Chapter 2

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Up wakes to the sound of a gentle knock on the cabin door. Kao stirs next to him, but otherwise doesn't wake up, so Up hauls himself out of bed with a sigh, slipping on the fluffy bathrobe draped over the bedroom door on his way to the front.

There's a notice in front of the door, clearly slipped under the gap at the bottom, and Up picks it up to examine it.

Paradyse In Vernazza

Welcome, Lovebirds, to Paradyse Resort and Suites!

We hope you've settled in nicely and are looking forward to your stay here in Vernazza, one of the most picturesque places on Earth.
The resort offers multiple-day trips for all of our couples! Please see the posted schedule on the back of this notice for more information. We also have a schedule posted in the main lobby, and feel free to ask the front desk for an extra copy of our itinerary at any time.
Finally, we would like to thank you for signing up for sessions with our on-site couples therapist! Alexandra is more than delighted to meet you both and hopes you will find her sessions both helpful and constructive. We have included a copy of your personal therapy schedule alongside the itinerary on this notice.
Once again, thank you for choosing Paradyse for your stay, and we hope you have a life-changing experience with us.
All the best,
Paradyse Resort and Suites President,
Anna Milanesi

Up reads the notice twice over before turning to the back, eyes scanning over the little table indicating the itinerary for his stay, barely taking in any of the information before he notices they have a therapy session scheduled for that morning. He maneuvers back into the bedroom, notice in hand, and shakes Kao awake, who blinks groggily up at Up, clearly uncertain of where he is for a moment until he appears to fully awaken and takes in Up, standing over him.

Kao rubs at his eyes while sitting up, Up's hand falling from his shoulder. "What time's it?" Kao grumbles.

Up checks the time on the digital clock next to Kao, smiling to himself at Kao still tired enough to forget it's there.

"8:37," Up supplies easily. Kao grumbles, turning over to bury his face in the pillow, ignoring Up's further attempts at getting him up. "Babe, we have therapy in an hour."

Kao turns to look at Up, one eye open. "Therapy?" he asks, voice gravelly.

Up wordlessly hands Kao the notice, scratching at the back of his neck while his husband sits up to read, unsure of what to do with his hands. Kao's eyes scan the paper slowly, his mind still foggy from sleep, then looks up at Up, puzzled, when he's finished.

"Why do we have couples therapy?" Kao questions.

Up shrugs. "Maybe a Justin thing?" he guesses.

Kao places the notice down on the nightstand before tossing the covers back, getting out of the side of the bed, and ending up standing toe to toe with Up.

"Your breath stinks," Up comments. It was meant to come out sounding like gentle teasing, but he misses it if the affronted look Kao gives him is anything to go by.

Up steps back to let Kao pass, his husband making his way to the bathroom and closing the door behind him, the sound of the shower turning on coming only a few seconds later. Up sighs, slumping down onto the bed and dropping his head in his hands.

Kao eventually emerges from the bathroom, toweling his hair off while wearing the extra robe, motioning with his head for Up to go ahead and use the bathroom. Up tries not to feel so hurt over how dismissive Kao is being.

It doesn't take Up long to shower and brush his teeth, and once he leaves the bathroom to find a change of clothes, Kao is sat fully dressed on the bed, wearing a flowy white button-up and blue jeans, his focus not once straying away from his phone as Up maneuvers to his suitcase to pull out an outfit.

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