Luke had woken up early. He always did, his work being the reason. When some of his employees got to the shop at a quarter after five in the morning, it didn't bother him doing the same.
Except now it was five in the fucking morning and Luke's back was hurting like a bitch. His eyes focused in on the couch.
Cherry was passed out for good. Her arms squeezing the life out of that cute little bunny.
Luke couldn't forget the way her cheeks turned pink when he saw the stuffed animal.
So innocent.
He'd let her sleep until she woke up. Luke made his way to his closet upstairs and pulled on his uniform.
Eating a little something he headed down to get to work.
"You're late today. You got some action last night?" Dillion, his employee and friend said suggestively.
"Shut the hell up, we got work to do. Also keep the fucking noise down, that goes for the rest of y'all too, got a fucking migraine." Luke said grumpily. His head did hurt, but he wanted it to be quiet since Cherry was trying to sleep.
Dillion flipped him the bird, but complied and started on todays tasks.
———
It was eleven thirty in the morning. Well, it was lunch break for the people who have been working since six in the morning. So Luke was making his way to the check on Cherry.
When Luke entered the room, the same soft breathing continued as earlier. Her bunny had fallen, but she hugged the blanket instead.
Luke picked the bunny off the ground and ran his fingers over it's soft ears.
He didn't want to wake her up, but she hadn't ate and he was worried about her.
He didn't have to give a fuck, but his gut was wretched thinking about what she could've went through.
It was pissing him off.
Pushing those thoughts away, he bent down beside the couch.
"Cherry, wake up." Luke said and lightly shook her shoulder.
She mumbled some incoherent words and turned the opposite way.
"Come on, I don't got all day. Time to get up." Luke said a little louder this time.
"My head h-hurts." Cherry mumble as she turned towards the voice. Her eyes still closed she ran her hand over the bruise on her eye and then her fingers skimmed the spot where her head hit the steering wheel.
"Yeah, I bet." Luke said and watched as she slowly opened her eyes.
It was Luke.
"What time is it." Cherry's mouth felt so dry and scratchy. Her eyes burned from all the tears. Everything hurt.
"Almost noon." Luke's replies were so instant.
Her eyes almost popped out of her head in shock. She wasn't allowed to sleep in. But her memory floated back to when he called her baby. And the way it made her feel all warm and cared for.
"I'm sorry, I should've w-woke up." Cherry said and moved to get up. She was in trouble now.
"Hey, sit down." Luke said and yet she didn't listen.
"For fuck's sake, please sit down, baby." Luke had called her that again. Cherry sat back down and then realized he had her bunny. Was he gonna take it now.
"Can I have my b-bunny back?" Her voice was quiet and wobbly.
Be strong.
Cherry was starting over that meant being able to do things she had never done before. Luke nodded and reached out and handed the soft bunny to Cherry.
