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Twenty

Five am came all too early.

"I wish I could just stay here with you," Michael groaned as I reached over to shut my alarm off.

"Mmm...wouldn't mind waking up slow with you like the old days," I stretched before curling back up to him. "Good thing I don't have to be up for another fifteen minutes."

His arms pulled me closer to him as he kissed the side of my head. We used to wake up fifteen minutes before we needed to get up when we first dated, back when we were teenagers. No matter what time we had to be awake, we always made sure to save a little bit of time to snuggle each other and slowly wake up.

"I forgot we used to do that," he said into the darkness. "What time do you need to go in?"

"Shift starts at 8, but I leave around 7:15. You go in at 6?"

He groaned, causing me to chuckle. Angling my head upwards, my lips found his.

"I know a way to make your morning better," I smirked against his lips, "but we've gotta be quick."

"When am I ever quick?" He quipped back, kissing me again.

***

"Why are you so stoked?" Emma raised an eyebrow at me as I hummed around the kitchen, making myself dinner.

Despite my shift at the hospital being a bit more hectic than usual, the advancement of my relationship with Michael and the events of that morning had left me on cloud nine.

"Hmm?" I hadn't heard her walk into the room.

"This is all because of Mouse, isn't it?" She asked as she leaned against the table, waving a finger at me.

"Maybe," I answered in a sing-song tone.

I didn't have to answer her seriously. We had been friends for long enough that she already knew.

"Spill in, Charlotte," Emma laughed as she sat down.

Plating my dinner, I walked across the kitchen to the table.

"You've missed a lot in the last 24 hours, my dear," I smirked as I popped a french fry in my mouth.

She waited for me to elaborate as I took another bite of my dinner, drawing out the anticipation.

Finally, I indulged. "We are officially together, you'll be happy to know." She squealed in delight and I added with a wink, "And he has gotten better."

"Could have gone without knowing that last bit but I'm so happy for you two! Babes, I've never seen two blokes made for each other more than you two."

I chewed another bite of my dinner, tossing around the idea of telling her everything or leaving the last little bit to myself. Figuring there was no harm in her knowing, I smiled at her.

"He told me he loves me."

She rightfully didn't look too surprised.

"Charley, that man has been in love with you for fifteen years."

I shook my head and swallowed, "We were in bed and he thought I was already asleep. He said it so quietly that I almost didn't hear him. I know he didn't mean for me to."

My roommate was grinning from ear to ear.

"Oh, Mick. That's cute though!"

My phone rang down the hall, pulling my attention away from Emma.

"Run, run!" She teased as I ran to my bedroom.

"There she is," Michael answered as I picked up. "You're all I could think about today. I could get used to waking up that way every day."

I blushed behind my phone.

"Yeah, well waking up to you certainly made my day better, that's for sure. Wouldn't mind doing it again," I sighed.

To be honest, I wouldn't mind it being a permanent thing.

After a little, I yawned and checked the time.

9:48 .

"I wish you were next to me," I told him as I crawled into bed. "My bed still smells like you."

I heard him sigh on the other line. "Tomorrow night, I will be. How's that?"

"Come over after work. I've got the following day off. Do you work?" I asked.

"Bronte, yeah."

"Well at least I get to sleep in," I teased, knowing where I'd be spending my day once I woke up. I preferred when he worked anywhere but Bondi. It meant we were safe from the cameras and I didn't have to be on alert, wondering if they'd be watching he and I.

After talking for another half hour, we reluctantly hung up. After waking up early and working a long shift, I could barely keep my eyes open any longer. Giving into sleep, I smiled as I drifted off.