t help but marvel at the intimacy of the moment. It was a different kind of closeness than we’d experienced before—not just physical, but emotional. It was a vulnerability that made my heart swell with love for him.
Yes. Love. Because it was time to admit I wasn’t falling. I was all-in.
The next morning, I woke up early enough I could make breakfast before waking Teddy. He’d been burning the candle at both ends, so I wanted to let him sleep until the last possible second.
Just as I was flipping the last pancake, Teddy walked into the kitchen, looking refreshed and ready to start the day. He wrapped his arms around me from behind, holding me close to his chest. I loved these early morning, sleep-warm hugs.
“Morning, Shiloh,” he said, a smile spreading across his face as he took in the spread of eggs, bacon, and pancakes I’d prepared. “This looks amazing.”
“Thanks,” I replied, trying to sound nonchalant. “I wanted to make sure you have a full belly for the morning. I hate how tired you’ve been every night when you get home.”
“It’ll get better.” Teddy pulled two glasses out of the cupboard and poured juice for both of us. “I’m grateful for the projects I’ve gotten since the art far, but damn, did they all need to have deadlines at the same time?”
We sat down to eat, and for a while, we simply enjoyed each other’s company. I could easily get used to mornings like this. As we were finishing up, Teddy looked at me thoughtfully. “You seem a bit preoccupied. Is everything okay?”
I hesitated for a moment before deciding to be honest, but subtle. “I’ve just been doing some thinking. You know, about us and our relationship.”
Teddy’s expression softened. “What’s on your mind?”
“I guess I just want to make sure I’m contributing, that I’m not taking you for granted,” I said, looking down at my plate.
Teddy reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “Shiloh, you contribute so much to our relationship, and I never feel taken for granted. But if you’re feeling unsure, let’s talk about it and find ways to make things feel more balanced.”
I smiled, feeling reassured by his words. “I just... you work hard all day, then most days you come home and we wind up working in the yard. Or you’re sketching ideas for things you can do around the house.”
