"I don't know yet."
I run my fingers through her hair, gentle and slow."Take your time figuring it out."
We lie there in comfortable silence for a few minutes, just breathing.
Then she says quietly, "I slept better last night than I have in months."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."She traces a pattern on my chest with one finger."Usually I wake up every hour.Check the locks.Check the windows.I can't settle."
"But you did last night."
"Because you were here."
The words hit harder than they should.They make my chest tight and warm at the same time.
"I'm glad," I say simply.
She lifts her head and looks at me."What does this mean?Us.Last night."
I brush a strand of hair back from her face."I'm not going anywhere, Enya.Whether this is just last night or something more, I'm here."
She studies my face, looking for lies or cracks or reasons not to believe me.She won't find any.
Finally, she nods."Okay."
"Okay?"
"Okay."She sits up, pulling the sheet with her."I need coffee.Do you want coffee?"
"Yeah.I'll make it."
"You don't have to?—"
"I want to."I swing out of bed and pull on my jeans."Where is everything?"
She directs me from the bedroom, and I make my way to the kitchen.Small.Tidy.Everything in its place.I find mugs, the kettle, instant coffee.I make it strong and black because I don't know how she takes hers and I'm not asking from the other room.
By the time she emerges wearing leggings and my shirt that I left in her room, I’m leaning against the counter with two steaming mugs.
She takes one, sips, makes a face."Christ, Devin, how much did you put in here?"
"Enough to wake you up."
"Enough to kill me, more like."But she's smiling.
I grin."Noted.Less coffee next time."
"Next time," she repeats quietly, like she's testing the words.
"Yeah.Next time."
We move to the sitting room and settle on the couch, close but not touching.Just existing in the same space.
Her phone buzzes on the coffee table.Once.Twice.Three times in quick succession.
Enya goes rigid, every muscle in her body tensing.
