The Best of Us

Chapter 12: A Much Needed Friend

Having gotten very little sleep throughout the night, Kozik laid tiredly across Annabelle's bed, only the lower half of his body covered by the sheets while Annie herself laid gently across his chest. The girl had finally fallen asleep about thirty minutes prior, but Kozik had found himself unable to close his eyes despite how terribly they ached from lack of closure. Instead, Kozik found himself unable to look away from the angel next to him. His fingers stroked through Annabelle's hair peacefully which unknowingly had been what helped lull the woman to sleep. The first light of day was already beginning to peak through Annie's windows and Kozik instantly knew that he would come to regret his lack of sleep by midday. But he wouldn't have changed the night before for anything in the world. Kozik had had sex plenty of times, but none of it compared to the feeling of giving all of himself to the person he loved more than anything in the world and knowing that she felt the exact same in return. Annabelle's body was a work of art that Kozik was honored to be able to worship and admire as openly as he wished. Every kiss and touch shared confirmed to the man that the two were made for one another, and he knew that no other feeling could ever possibly compare. 

Annabelle gently began to stir against Kozik, and he was already looking back at her as she slowly lifted her head back to meet his eyes. Kozik offered her a warm smile which Annabelle returned happily, moving herself to lay on her stomach while her arms and head laid across Kozik's chest. Kozik moved his hand from Annie's head to her face, softly stroking her cheek and tucking her stray hairs behind her ear. Annabelle sighed happily at the feeling which only made Kozik's smile grow larger. 

"You should go back to sleep. It's still early." 

"No, it's okay. I'd rather stay up with you. How long was I asleep?" 

"Not long. Less than an hour."

Annabelle hummed in response and closed her eyes while Kozik continued to draw soft shapes along the side of her face. The couple remained in silence for a while before Kozik finally continued their conversation from the previous night. 

"About me and Trager--"

"You don't have to tell me." 

Stunned by Annabelle's statement, Kozik stopped his ministrations and Annabelle opened her eyes once more to look at the man in front of her. 

"I'm sorry that I demanded you tell me in the first place. I know we promised no secrets, but I should know better than to expect you to tell me everything. It's impossible in this life. So, if this really is just a personal matter between you and Tig, I won't bother you about it anymore. I trust you, and I know that if it really was important, you would tell me. So, if you'd still rather not, you don't have to tell me. I'll respect your decision."

"Thank you, Annie. I promise to tell you one day. When I'm certain you won't be mad at me for it." 

"Oh, so it really is over something ridiculously stupid then?"

"Yeah, you might actually kill me when I do tell you." 

Annabelle and Kozik both laughed over the ordeal but were mostly just content to know that the two of them were going to be okay. As Annabelle came down from her laughter, she admired Kozik laying beneath her and couldn't help the rush of emotions that suddenly overcame her. 

"I love you, Kozik."

"I love you too, Annie."

Annabelle smiled softly at the response, knowing she would never tire of hearing Kozik say those words back to her. She slowly lifted herself up to pull herself higher up Kozik's side, allowing her head to rest against his shoulder while her leg draped itself across his waist. Kozik's arms found their way around Annabelle's torso and he nuzzled his cheek against the top of her head. Annabelle placed a gentle kiss to Kozik's chest and whispered out to him as she closed her eyes.