Cocktails & Emotions ~ [DR3]

28. Crush

"Go on and face it I'll never be ready for you,"
-better off, Ariana Grande

16th June 2023

"We need to get up." I warn, not making an effort to move despite my words. We really do need to move. The alarm on Daniel's phone first buzzed 25 minutes ago. We've been laying here sleepily doing everything we can to avoid leaving bed, to avoid leaving Monaco, since.

"If we lay here for five more minutes..." Daniel almost whines, his head falling against his pillow as his eyes flutter closed. He looks so handsome right now I can't even be frustrated by the playful request which comes paired with a stroke of his gentle hand down my back. His dark curls fan out wildly on his head, lips a little plumper than they are in any other hour of the day and his eyes... they squint quietly to avoid the morning light with their usual coffee colour suddenly a deep golden. His eyelashes are so long and thick it should be a crime!

"We'll be late." I finish Daniel's sentence for him. The cab (or driver, to use the same term as Daniel) will be here in a little under an hour. We both still need to shower, get dressed, eat and some of us (me) still need to pack things.

"Not if I drive." I snort at the suggestion. Daniel's grip tightens on me, the hand which was running along my upper back pausing for a second.

"How would that work? You're going to leave your car at an airport for a month?" He doesn't offer a reply to my questions. His expression just flattens, tilting in this unsure way that makes my stomach flip.

"Did you even pack yet?" Yes. No. Partly. There's still two dresses hanging in the wardrobe of my room which hasn't been used to sleep behind that first night. Plus toiletries in the en-suite to the guest room...

"Did you?" I counter, Daniel just rolls his eyes.

"Not what I asked." He almost tuts - I can't help but grin. I'm doubtful Daniel even needs to pack, other than the essentials, and I'm sure that even if he needed to start he could be done within minutes. He's an expert at this, and his things are so spread out around the world that he hardly has to worry about packing everything. I sigh and settle back into my spot on his strong shoulder. I'm going to miss this.

"Is it crazy that I don't want to go back?" Reality feels so far away. I think I could stay here forever quite easily, but that's not real life. Real life is in Perth and it's waiting patiently for me.

"No." Daniel is quick to offer the reply. "You can always stay here you know?" He's made that fact clear so many times this week. Would he just skip his flights for me? So easily? Could I?

"Some might call that running." I have too many responsibilities in Perth, I have an awkward conversation with Lucas to have. Most importantly my chest is beginning to ache with longing to see the blonde little girl who has been asking my whole family when I'm coming home for the last week. "I have a bar to open." Amongst other things.

"Eh, small things...." I swat Daniel's forearm at the dismissal, a huff of a laugh leaving me as I squeeze softly at his warm skin. I don't want to get up. I don't want to leave this bed. I don't want to leave Monaco.

But I do want to be home.

"You go first." Daniel finally concedes, his words anything but convincing. Still, I hum in agreement, offering a final squeeze to his forearm before slipping from the bed. It immediately feels cooler, the distance between Daniel and I feeling like miles rather than barely a single metre. This is the beginning of the end of our bubble, I know it - any hour now it's going to burst. I hate the fact. "I've gotta call Blake." Daniel offers as I chew on my lip about to overflow with disappointment until he wrenches himself up to a sitting position, the light grey sheet pooling deliciously at his hips. Daniel reaches for my hand, our fingers slotting together in that perfect way they seem to be able to, the contact settles me.