Superposition (Starting Position Sequel)

Epilogue

One and a half years later.

xxx

    "Elliot, hey. We need to get up."

    Stretching along the cozy sheets and pressing my yawning mouth into a pillow, I eased open my eyes and found a blurry face staring at me.

    "Ben?" I said groggily.

    "I hope so," he said, his features clearing. "You are in my bed."

    Smiling ruefully, I stifled a yawn and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. His features now mostly clear, I made out the golden eyes, sweeping cheekbones, and sandy hair matted around his narrow face. "I had a dream you got lost."

    "Got lost where?" Ben asked.

    Lifting my shoulders lazily, I said, "How should I know. You were the one who was lost."

    Ben chuckled. "Well, looks like you found me."

    "In your bed all this time." I snuggled closer to him. "What did I tell you about being lazy?"

    "Laziness is only acceptable when shared," Ben breathed into my ear, and I nodded. "Looks like we've got that down."

    His body was like a heater; at all the places our limbs interlocked, his skin warmed mine, and his heat spread through me. I could stay like this forever, wrapped inside of Ben surrounded by the soft covers of his bed.

    "You know, this is kind of my bed now," I yawned.

    Ben's body gently trembled against mine, and as he swept a rigid hand over the bend of my shoulder he said, "You're right. That may take some getting used to."

    "What yours is mine," I stated through a smile. "Better get used to it quickly."

    A soft chuckle met my ear. "So, by that standard, my melamine plates are yours too."

    I stiffened. "No. That's the exception."

    "But I know how you love them."

    Prying open an eye, I found Ben watching me in delight. "Ben, no one should eat food from a plate that color – lime green? I mean, I'm too blinded to even see the food when we use them."

    He laughed, exposing the faint grooves of his face only present in such moments, and my heart skipped. He nuzzled into me. "What's mine is yours."

    I was starting  to wake. Even though I wanted to stay in this bed forever, I knew we couldn't. We had things to do, but that was okay with me, because come tonight – and all other nights from this point on – Ben and I would get to climb into bed together and repeat this easy, warm moment again and again. I knew even in the few minutes after waking that this would easily become my favorite routine with him.

    "Do we have to get up yet?" I asked.

    Ben was contemplative. "I think our family would miss us at our post-wedding brunch."

    I smiled blissfully. "You remembered what it's called."

    "Yeah," Ben said. "You, Mom, and Sarah kept going on and on about it as if it was more important than the actual wedding."

    Burying myself into his chest, I said, "Brunch is a lifestyle, Ben."

    He laughed again. "Apparently, I've got a lot to learn."

    "I'll teach you." Opening one eyelid, I added, "How about that? I get to teach a teacher."

    He wrapped me closer, and I molded right into him. He was so warm; the heat from his body was lulling me right back to sleep, and I wasn't about to fight it. Our family could wait – or they could eat platefuls of crepes, eggs benedict, and avocado toast without us; I was content right where I was. I was right where I was supposed to be.