𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 ☽ 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙠𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩

24

Elizabeth stirred as soft golden light slipped through the cracks in the curtains, warming the corners of the room. The unmistakable scent of pancakes drifted in from the kitchen, pulling her from sleep with the promise of something warm and sweet. She groaned, stretching lazily before sitting up, the blanket pooling around her waist and letting the morning chill nip at her bare shoulders.

With a shiver, she climbed out of bed and padded over to Gavin's dresser, rummaging until she found a black sweatshirt-soft, worn, and far too big. She tugged it over her head, the hem brushing her thighs, sleeves swallowing her hands. Cozy and satisfied, she made her way out of the room.

The kitchen was filled with the gentle clatter of utensils and the sizzle of batter on a hot pan. Gavin stood by the stove, shirtless, wearing only a pair of loose gray sweatpants, completely immersed in the process. The sunlight streaming in through the windows caught the angles of his back and the tousled mess of his hair.

Elizabeth leaned against the doorway, letting her gaze wander, an amused smirk playing on her lips. She crossed her arms and tilted her head, watching him move around like he owned the kitchen-and, admittedly, the morning.

It took Gavin a few seconds to realize she was there.

When he finally glanced over his shoulder and saw her watching him, his expression softened into a chuckle. He shook his head with a grin, eyes sweeping over her in his oversized sweatshirt.

"You're dangerous in my clothes, you know that?" he said, flipping a pancake with far more flair than necessary.

Elizabeth grinned. "And you're making it very hard to focus on breakfast dressed like that."

Gavin looked down at himself and shrugged. "Can't compete with you in my sweatshirt. Pretty sure you've officially stolen it."

"Claimed," she corrected, pushing off the doorway and walking toward him. "Stolen implies you're not getting it back."

He leaned in and kissed her forehead as she reached for a plate. "Fair enough."

The morning settled around them-warm, playful, and easy. And in that moment, it felt like nothing outside those kitchen walls could touch them.

"No work today?" Elizabeth asked as she plucked a berry from the bowl on the counter and popped it into her mouth.

"I just wrapped up a case," Gavin replied, shooting her a smug grin. "Can't a man take a well-earned day off at home? With your help, of course."

She laughed, stealing another berry. "Good. I was starting to think you were taking all the credit."

Turning to face her, pancake pan in hand, Gavin raised a brow. "Speaking of credit, I called your friend Dane at the museum. Told him you'd be out today."

Elizabeth blinked. "You did what?"

"He agreed. No fuss," Gavin said with a shrug. "Said something about you needing the rest."