we might be falling in love - patricio o' ward

the morning after

Lewis's Pov

Lewis woke up to the gentle caress of the morning light streaming through the curtains. He blinked, disoriented for a moment, until he felt the warmth of Astraea beside him. A smile spread across his face as he remembered the events of last night. His confession, the way she had looked at him, and the connection that had felt both new and deeply familiar.

Turning his head, he watched Astraea sleep, her face serene and relaxed. He couldn't help but marvel at how natural it felt to have her here, next to him. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open, and she gave him a sleepy smile.

"Morning," she whispered, her voice husky with sleep.

"Morning," he replied, his own voice soft. They lay there for a while, simply enjoying the silence and each other's presence. Lewis felt a sense of peace he hadn't experienced in a long time.

Astraea eventually sighed, stretching slightly. "I should probably shower," she said reluctantly. "We've got a big day ahead."

"You go ahead," Lewis said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "I'll make us breakfast."

Astraea raised an eyebrow skeptically. "You cook?"

"You'll see," he replied with a wink.

As she headed to the bathroom, Lewis got out of bed and made his way to the kitchen. He felt a surge of excitement, wanting to do something special for her. He rummaged through the fridge, finding eggs, milk, and fresh fruit. His mind wandered back to the times he'd seen his mother cook breakfast, and he felt a rush of nostalgia.

He mixed the pancake batter with practiced ease, the kitchen filling with the comforting scent of cooking. As he flipped the pancakes, he thought about Astraea and how much she had come to mean to him. He knew that balancing their professional and personal lives would be challenging, but he was determined to make it work.

Just as he finished plating the last of the pancakes, Astraea appeared in the doorway, wrapped in a towel. Her hair was damp, and her face fresh from the shower. "Wow, you weren't kidding," she said, clearly impressed.

"Told you," Lewis said with a grin, placing the plates on the table. "Sit down, breakfast is almost ready."

They ate in a comfortable silence for a few moments, the only sounds the clink of cutlery and the soft hum of the city waking up outside. Lewis couldn't help but steal glances at Astraea, feeling a swell of affection every time their eyes met. The ease and comfort he felt with her were unlike anything he had experienced before.

As they finished their meal, Lewis reached across the table, taking her hand in his. His expression turned serious, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand.

"Astraea, about last night..." he began, searching for the right words. "I know this changes things. And I don't want to make things harder for you. But I meant what I said. I care about you. A lot. And I think we can make this work if we both want it."

Astraea looked up, meeting his eyes. He could see a mix of emotions in her gaze-hope, apprehension, determination. "I care about you too, Lewis," she said softly. "This isn't going to be easy, balancing our professional and personal lives. But I want to try. I want to see where this can go."

Relief washed over Lewis, and he couldn't help but smile. "We'll take it one day at a time," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "No pressure, no rush. Just us, figuring it out together."

She nodded, a smile spreading across her face. "Together," she echoed, and the word felt like a promise.

They lingered at the table, finishing their coffee and talking about the day ahead. The conversation flowed easily, the initial uncertainty giving way to a renewed sense of hope. As they cleaned up, Lewis couldn't resist stealing a quick kiss, making Astraea laugh.