Stand-Ups in New York

Chapter 47 - Real

Pete watched Charlotte's bare shoulder rise and fall in the soft morning light. They'd had a late night, and he knew that they had to get up soon for the farewell brunch, but he didn't have the heart to shake her awake just yet. Pete looked at her blonde hair draped over Charlotte's pale skin, clusters of freckles peppering her arm and back. Charlotte faced the window and Pete marveled at how heavy she slept, considering the sun was already coming in through the shade.

Charlotte had the blanket draped over her hip. Pete moved closer to her and nuzzled his face into her hair. He wrapped his arm around her waist and held her against his naked chest. He felt her stiffen, heard her inhale.

"Someone is in a cuddly mood," Charlotte stated.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Pete said as he began to pull away.

But Charlotte only moved her body towards Pete, shaping herself to his exact curve like a puzzle piece. "I should have been awake a long time ago," she said, putting her hand over the one Pete had lying on her stomach.

"And yet you're choosing to stay in bed?" Pete asked.

"If I could, I would stay in bed with you all day," Charlotte responded.

Pete smiled as he kissed her shoulder, then moved to the crook of her neck. "How is your skin so soft?" Pete mumbled.

"Excessive exfoliation," Charlotte quipped.

Pete chuckled. Charlotte always knew how to take a mushy moment and make it into something funny. It would annoy most people, but Pete loved her for it. They were both naturally uncomfortable with any sort of compliment being thrown at them, but that didn't mean that underneath the humor she didn't appreciate Pete's sentiment. He loved that they understood each other that way.

Charlotte rolled on to her back, rubbing her eyes. "I should get up before a get a million texts asking if I'm going to brunch or not." Her back arched as she stretched, her chest rising towards the ceiling.

"Is this how you wake up every morning?" Pete asked, his eyes raking over Charlotte's bare chest.

"Only on the weekends and vacations," Charlotte said, melting back into the mattress. She turned her steely blue gaze to Pete. "When I'm working it's more of a rushing around in the dark trying not to be late kind of vibe."

Pete gazed back at Charlotte. He tucked her blonde hair behind her ear, getting a better view of her make-up smeared face. "Well, I can't wait to see you after a long night putting sketches together at SNL."

Charlotte grinned. "That doesn't even feel real," she said.

Pete smiled, then kissed Charlotte's forehead. "I feel like none of this can be real," he said, then added, "in the best way, of course."

"Oh, yeah, of course," Charlotte said, then leaned in to give Pete a lazy kiss. She pulled away, and rested her head on Pete's chest.

"I can't wait to wake up like this every morning," Charlotte said.

"Me either," Pete responded, burying his nose in Charlotte's hair. He couldn't remember a time that he'd ever been happier. 

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Author's Note: Hello everyone! It's been a while, I know, but it's been killing me not updating! This is the last chapter of Part 2, and I'm currently working on Part 3! Thank you to everyone who reads, love you all!