love letters | shourtney

xvii.

"Do we have to get up?" I mumble into his shoulder, realising that we didn't really move at all last night. It's not that I'm still tired, in truth, I don't think I've ever slept that well. It's just that I'm just not ready for this to be over yet.

"Unfortunately." He pushes up onto his elbows and looks down at me. "Morning." He whispers, a sleepy smile painted on his lips. The darkness under his eyes, though not completely gone, has slightly receded.

"You sleep okay?" It takes all my mental strength to move away from him as I sit up. 

"Best I've slept in months." He sits up too, resting his hand on mine before swinging his legs off my bed and standing up. I try moving my legs but I'm not awake enough yet. 

"Fuck you." I press my fingers to my cheeks, trying to shock myself with the cold. 

"What?" He laughs with his eyebrows raised. 

"Morning people suck." Using my hands to move my legs, I finally get up. After a few moments, I sit down again. He walks around my bed and stops in front of me. He ignores me insulting him and skips straight to being serious. 

"If I went back to my apartment to get ready, would you be okay with that?" I cock my head and raise an eyebrow. 

"Why wouldn't I be?" It's too early to be able to think. 

"Well, I'd have to take your car, and even if I didn't, you've lost driving privileges, so you'd have to wait for me to come back." He smiles childishly. 

"You're dumb." I push his shoulder, trying to hide the smirk that's growing on my lips. Of course I don't mind.

"I'll make coffee, then I'll go." Shivers run down my spine as he rests a cold hand on my shoulder, the chill easily felt through my hoodie. 

"When you make it, bring it back here. It's too early for this shit." I push myself back a little and lie down again. Closing my eyes, I hear him laugh softly before pulling my blanket over my bare legs, his hands brushing against them briefly. Even just the light touch makes my heart quiver out of excitement. 

About 10 minutes later he comes back and helps me sit up, placing a warm mug of coffee in my hands. It tastes like heaven. He takes his neatly folded clothes from yesterday from the chair in the corner and steps into my bathroom to change. He doesn't close the door fully, but I focus on my coffee to stop myself from staring. 

"Do you want me to wash these?" He holds the clothes he slept in to his chest as he walks back in. 

"It's alright, I can. I'll keep them separate in case you ever sleep over last minute again." I set down my mug and get off my bed to take them from him. I don't realise the forwardness of my statement until I place them down carelessly in my hamper. Looking back at him, he doesn't seem to notice or react to what I say, but that doesn't quell the redness of embarrassment on my cheeks. 

"I'm gonna get going then." He says, pocketing his phone. "I'll take an hour and half, tops." He stops and looks me in the eye. "Don't miss me too much." He raises an eyebrow, a smirk decorating his lips. I can't help but smile. 

He goes to leave, but I crash into his chest before he reaches my door. Not questioning it, he wraps his arms around my back, his hands resting near my shoulder blades. I've spent so much time with him over the past few days, I'm not ready to be without him again. 

"Hey." He pulls away, but keeps his hands firmly at my sides, still holding me close. "I'll be back soon, I promise." He smiles reassuringly, not letting go of me as he searches my eyes for acceptance.