Mister Softee & I

The Morning After

The next morning, Sam wakes up to the sound of Daniel's soft snores. She opens her eyes, taking in the warm sunlight streaming through the window, making the room feel like a cocoon of love. She smiles to herself, feeling grateful for this moment and everything that led up to it.

She rolls over, laying her head on Daniel's chest and snuggling closer, taking in his scent. When he stirs awake, she looks up at him, her heart swelling with affection.

"Good morning," she says softly, her voice laced with sleepy gratitude.

Daniel grins down at her, his eyes shining with affection. "Good morning, beautiful. Did you sleep well?"

"Like a baby," she replies, tracing a finger along his jawline. "I can't believe we're really here, together."

Daniel leans in to kiss her, their lips meeting in a slow and languorous embrace. They break apart, both beaming with happiness and contentment.

"I know, it's still a bit surreal," he says, stroking her hair. "But I'm glad we took the leap and followed what felt right to us."

Sam nods, a feeling of gratitude washing over her. "Me too. You know, I was thinking last night. We don't really know where this is going to go, or what our future holds. But I know one thing for sure - I want to keep sharing moments like this with you."

Daniel smiles, his eyes alight with affection. "I couldn't agree more. We'll figure it out, step by step."

They lay there for a few more minutes, lost in their thoughts and the comfort of each other's presence. Finally, Daniel leans in to kiss Sam once again, his lips gentle and tender.

"Are you hungry?" he asks, when they break apart. "I was thinking of taking you out to brunch."

Sam grins, feeling a rush of excitement at the prospect of exploring the city with him by her side. "That sounds amazing. I could use some coffee and pancakes."

They get up, getting dressed in comfortable clothing for their date. As they leave the apartment, the warmth of the sun fills them with energy, and they walk hand in hand to a nearby cafe. Over a leisurely brunch, they talk about everything and nothing, savoring the moment and their connection.

As they stroll through the city streets, Sam feels more alive and energized than she has in a long time. She looks over at Daniel, feeling grateful for this moment, and for all that he means to her.

"So...," she starts, breaking the comfortable silence between them. "I know I've been a bit hesitant to talk about us publicly, but what do you think about just keeping this between us for now. Not that I want to hide us, I promise. I just want to preserve this, while we have these couple of weeks to ourselves."

Daniel considers this for a moment before replying, "I understand where you're coming from, Sam," Daniel says, taking her hand in his. "And I completely respect your desire to keep this between just us for now. We have something special here, and it deserves to be cherished."

Sam smiles, her heart swelling with gratitude for his understanding. "Thank you. It's not that I don't want to share this with our friends and family eventually, it's just that I want to savor this time with you. And I don't want to deal with any outside pressures or judgments just yet."

"Understood," he replies, pulling her in for a tender kiss. "I feel the same way. Let's just focus on us and enjoying this time we have together."

They continue their stroll through the city, talking and laughing as they immerse themselves in the beauty of the moment. Sam feels a sense of freedom and joy that she hasn't felt in a long time, as if the weight of the world has been lifted off her shoulders.

As they approach a park, Daniel suggests they sit down for a while and people-watch. Sam agrees, and they settle down on a bench, their hands intertwined as they gaze out at the world around them.

"I can't believe how long it took us to finally get here," Daniel says suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence between them.

Sam looks over at him, her heart swelling with affection. "I feel the same. I'm happy we took this moment to explore this."

He nods, gazing at her with an intensity that leaves her breathless. "I've been crushing on you since we met Sam. Timing was just never right with us, either you were in a relationship or I was. I was starting to think fate had other plans."

She ponders, "Is he serious right now?" Feeling a mix of vulnerability and apprehension at his words. "Yeah, me too. But full transparency, after my break-up with Cody, I had promised myself not to get involved with another co-star. I just don't want to be known as that girl in this industry, you know."

Daniel listens attentively, his gaze never wavering from Sam's eyes. "I understand your concerns, Sam. It's important to set boundaries and protect yourself, especially in our line of work. But sometimes, life surprises us and brings us unexpected connections that we can't ignore."

She nods, appreciating his understanding. "Exactly. And that's why I'm grateful for this moment, for this time we have together. It feels like a safe haven, where we can explore what we have without any external pressures."

He squeezes her hand gently, his voice filled with sincerity. "I want you to know that I value you, Sam. I respect your boundaries and I'll always support your decisions. I want us to take this journey at a pace that feels right for both of us." Daniel felt confident in his feelings but he couldn't help but feel like this wouldn't be the last time this came up, "I just don't want to be in this by myself. Just take it slow."

A soft smile graces Sam's lips as she leans her head against his shoulder. "Thank you, means the world to me. I'm excited to see where this journey takes us, step by step." They sit in silence for a while, basking in the peacefulness of the park and the warmth of each other's presence. Sam's apprehensions begin to fade away as she realizes that she's found someone who truly sees and understands her.

As the afternoon draws to a close, they decide to head back to the hotel. The walk back is filled with shared laughter and stolen glances, their connection growing stronger with every step.

When they arrive at their floor, they make their way to stand at the in front of Sam's room, reluctant to say goodbye. Sam looks up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of longing and contentment.

"Thank you for today, I wish I could spend the rest of the day with you. I have that brand commitment lunch in a couple hours." she says softly, her voice filled with a tinge of regret.

He brushes a strand of hair away from her face, his gaze filled with tenderness. "The feeling is mutual, Sam. Today has been incredible, and yeah I have a brand get together later as well. But let's meet up after, only if you aren't too tired.

Sam smiles, her heart filled with hope and anticipation. "For you, I'm never too tired."

Daniel leans in and kisses her softly, their lips meeting in a gentle and lingering embrace. It's a kiss filled with promise and a shared understanding of the depth of their connection.

As they part, Sam takes a step back and turns to open her door, with one more look, her eyes locked on Daniel's, "See you later," she whispers, a playful sparkle in her eyes.

"Definitely," a smile tugging at the corners of his lips and gives her a quick wink.