Bailey's Comet

Ch. 10 - Closer

This takes place the morning after the previous chapter. 95% of this chapter is in Toni's POV.

*I also haven't proofread this*

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Cheryl had woken up during the night. She wasn't sure what time it was, but the sun wasn't shining in through her curtains yet. She figured she could get a few more hours of sleep. She still wasn't used to getting to sleep in, since she had hired two ranch hands to give herself more time to spend with Britta, as well as more time for herself.

She suddenly remembered that Toni was in her bed, and realized that's who she was holding. Cheryl must have been physically and mentally exhausted to not have realized that. Her front was against Toni's back and her right hand was against the skin of Toni's stomach. She definitely didn't want Toni to feel disrespected, so she slowly started pulling her hand away.

But then Cheryl's hand was grabbed by Toni's. The redhead took in a deep breath, not expecting the contact.

"It's okay," Toni whispered into the dark. "I don't mind if you don't."

Cheryl gave Toni's body a little squeeze and moved impossibly closer to the other woman. She was back asleep before she knew it.

-

A few hours later, Cheryl woke up again. This time she was laying on her back with Toni curled into her side. She took a few minutes to really look at Toni in the morning sunlight seeping into the room. Toni had a few freckles speckling her cheeks and a small scar on her chin. She was incredibly beautiful.

Cheryl sighed to herself and carefully removed her left arm from under Toni's head. She wasn't sure she could stay in bed any longer and decided to get up to make coffee and breakfast.

Before leaving the room, Cheryl grabbed a notepad and wrote a simple note for Toni, in case she woke up soon.

Toni,

I'll be downstairs if you need me. I hope you like pancakes and eggs.

XOXO, Cheryl

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Toni's eyes fluttered open as she woke up to the sun being into the room. She stretched where she lay, a few joints popping as she did so. The bed was cold next to her, and she realized that Cheryl wasn't there. Her brows furrowed and she briefly remembered grabbing Cheryl's hand during the night, and pulling her closer. Had she offended the redhead?

She thought the two of them were hitting it off, especially with everything that happened at the ball. And everything Cheryl had confessed last night. Maybe the redhead just needed space. Toni got up to use the bathroom, brush her teeth and wash her face. When she came back, she found a note on the bedside table.

Toni smiled as she read the intricate cursive, and breathed a sigh of relief. She found a spare hair tie of Cheryl's and put her hair up into a bun before going downstairs.

The food smelled amazing and Toni suddenly realized how hungry she was. All of the dancing they did must have burned off everything they had eaten for dinner. Especially when Cheryl had taught her how to swing dance. And then they did a few line dances. Now that she thinks about it, that explains why her legs hurt so much this morning.

When she got to the kitchen, Toni smiled to herself and leaned against the door frame. Cheryl was singing quietly along to music that was playing from a radio on the counter. Her hips were swaying and she was bobbing her head as she flipped pancakes. Toni felt like she was constantly in awe of the other woman.